Formative Evaluation
Formative evaluation is the kind of flexible assessment that occurs on a day-to-day basis and often leads to adjustments and adaptations before the course ends. Central to this model of evaluation is reflection: reflection on student learning processes, reflection on the technology of the course, and reflection on course material. One approach to formative evaluation is the Small Group Instructional Diagnosis (SGID), typically conducted at mid-term, in which students engage in online interviews, face-to-face interviews, or focus groups with a third-party (such as an instructional specialist) to determine whether their expectations for the course are being met and to suggest improvements to the learning process. The instructor meets with the third-party as well, to reflect on the class, review student feedback, and strategize modifications.
          Summative evaluation occurs at course’s end and is largely a measure of student satisfaction. This model is common in large-scale assessments in higher education, since it tends to be simpler than formative evaluation to implement broadly.