Assessment strategies play a crucial role in the realm of digital higher education, providing valuable insights into students’ learning progress, achievements, and areas of improvement. By implementing a diverse range of assessment strategies, educators can effectively evaluate students’ knowledge, skills, and competencies in the digital learning environment. This enables them to tailor their instructional approaches and provide targeted feedback, ultimately enhancing the overall learning experience for students.
In the field of education, selecting the most appropriate assessment strategy depends on various factors, including learning goals, assessment timing, and the number of evaluators and learners involved (Kiryakova, 2021). Two main typologies of assessment strategies are formative and summative.
Formative assessments are designed to support learning by monitoring students’ progress and making adjustments to the learning process based on their needs, thus improving their overall learning experience (Kiryakova, 2021). This type of assessment involves a dialogic form of language, resembling a conversation where learners and educators co-create meaning through mutual engagement (Amua-Sekyi, 2016). Quizzes and games are some examples of formative assessment tools.
On the other hand, summative assessments evaluate learners’ knowledge, skills, and achievements at the end of a course or training based on established standards (Kiryakova, 2021). They are used to measure the overall performance of a course and provide certifications and formal evidence of learners’ competencies (Amua-Sekyi, 2016). Examples of summative assessment methods include computer-based tests, audio-visual recordings, and simulations.
Both formative and summative assessments play vital roles in evaluating and enhancing the learning process.
