Which type of assessment is conducted during the learning process?

Formative assessment is a type of assessment that occurs during the learning process, aimed at monitoring student learning to provide ongoing feedback that can be used by instructors to improve their teaching and by students to improve their learning. These assessments are typically low-stakes and are designed to identify strengths and weaknesses within a subject or skill as students are still in the process of mastering it. This allows for timely interventions and adjustments in teaching strategies, fostering a more supportive and effective learning environment.

In contrast, summative assessment takes place at the end of an instructional unit to evaluate student learning against a standard or benchmark. Criterion-referenced assessment measures student performance against a fixed set of criteria or learning standards but isn't specifically focused on the iterative process of learning itself. Authentic assessment involves real-world tasks that demonstrate meaningful application of skills and knowledge but may not be conducted continuously throughout the learning process as formative assessments are.