What is a common example of an online summative assessment?

A common example of an online summative assessment is a final exam. Summative assessments are designed to evaluate students' learning at the end of an instructional unit by comparing it against some standard or benchmark. Final exams typically cover a significant portion of the course material and are intended to measure the students' comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.

Being high-stakes assessments, final exams play a crucial role in the overall evaluation of a student’s knowledge and capabilities at the end of a course, contributing significantly to their final grades. They are usually administered after all instructional activities have taken place, allowing for a culmination of the learning experience, rather than regular or ongoing assessments that evaluate progress during the course.

In contrast, weekly quizzes and peer reviews are examples of formative assessments; they provide ongoing feedback and contribute to learning but do not typically assess comprehensive understanding at the end of a learning period. Group discussions encourage collaborative learning and participation, but like quizzes, they focus more on engaging students throughout the course rather than assessing overall mastery at a specific point in time.