Assessment

Assessment refers to the methods and tools used to evaluate learners’ understanding, skills, behavior, and performance in a learning experience. Assessments help instructional designers, facilitators, and organizations determine whether learning objectives have been met and whether learners can apply what they’ve learned on the job.

Assessments As Part of the Learning Process 

Assessments are often categorized based on when they occur within the learning process:

• Formative Assessment – During the Learning 

These assessments take place during the learning experience and are used to monitor progress, reinforce understanding, and adjust instruction as needed. Examples include knowledge checks, practice activities, facilitator questions, polls, reflections, or short assignments. Formative assessments are primarily used to support learning. There is no grade included. 

• Summative Assessment – At the End of the Learning 

Summative assessments measure learning outcomes at the end of a course, program, or learning phase. They are used to evaluate whether learners have achieved the stated objectives. Common examples include final exams, certification tests, end-of-course quizzes, or capstone projects.

• Diagnostic Assessment

Diagnostic assessments are used before instruction begins to understand a learner’s existing knowledge, skills, or gaps. Often referred to as pre-tests, they help designers and facilitators tailor content, avoid redundancy, and focus learning where it’s most needed.

In addition to timing, assessments can also vary by format and purpose, including:

• Performance-based assessments, where learners demonstrate skills through tasks, simulations, or real-world scenarios
• Self-assessments, which encourage reflection and awareness of one’s own strengths and gaps
• Peer assessments, where learners provide feedback to one another
• Knowledge-based assessments, such as quizzes or tests
• Authentic assessments, which mirror real workplace situations and expectations

Well-designed assessments are aligned with learning objectives, reflect real-world performance expectations, and provide meaningful feedback. In corporate learning, assessments play a critical role in measuring capability, readiness, compliance, and business impact.

Assessments in the Instructional Design Process

Within the instructional design process, assessments are a deliberate part of the design process. Effective instructional designers use assessments throughout design and development to ensure alignment between learning objectives, content, and real-world performance expectations.

• During analysis, diagnostic assessments help identify performance gaps and determine what learners already know.
• During design, assessments are mapped directly to learning objectives to define what successful performance looks like.
• During development, formative assessments are created to reinforce learning and provide practice opportunities.
• During implementation, assessments are used to monitor learner progress and gather feedback on the learning experience.
• During evaluation, assessment results help determine the effectiveness of the training and inform future improvements.

When assessments are aligned with the instructional design process they support learning, guide instruction, and provide insight into business impact.

See also:

Criterion Referenced Assessment

When you have more projects than people™, let TrainingPros provide you with the right consultant to start your project with confidence.