What type of assessment is SAFMEDS considered?

SAFMEDS, which stands for Say All Fast a Minute Every Day Shuffled, is categorized as a formative assessment. This type of assessment is designed to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback that can be used to improve teaching and learning. Formative assessments are typically conducted during the learning process rather than at the end.

SAFMEDS allows educators to measure the fluency and mastery of specific skills in real-time, enabling them to adjust instruction based on student performance. By using SAFMEDS, educators can identify areas where students may be struggling or excelling, fostering a responsive and adaptive learning environment.

This practice supports continuous improvement and is integral for ensuring that students are effectively acquiring and retaining skills. It is not a summative assessment, which measures learning at the end of an instructional period, nor is it a diagnostic assessment, which is typically used prior to instruction to gauge existing knowledge and skills. Additionally, SAFMEDS does not fit into the category of standardized assessments, which are uniform tests administered and scored in a consistent manner across different populations. Thus, SAFMEDS serves a unique role in formative assessment, focused on real-time feedback and skill development.