What is the purpose of summative evaluation at the end of each course?

The purpose of summative evaluation at the end of each course is primarily to determine whether the curriculum met educational goals. Summative evaluations assess the overall effectiveness of the instruction and the extent to which the learning objectives were achieved by the students. This includes measuring knowledge gained, skills acquired, and the application of those skills. By evaluating how well the curriculum performed against predefined educational standards, educators can ascertain the success of the instructional design and delivery.

While it is important to gather feedback for future improvements, rate instructor performance, and assess student engagement, these aspects are typically addressed through formative evaluations or other assessment methods during the course. Summative evaluation focuses explicitly on the outcomes of the course as a whole, emphasizing whether the students demonstrate the knowledge and skills envisioned by the educational goals set at the course's outset.