This document discusses different types of assessments used at various stages of instruction - placement/diagnostic assessments before instruction to determine students' entry behaviors and weaknesses, formative assessments during instruction to monitor progress and check if objectives are being achieved, and summative assessments after instruction to determine if students have mastered the objectives and skills required. It provides examples of tools that can be used for each type of assessment, from pre-tests and interviews for placement, to observations, homework, and student feedback for formative, to exams, projects, and course evaluations for summative. The assessments are used to improve instruction, plan future activities, and assign grades or recognize student performance.