What is Formative Assessment?
According to Education Queensland (2012), formative assessment is used to map/monitor learning progress during a unit of work. Formative assessment provides ongoing feedback to teachers and students. Brady & Kennedy (2012) state the purpose of formative assessment is to acquire information on which to base further teaching. The main aim of formative assessment is to monitor student learning to help progress and improve students’ performance and create a better opportunity for them to achieve the intended learning outcomes.
Why use formative assessment in the classroom?
Formative assessments;
Formative assessment is used to provide benchmarks to confirm the suitability of instructional strategies and specific interventions for individual students as well as groups of students. (Ministry Of Education, 2011)
- help students identify their strengths and weaknesses and target areas that need work
- help faculty recognize where students are struggling and address problems immediately
Formative assessment is used to provide benchmarks to confirm the suitability of instructional strategies and specific interventions for individual students as well as groups of students. (Ministry Of Education, 2011)
Examples of formative assessment
Formative assessments are generally low stakes, which means that they have low or no point value. Examples of formative assessments include asking students to:
Formative assessment is often assessment based on teacher observations including anecdotal records and checklists allowing teachers to monitor students performance throughout the learning. Forster (1996) defines performance assessment as the assessment of students as they engage in real learning activities. It is the on-the-spot evaluation of performance, behaviour and interaction.
- draw a concept map in class to represent their understanding of a topic
- Submit one or two sentences identifying the main point of a lecture
- turn in a research proposal for early feedback
(Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation n.d.)
Formative assessment is often assessment based on teacher observations including anecdotal records and checklists allowing teachers to monitor students performance throughout the learning. Forster (1996) defines performance assessment as the assessment of students as they engage in real learning activities. It is the on-the-spot evaluation of performance, behaviour and interaction.
How is formative assessment used in schools?
Here's what some of our survey participants had to say:
"one way i check for understanding is by asking students to show me "thumbs" (up, down and sideways) about their own understanding of a topic after it's been taught." (Teacher C, 2013)
"oral questioning, informal around the class to gauge understanding as to how lesson is flowing and what needs to be modified/ changed as well go along." (Teacher F, 2013)
"one way i check for understanding is by asking students to show me "thumbs" (up, down and sideways) about their own understanding of a topic after it's been taught." (Teacher C, 2013)
"oral questioning, informal around the class to gauge understanding as to how lesson is flowing and what needs to be modified/ changed as well go along." (Teacher F, 2013)
Page Author: Abbey Scanlan