What is Formative Assessment?

Formative assessment is research based, high impact instruction that has a student effect size of 0.9. It is intentional informal assessment that is integrated into the classroom daily. Formative assessment can contain oral and written feedback, and it is always tied to the success criteria. Based on formative assessment evidence, teachers make adjustments to their instruction. It is important to note that there is no one single way to obtain evidence of student learning, and students should take part in the formative assessment process by giving peer feedback, and self assessing.

Formative assessment is the term used to describe that we are informing learning, not measuring Learning. The goal is to look at where the students are in their learning, and ask how we can move them forward toward the intended learning goal.

Below is the process of incorporating formative assessment into your classroom:

1. Set clear learning targets and success criteria.

2. Elicit and interpret evidence of student learning while it is developing, and by looking at success criteria.

3. Make immediate or near immediate evidence based adjustments to teaching and learning.

4. Give feedback to students specifically to their understanding of the learning target.

5. Allow student involvement by facilitating peer feedback and self assessment.

Margaret Heritage, Formative Assessment Training 2017

Tech tools for Formative Assessment