Formative Assessment

Proficiency: Student Learning Expectation Self-Direction

2 h. Persevere in challenging situations.

Learning Target : (I can statement)

I can learn from experience and continue to put forth effort even after trying several times.

UDL Lens: Executive Functions

Checkpoint 6.4 Enhance capacity for monitoring progress

Link to Vermont's Digital Backpack for Transferable Skills. Check out the resources in Self-Direction

Formative Assessment simply informs next steps. It is not something that teachers do to students but rather with them. It is assessment for learning.

Part of a path:

What are the standards (proficiencies for this unit)
How do I unpack the standards for students (learning targets)
How will I summatively assess standards? (clarify evidence needed; consider UDL)
What are the formative checks? Do they address all standards?
- plan how to measure progress toward the end game
- intentionally sequence formative checkpoints to stop, re-evaluate and plan next steps
Are there opportunities for practice in my instructional plan? (Only now do you develop the plans for daily instruction.)

From Schimmer, Tom, et al. Standards-Based Learning in Action: Moving from Theory to Practice. Solution Tree Press, 2018.

From our friends at Actively Learn

Tech tools for Formative Assessment

Of course you don't need technology to collect formative information. A simple thumbs-up, thumbs-down check, or an index card exit card work well. Since we have the power of technology at SBHS, though, you may want to try a few of these engaging ways to collect data. Formative assessment should be done so often that you'll be glad to have a variety of tools in your belt. Listed below are 12 that I've found most useful, or most frequently mentioned by trusted sources. Try some of these and let me know what works for you! If 20 aren't enough, the top two links take you to other sources that have more.

From Richard Byrne: https://www.freetech4teachers.com/2017/02/21-tools-for-conducting-digital.html (He has over 20 sources here, many of which are on my list below)
From CommonSense Media: https://www.commonsense.org/education/top-picks/top-tech-tools-for-formative-assessment (They have 26 tools, about half of which are on Byrne's list above.)

Gimkit: new to me and I suspect for most students. Try it

Go to gimkit.com/play and enter code

38876

Google Forms: exit cards (15 templates)

Socrative : Powerful and easy-to-use student-response system has the potential to support responsive teaching. Tutorial

Padlet (exit tickets, question wall, parking lot issues)Newish feature

Formative (can draw)Cleverly designed for teachers, Formative offers a flexible and attractive solution for gathering a variety of student response types and offering individualized feedback.

Kahoot: Effortlessly fun quizzing that can lead to productive formative assessment and student reflection if implemented effectively. Used often at SBHS, so it might be effective to try something new.

Quizalize: Easy-to-set-up and mostly free way to assign quizzes and check for understanding with a handy but paid option for progress tracking.

EdPuzzle Add questions to video, track responses

Quizlet : a popular flashcard service, added a new interactive diagram feature.

Nearpod: This effective tool leverages the capabilities of 1-to-1 environments and offers both teacher- and student-paced learning.

Flipgrid: A simple way for students and teachers to create online discussion, as long as your classroom culture is mature enough to use it wisely.

Sero. New to me, so see what CommonSense media has to say. Looks interesting! Here's a quick video

Google Slides: add audience Q and A

Chart comparing some of these tools: https://teachingforward.net/formative-assessment-comparision/

Now what?

Focus on What's Next, not what was. Tap into the power of YET.

CommonSense video: 3 Tips

CommonSense pdf: same information as video, but in text format

Poster to help students understand the point of formative assessment

Poster on The Road to Student-Driven Formative Assessment

Blog post from teacher who improved feedback with formative assessment

My Favorite No (thanks Phil!)

If you decide to personalize or differentiate, be sure to check out the resources in the Digital Backpack for self-direction. You might create a playlist or a TechTacToe and many of the same tools that might be used for formative assessment could also be used for extending the learning. Certainly Actively Learn can be considered.