10 Innovative Formative Assessment Examples for Teachers to Know
10 Innovative Formative Assessment Examples for Teachers to Know
6. 3–2–1 Countdown
This is a true test of relevant and meaningful learning. When students learn something they find useful, they’re likely to want to use that learning in some way. Have students end the day with this one. Give them cards to write on, or they can respond orally. They are required to respond to three separate statements:
- 3 things you didn’t know before
- 2 things that surprised you about this topic
- 1 thing you want to start doing with what you’ve learned
You can also ask them different kinds of questions. These are suggestions, so feel free to make up your own.
7. Classroom Polls
Polls let students give responses quickly and accurately. A silent poll is perfect for those “shy” students who have trouble speaking up. These are also a quick way to check understanding using mobile technology. Try tools like Poll Everywhere or SurveyPlanet.
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8. Exit/Admit Tickets
A simple but effective formative assessment is the exit ticket. Exit tickets are small pieces of paper or cards that students deposit as they leave the classroom. Students write down an accurate interpretation of the main idea behind the lesson taught that day. Next, they provide more detail about the topic.
Admit tickets are done at the very beginning of the class. Students may respond to questions about homework, or on the lesson taught the day before.
9. One-Minute Papers
One-minute papers are usually done at the end of the day. Students can work individually or in groups here. They must answer a brief question in writing. Typical questions posed by teachers center around:
- Main point
- Most surprising concept
- Questions not answered
- Most confusing area of topic
- What question from the topic might appear on the next test
Without formative assessments, the first indication that a student doesn’t grasp the material is when they fail a quiz or a test. An innovative formative assessment strategy like this can take failure out of the classroom.
10. Creative Extension Projects
Students can create a large scope of projects to demonstrate comprehension. Quick projects help them apply the higher-order levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy. These don’t have to be big and complicated. They can take a day, a half-day, or even an hour. Here are some extension ideas for quick projects:
- Create a poster or collage illustrating the subject matter
- Record a rehearsed skit or podcast discussing the topics covered
- Build a diorama about the subject and create a narrative behind it
- Let students design their own flashcards to test each other with
- Keynote presentations made by students on the topic