Understanding Formative Assessment
November 11, 2015
Formative assessment is one of the most widely used—but poorly understood—instructional techniques. This special report highlights common misconceptions about the approach and shows how formative assessment differs from other kinds of assessments, such as summative or benchmark tests. It also illuminates some ways that educators can use formative assessment in their classrooms to find out on the spot whether students are really "getting it."
Assessment Video Formative-Assessment VideosWatch how formative-assessment techniques play out in the classroom.
Assessment Arizona Leans In on Formative AssessmentIn the Grand Canyon State, teachers are getting a leg up in their efforts to improve the on-the-spot assessments and instructional decisions they make in the classroom.Assessment Technology Fed Growth in Formative AssessmentEducation-technology tools have made it easier for teachers to keep tabs on students' understanding.College & Workforce Readiness New Tools Help Track Common-Core LearningPARCC and Smarter Balanced have formative assessments that enable teachers to see if students 'get it' long before the tests.
Assessment Students 'Self-Assess' Their Way to LearningIn a growing number of schools, student self-assessments are just another part of the learning process.Teaching Learning Progressions: Maps to Personalized TeachingIn Denver and elsewhere, learning progressions offer one tool teachers can use in the formative-assessment process.
Assessment Searching for Clarity on Formative AssessmentAsk five teachers what formative assessment is and you're likely to get five different definitions.
Assessment Q&A Q&A: Misconceptions About Formative AssessmentRichard J. Stiggins, an advocate of classroom assessments in the service of learning, identifies misconceptions about formative assessment.
Assessment Should Formative Assessments Be Graded?Experts warn against grading formative assessments, but teachers sometimes worry that students won't take the tasks seriously any other way.
Assessment Explainer Types of Assessments: A Head-to-Head ComparisonThis chart provides a guide for distinguishing different kinds of student assessments.
