What is formative assessment?

What is formative assessment?

• A. An assessment used at the end of a unit
• B. An assessment used to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback
• C. A final exam for grading purposes
• D. An assessment of teacher performance

Answer: (B)

Formative assessment is fundamentally about monitoring student learning and providing ongoing feedback throughout the learning process. This type of assessment is typically conducted during the learning activities rather than at the end, allowing educators to identify students' strengths and weaknesses while instruction is still taking place. The feedback from formative assessments can guide both educators and students, informing instructional strategies and helping students understand their learning progress. This ongoing feedback loop is essential for making adjustments to teaching that can support student growth and understanding. In contrast, assessments conducted at the end of a unit primarily serve to evaluate what students have learned rather than to shape ongoing teaching practices. Final exams serve a grading purpose and do not provide the continuous feedback integral to formative assessments. Additionally, evaluations of teacher performance focus on the effectiveness of instruction rather than measuring student learning directly.

Formative assessment is fundamentally about monitoring student learning and providing ongoing feedback throughout the learning process. This type of assessment is typically conducted during the learning activities rather than at the end, allowing educators to identify students' strengths and weaknesses while instruction is still taking place. The feedback from formative assessments can guide both educators and students, informing instructional strategies and helping students understand their learning progress. This ongoing feedback loop is essential for making adjustments to teaching that can support student growth and understanding.

In contrast, assessments conducted at the end of a unit primarily serve to evaluate what students have learned rather than to shape ongoing teaching practices. Final exams serve a grading purpose and do not provide the continuous feedback integral to formative assessments. Additionally, evaluations of teacher performance focus on the effectiveness of instruction rather than measuring student learning directly.