Formative Assessment

What it IS&

What it is NOT

Formative Assessment (defined)

• Formative assessment is a planned process in which assessment-elicited evidence of students’ status is used by teachers to adjust their ongoing instructional procedures or by students to adjust their current learning tactics. --James Popham, Classroom Assessment: What Teachers Need to Know (6th edition)

Formative Assessment (defined)

• The process used by teachers and students to recognize and respond to student learning in order to enhance that learning, during the learning. --Bell & Cowie, The characteristics of formative assessment in science education

Formative Assessment (defined)

• Formative assessment “takes place day by day and allows the teacher and the student to adapt their respective actions to the teaching/learning situation in question.” --Allal & Lopez, Formative Assessment of Learning

Formative Assessment

What it IS• A process• Informative• Teacher & Student involved• Guide to change practices

What it is NOT• Snapshot• Accountability• Teacher-centered• A routine

How do you use formative assessment in your classroom?