Which two of the following are benefits of using formative assessments in the classroom?
According to Lang, et al (2008), the formative assessment process came from educators working on ways to accelerate student achievement and help predict how students will perform on standards-based statewide tests. Show
The benefits of formative assessment is obvious in the classroom. The usage of formative assessments in class as a way to guide instruction and to authentically determine student mastery offers many advantages, far beyond higher test scores. According to Chappius & Chappius (2007), although all formative assessment practices have the potential to increase student learning, some of the distinct benefits of formative assessment ar as follows.
In very simple terms, formative assessments, unlike summative assessments, allow the student and educator to form a more detailed understanding of the student’s abilities, which can be used to inform remediation, re-teaching, and instructional strategy. With formative assessment, we work with students, we don’t do something to students. We seek to use the data from formative assessments to help the student master the curriculum and help the student identify his/her strengths and weaknesses. This is a shift in the classic educational paradigm. Formative assessment allows students to concentrate their efforts on specific areas and hence improve overall performance. How can you make the most out of formative assessments in your classroom? From Professional Learning Board’s online continuing education course for teachers: Formative Assessment You are hereAssessment allows both instructor and student to monitor progress towards achieving learning objectives, and can be approached in a
variety of ways. Formative assessment refers to tools that identify misconceptions, struggles, and learning gaps along the way and assess how to close those gaps. It includes effective tools for helping to shape learning, and can even bolster students’ abilities to take ownership of their learning when they understand that the goal is to improve learning, not apply final marks (Trumbull and Lash, 2013). It can include students assessing themselves, peers, or even the instructor,
through writing, quizzes, conversation, and more. In short, formative assessment occurs throughout a class or course, and seeks to improve student achievement of learning objectives through approaches that can support specific student needs (Theal and Franklin, 2010, p. 151). In contrast, summative assessments evaluate student learning, knowledge, proficiency, or success at the conclusion of an instructional period, like a unit, course, or program. Summative
assessments are almost always formally graded and often heavily weighted (though they do not need to be). Summative assessment can be used to great effect in conjunction and alignment with formative assessment, and instructors can consider a variety of ways to combine these approaches. Examples of Formative and Summative AssessmentsExamples of Formative and Summative Assessments
Both forms of assessment can vary across several dimensions (Trumbull and Lash, 2013):
RecommendationsFormative Assessment Ideally, formative assessment strategies improve teaching and learning simultaneously. Instructors can help students grow as learners by actively encouraging them to self-assess their own skills and knowledge retention, and by giving clear instructions and feedback. Seven principles (adapted from Nicol and Macfarlane-Dick, 2007 with additions) can guide instructor strategies:
Instructors can find a variety of other formative assessment techniques through Angelo and Cross (1993), Classroom Assessment Techniques (list of techniques available here). Summative Assessment Because summative assessments are usually higher-stakes than formative assessments, it is especially important to ensure that the assessment aligns with the goals and expected outcomes of the instruction.
Considerations for Online AssessmentsEffectively implementing assessments in an online teaching environment can be particularly challenging. The Poorvu Center shares these recommendations. ReferencesNicol, D.J. and Macfarlane-Dick, D. (2006) Formative assessment and self‐regulated learning: a model and seven principles of good feedback practice. Studies in Higher Education 31(2): 2-19. Theall, M. and Franklin J.L. (2010). Assessing Teaching Practices and Effectiveness for Formative Purposes. In: A Guide to Faculty Development. KJ Gillespie and DL Robertson (Eds). Jossey Bass: San Francisco, CA. Trumbull, E., & Lash, A. (2013). Understanding formative assessment: Insights from learning theory and measurement theory. San Francisco: WestEd. Considerations for Online AssessmentsWhat is the benefit of formative assessment?The use of formative assessment helps to reduce potential misconceptions about how a student is progressing, and instead, provide access to real-time data. This allows you to proactively include initiatives and teaching methods that respond to individual student needs.
What are the benefits of assessing students in a formative way?Top 7 Benefits of Using Formative Assessment. Better focus on goals. ... . Improved learning environment. ... . Better performance. ... . Increased student engagement and motivation. ... . Positive learning process. ... . Personalized learning experiences. ... . Promotes self-learning.. What are the 4 types of formative assessment?Types of Formative Assessment. Observations during in-class activities; of students non-verbal feedback during lecture.. Homework exercises as review for exams and class discussions). Reflections journals that are reviewed periodically during the semester.. What are the benefits of formative and summative assessments?Formative assessment can include strategic questioning (of one or all students), quizzes, tests that asks students to explain their thinking, and group projects. Summative assessments can be helpful for students who are motivated by scores and grades and benefit from comparing themselves to other students.
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