Formative Assessment
August 30, 2023 2023-08-30 22:07Formative Assessment
‘Formative Assessment’ is often used to analyse factors in teaching and learning processes that may or may not contribute to supporting and improving the learning process (Leenknecht et al., 2021). Essentially, Formative Assessment encourages students to modify and improve their learning, developing knowledge and skills through the guiding feedback provided by peers or instructors (McLean, 2018) and students themselves (self-assessment).
An assessment process is characterized as formative when it takes into account evidence of the students’ learning from their participation and active engagement in the various course activities and projects; this evidence is them interpreted and used by the respective lecturer or peers to shape the next steps of the teaching and learning based on student needs (Leenknecht et al., 2021).
Formative Assessment is an ongoing process because it takes place throughout the course, supporting learning and is not a simple assessment at the end of a one-off activity (McCallum et al., 2021; Gikandi et al., 2011). Moreover, it is recognised as an active process in which all stakeholders (lecturers and students) are involved (McCallum et al., 2021; Gikandi et al., 2011). Essentially, it is a form of assessment that is learning-oriented (McCallum et al., 2021; López-Pastor & Sicilia-Camacho, 2017) and is not limited to grading students’ work.
Useful strategies of formative assessment include
- Asking students to complete concept maps of lecture content and share them on a learning platform for other students to evaluate.
- Exit ticket tasks before the end of every lesson, where students provide anonymous insights regarding what they found confusing or difficult for them to understand or engage with.
- Mid-term three-stage exams ( Phase 1: students can take a test individually and submit it, Phase 2: Students resubmit answers to the same test in groups. Phase 3: Academics provide feedback based on a random individual and group submission)
