What is formative assessment?

Formative assessment refers to a range of formal and informal assessment procedures conducted by educators during the learning process in order to monitor student understanding and provide ongoing feedback that can be used by instructors to improve their teaching and by students to enhance their learning. The primary goal of formative assessment is to gather actionable insights while instruction is still taking place, allowing there to be adjustments and interventions based on what the students need at that given moment.

This type of assessment emphasizes learning as a continuous process and facilitates a supportive learning environment where students can engage meaningfully with the material. It encourages active student participation and can take various forms, including quizzes, discussions, peer reviews, or observations. When implemented effectively, formative assessments help identify students’ strengths and weaknesses, fostering a productive dialogue between teachers and students about progress and areas for improvement.