Formative Evaluation Techniques

Assessments are generally categorized as being either formative or summative. Summative assessment takes place periodically through the school term as well as at the end and typically takes the form of formal tests and high-stakes quizzes. Summative assessment tends to be used for purposes of assigning grades and for evaluating the effectiveness of institutions and programs of study. Formative assessment takes place frequently, can be quite informal, and is used to monitor and adjust instruction while that instruction is in progress. When a teacher engages in formative assessment, instruction can be adjusted to meet the needs of students, resulting in a classroom environment of support, engagement, and achievement. Both types of assessment are integral to student learning and achievement, but this article looks closely at the benefits and the practice of formative assessment. Formative assessment offers teachers many opportunities to informally and quickly learn about individual students' needs, and to then apply that knowledge of students to the design of instruction and assessments that support student achievement. Frequent formative assessments benefit both students and teachers. Research has shown a positive relationship between the use of formative assessments in the classroom and both student motivation and achievement (Cauley and McMillan, 2010). It is not necessary for the routine practice of high-quality formative assessment to create a cumbersome workload for students or teachers. When teachers regularly embed quick checks into lessons, students become accustomed to the procedures and benefit from frequent feedback and more tailored instruction.