Formative Assessment defined:
Formative assessment is a planned, ongoing process used by all students and teachers during learning and teaching to elicit and use evidence of student learning to improve student understanding of intended disciplinary learning outcomes, and support students to become more self-directed learners. Effective use of the formative assessment process requires students and teachers to integrate and embed the following practices in a collaborative and respectful classroom environment:
1. Clarifying learning goals and success criteria within a broader progression of learning;
2. Eliciting and analyzing evidence of student thinking;
3. Engaging in self-assessment and peer feedback;
4. Providing actionable feedback; and
5. Using evidence and feedback to move learning forward by adjusting learning strategies, goals or next instructional steps.
Council of Chief State Officers, FAST SCASS (2017)
Formative Assessment/Instructional Process
The above condensed version graphic is available in this Applying the Formative Assessment/Instructional Process 1 PDF
An extended version of this graphic, as well as a description of the Formative Assessment/Instructional Process, is available in this Applying the Formative Assessment/Instructional Process 2 PDF
Questions? Contact Tracy Thomsen, Formative Assessment Coordinator and Joe Kremer, School Improvement/Assessment Consultant