Formative assessment blog

What is formative assessment?
Formative assessment is a form of assessment that uses the students quality of work to build techniques of better learning. Rather than a form of assessment that monitors student performance, it is one that enhances and improves performance. It uses proper timing, teacher comments and appropriate use of assignments to allow student achievement, and assessment happens during the process of learning rather than after

What is the CENTRAL purpose of formative assessment?
The central purpose is that of allowing students better confidence and a growing curve of learning. Rather than telling students they did something wrong, it shows them what they can do to improve upon only. This eliminates hurt feelings.

Connect a best practice in formative assessment to one research-based strategy.
Providing feedback, this includes using comments and peer and self assessment used in the formative assessment.

Give an example of how a specific assessment can be used formatively and summatively.

Using a rubric given to students to guide an assignment. Students can use what you'll be using as a grade to help build a quality assignment, but then the teach can use the rubric to do the actual grading. The rubric as a tool for the students and teacher is (to guide assignment) is formative, and the rubric as a grading tool for the teacher is summative. 

Give an example from your field placement related to formative assessment and timing.

In music most evaluation is formative. We must use everything we ask of the students as the students use of guiding assignments. We have videos with worksheets that need questions answered, we use listening assignments where students write down what they hear, we have coloring assignments. We can't use a lot of tests because that isn't an accurate depiction of a student's abilities. So participation in assignments needs to be used as assessment much of the time.

What are some strategies to help formative assessment be more effective when providing students with feedback? Use peer assessment strategies. As a student, having friends and people in the class provide truthful feedback was always more meaningful than a teacher giving the feedback.

Name two advantages to high quality formative assessment.

Teachers can identify struggling students and provide help much faster and easier. Students can build confidence and feelings of control better.