DefaultOpenGraphImage

Formative Assessment:  What Is It and How Do I Implement It with My Class

There are two main types of assessment that occur in a classroom: formative and summative.  Formative assesses learning as it occurs and gives ongoing feedback.  Summative evaluates learning after it occurs in the form of tests, quizzes, final projects, etc.  These types of assessment can be used regardless of how the course is delivered whether face-to-face, online or hybrid, but some are more suited to one delivery type than they are another.

Some ideas are writing a one-minute paper, leading a discussion on a topic, creating a chart of what students understand and don't understand in small groups,  creating flashcards, drawing a concept map, entrance and exit tickets of what they understand about a topic or don't understand about a topic, think-pair-and share (discussing a topic in a small group then one person shares with the entire class), etc.  There are many great blogs on the Internet that consists of many ideas.  Regardless of what techniques you use your feedback is critical and is required.  It needs to be frequent and substantive to be effective. 

Here are some links to blogs to assist you in locating techniques you can use in your classroom:

10 Innovative Formative Assessment Examples

Formative Assessment: MIT

Technology tools can be used to assist in the process and here are some great sites on those tools:

11 Edtech Tools that Make Formative Assessment a Breeze

Unlocking the Promise of Digital Assessment

 

ABOUT BELLARMINE

Located in the historic Highlands neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky, Bellarmine University is a vibrant community of educational excellence and ethical awareness that consistently ranks among the nation’s best colleges and universities. Our students pursue an education based in the liberal arts – and in the distinguished, inclusive Catholic tradition of educational excellence, the oldest and most rewarding in the western world. It is a lifelong education, worthy of the university’s namesake, Saint Robert Bellarmine, and of his invitation to each of us to learn and live In Veritatis Amore – in the love of all that is beautiful, true and good in life.