What does a formative assessment typically involve?

A formative assessment typically involves ongoing checks for understanding during the instructional process. This type of assessment is designed to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback that can be used by instructors to improve their teaching strategies and by students to enhance their learning. It includes a variety of strategies, such as quizzes, discussions, observations, and interactive activities, all aimed at gauging student comprehension and providing immediate insights into their progress.

The main goal of formative assessments is to identify areas where students may struggle and to make timely adjustments to instruction to support their growth. Unlike final evaluations or comprehensive testing, formative assessments are not about evaluating student performance at the end of a learning period but rather focus on continuous improvement throughout the teaching and learning process. This allows for a more dynamic and responsive educational environment where both educators and learners can adapt and refine their approaches to achieve better outcomes.