What is formative assessment?
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 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:
- Clarifying learning goals and success criteria within a broader progression of learning;
- Eliciting and analyzing evidence of student thinking;
- Engaging in self-assessment and peer feedback;
- Providing actionable feedback; and
- Using evidence and feedback to move learning forward by adjusting learning strategies, goals, or next instructional steps.
–FAST SCASS revised definition 2018
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) supports the Formative Assessment for MI Educators (FAME) program. Learning teams transform and deepen their practice MAC supports the program with research, evaluation, event coordination, web development and publications.
The resources curated on this page include a definition, short articles, research, a video and a recommendation to learn more through the Assessment Learning Module Understanding the Formative Assessment Process. A broader search for formative assessment resources in our Assessment Resource Bank should include the terms: Assessment for Learning, and Formative Assessment Process.
A Learning Moment Video
By definition, students are part of the formative assessment process. Margaret Heritage explains why the effective use of formative assessment has a positive impact on students.
We’ve assembled more resources for this topic below.
What conditions are necessary for successful implementation of formative assessment?
This Learning Point summarizes the conditions necessary for effective use of formative assessment practices in a classroom, as originally described in a white paper by Margaret Heritage, Nancy Gerzon, and Marie Mancuso
What do we mean by formative assessment?
Formative assessment, as defined in the Michigan FAME program, is described in this Learning Point.