Formative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Formative Assessments (assessment for learning) refer to the ongoing process that students and teachers engage in when they:   focus on the learning goals (know where they are going)  take stock of where current work is in relation to that goal (know where they are now)  take action to move closer to the goal (know how to close the gap) 

Formative assessments are used to gather evidence, both formally and informally, for the purpose of improving learning.  

It is not the instrument that is formative; it is the use of the information gathered, by whatever means, to adjust teaching and learning, that makes it formative.