Formative Assessment, Effective Feedback and EDTech Tools - Part 1
Date: 27th May 2022/Friday
Welcome to another interesting new blog post about formative assessments in schools, followed by effective feedback and the role of edtech tools in creating innovative formative assessments. We will begin by refreshing and exploring a little more about formative assessments. Then we will discuss effective ways of giving feedback to students. This will be followed by exploring a few edtech that are freely available that can be used to create innovative and personalized formative assessments.
So what are formative assessments? why are they important? how are they different from summative assessments? when should we take formative assessments? what should the teachers do after formative assessments? Formative assessments are basically ongoing and taken at regular intervals during the school year. These can be taken once the unit is completed or even in the midst to checking for understanding. These assessments can be written, verbal or online. Preferably not graded but followed by a detailed feedback. It is basically an evaluation of the students understanding of a concept, learning needs and progress. These assessments help the teachers in identifying the gaps in learning, the areas of improvement for students, areas of strength and development, topics/concepts students are struggling with, an insight into skills that students cannot acquire. Based on this teachers re adjust their teaching in the classroom, may be they decide to change their methodologies to suit students needs and interests. They may decide to re teach a topic. They may decide to spend more time on a topic. They may decide to go slow. All these steps are taken to ensure students learning improves in the classroom and beyond.
The data from formative assessments should be used to build a students strengths and not dwell on the deficits or mistakes. It should help students become more conscious and aware of their development and learning needs, strengths, they should be able to take responsibility of their own growth and progress.They should be able to self regulate and monitor their behavior and responses.
As far as the summative assessments are concerned they are taken at the end of the semester, term or session. The data from the summative assessments is used for promotion purposes, its a complete picture of the academics progress over the year. It is graded, scored. Standardized tests are an examples of summative assessments.
Assessment expert Paul Black says and quote "when the cook tastes the soup, it is formative assessment , and when the customer tastes the soup it is summative assessment".
Moving back to formative assessments, there are several examples of formative assessments, presentations, role plays, quizzes, self assessments, asking questions in the class. Detailed feedback on written work like comments also lead to improvement in work. Exit tickets, exit slips or admit slips are also a great way to know where a student stands at the end of the lesson. Two stars and a wish is another formative assessment strategy where students are given two stares on two areas where they have performed well and suggestion/advice on an areas that needs work. The whole class can review a piece of work followed by whole class feedback. The class can review each others work or students can review their own work using a checklist or a detailed rubric.
Another interesting formative assessment strategy is Carousal brainstorming. In this strategy, students are divided into groups of 4 and 5 students, and as a group they respond to a question or share ideas about a topic. Each group then reads the charts by all groups. Students can add new points in their chart. Once the whole class has reviewed all charts, these points can be used for summarizing, comparing information. Thumbs up, thumbs down and thumbs slide ways is another very effective formative assessment strategy to use in the class. 30 seconds share is another interesting strategy where students are given prompts to summarize their learning in 30 seconds. Similarly one minute or one minute summary is another useful strategy to gain insight into students learning. Some prompts can be: most important learning from the day, most surprising topic, most confusing topic and something I think might appear on a quiz or test and why do I think so.
In all these formative assessments a key area is the feedback that is given to students that makes the difference. While exploring online I was able to find a number of ways to share positive and constructive feedback with students. These include making the students feel secure and safe, the feedback should empower the students and not harm their work. Your class should be a place of empowerment and not judgement. Second, let the students know you are in this with them and you will work together to find a way out. They need to know that you are not alone in this. In the words of Helen Keller, "Alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much".
Third, always give feedback that is encouraging and supportive. Fourth, never use these three words should, but and however. Instead you could say, I really appreciate the work you did , and your on the right path, why not add these details or try these suggestions to improve further". Fifth, ask guiding questions, what do you think about this, how would you approach this matter, what are your thoughts about the issue, what can be the possible steps to improve this etc. Sixth, use visual resources, there is a lot of research that says students learn more with visual assistance. Last, ask the following questions to check the students understanding:
Does this all make sense to you?
Do you have any other questions or anything to ad
Are you seeing some new possibilities for how you can move forward.
Also note that the feedback has to be educative in nature and given timely. Sharing a feedback after a months assessment will have no effect. Be conscious and aware of students needs, when sharing information make sure the feedback takes into account of diverse learners and their individual needs. The feedback should focus on some skill or academic area. You can also ask the students to give feedback to each other and you could ask them to use rubrics or checklists.
Acknowledge students efforts no matter how small or large, it helps them move forward and go a long way. You could begin by saying "I notice great improvement in the presentation of your work, your handwriting has improved. Why not try these activities to improve further." And always provide a sample or a model of the expected work. This guides the student well enough.
In my next blog we will be exploring the various edtech tools available that can be used to create more innovative formative assessments online.
Happy Reading.
Regards and prayers
Sheeba Ajmal
References:
Dyer, K. (2021, August 24). 75 digital tools and apps teachers can use to support formative assessment in the classroom. NWEA. Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.nwea.org/blog/2021/75-digital-tools-apps-teachers-use-to-support-classroom-formative-assessment/
Dyer, K. (2022, January 18). 27 Easy Formative Assessment Strategies for Gathering Evidence of Student Learning. NWEA. Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.nwea.org/blog/2022/27-easy-formative-assessment-strategies-for-gathering-evidence-of-student-learning/
Formative and Summative Assessments | Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning. (n.d.). Poorvu Center. Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/Formative-Summative-Assessments
Great Schools Organization. (2014, 4 29). Formative Assessments. Formative Assessments. Retrieved 05 27, 2022, from https://www.edglossary.org/formative-assessment/
Reynolds, L. (n.d.). 20 Ways To Provide Effective Feedback For Learning -. TeachThought. Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/20-ways-to-provide-effective-feedback-for-learning/
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