What is a formative assessment?

A formative assessment is characterized by its purpose and timing within the instructional process, which is to provide ongoing feedback to both teachers and students during the learning experience. This type of assessment focuses on monitoring student learning and understanding, allowing educators to adjust instruction as needed to enhance student achievement.

Formative assessments can take various forms, such as quizzes, discussions, observations, or quick checks for understanding, and they are implemented throughout the course rather than at the end. The primary goal is to support learning rather than merely to evaluate it, fostering a productive environment for growth and development in student skills and knowledge.

This approach is valuable because it emphasizes learning as a continuous process rather than a final evaluation, promoting a deeper understanding of material and encouraging students to engage with the content actively.