Formative Assessment

“Formative assessment refers to tools that identify misconceptions, struggles, and learning gaps along the way and assess how to close those gaps. It includes effective tools for helping to shape learning, and can even bolster students’ abilities to take ownership of their learning when they understand that the goal is to improve learning, not apply final marks.”

• Faculty Toolkit for Formative Assessment in Pharmacy Education DiVall, Margarita V., and others.. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 2014; 78 (9) Article 160.

"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."

-- CCSSO web site