What is Formative Assessment? In a classroom setting, it is when teachers and students alike can evaluate the ongoing understanding of what students are learning, and then judge how lessons need to change to meet the needs of the students. This type of assessment involves both the teacher and the student.
Formative Assessment involves students to be able to think, process, and then react to what is being taught in the classroom. They must be able to process the information being taught and link it with the knowledge they already have on the subject. The teacher should be watching the students as they learn to see if they understand the concepts. There are many different ways that a teacher can do formative assessment. They can ask questions, watch how students interact with each other in groups, see how they link the new information to existing knowledge, create models or there are many other ways to collect feedback. Once the student gives feedback, the teacher should then adjust the lessons to meet the needs of the students.
Dr. W. James (Jim) Popham will be presenting “Formative Assessment: Can It Be Truly Transformative?” at the 2009 Texas ASCD Annual Conference. Come hear Dr. Popham give seven critical components of how to be successful when implementing formative assessment.
Dr. W. James Popham will present on October 25, 2009 at the Texas ASCD annual conference. Register now to receive discounted registration!
Please feel free to answer the questions below:
1. Are you or the teachers in your school performing both summative and formative assessment?
2. What kinds of training have your teachers and you had in formative assessment? Can you tell if it is working in your schools?
3. Has formative assessment changed your views of assessment in general?
Upcoming Texas ASCD Events:
May 7th & 8th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Keller ISD
June 18th & 19th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Frisco ISD
July 14th & 15th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Second Session of Three
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD (Dallas Metroplex area)
July 27th & 28th, 2009
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
Greenville ISD
August 13th & 14th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Sheldon ISD (Houston area)
October 25th - 27th, 2009
Texas ASCD Annual Conference
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)
October 27th & 28th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Third Session of Three
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)
