Informal Formative Assessment

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Schools and teachers assess students in numerous methods, for a diversity of reasons – ranging from extensive classifications of judging, sorting and ranking, to more subtle explanations, determining students’ needs and level of understanding. Educators have distinguished a very strong difference concerning summative assessment and formative assessment; however the distinction is believed to be modified between how data is generated and how assessments are used. This paper will focus on formative assessments, and the difference between formal formative and informal formative assessments. Proceeding to the observation on how assessments can be used in the classroom effectively, the aspects of assessments and procedures to follow. Concluding …show more content…

Established learning: teacher and student roles in the learning process should be established. Teachers need to create an environment where student can establish trust and mutual respect, as well as experience harmless constructive feedback. As defined by Bell & Cowie (2001), there are nine characteristics of formative assessment: responsiveness; source of evidence; tacit process; use of professional knowledge and experience; integral measures between teaching and learning; assessments by teacher and student; purpose; appropriateness of process; and predicaments. Vigilant observation of students progression, allows the teacher to see beyond assumptions and predictions, and provide information to better understand and support learning outcomes used to determine students understanding. Careful thought of learning assessments are grouped into four types: observation, conversation, student self-evaluation and artefacts, all of which can take form in numerous assessments: - Checklists: learn student behavior by keeping a record of pre-selected learning actions to be observed, with use of indicators to assess e.g. particular strategy to use or type of question to …show more content…

For a teacher to be successful assessors, a deep understanding of assessments needs to be developed, and the following questions are able to be answered: why do assessments; when to do assessments; and how to assess in ways that have an impact on students learning in a positive way. Once a teacher has the knowledge to make meaningful decisions based on these questions, assessments that are planned, designed and implemented can be used to provide formative, meaningful information and support learning