Chapter 9:

Formative Assessment
Introduction
After explaining what formative assessment is and
contrasting it with summative assessment, let us
learn some techniques on how to do formative
assessment.
 Techniques for Formative Assessment
Here are some techniques given by Fisher and Frey (2007) that teachers can
use while teaching to check on student’s understanding:
1. Responds card – these are either printed or write on cards. Pre-printed
cards have responses on them such as “Yes or No”.
2. Hand signals – examples ate “thumbs up” means “ I understand and
can explain it”; “thumb sideways” means “I’m not completely sure
about...”; “thumbs down” means “I don’t understand”.
3. Games – game based learning and gamified instruction are two
emerging teaching-learning practices to drive learning. Game-based
learning makes use of a game of any kind to realize a learning outcome.
Games for Formative Assessment
Here are some games specifically suited for formative assessment to try in your classroom (Cassie, J. 2018, p.59)
a. Socrative( www.socrative.com, free and paid options) – it is a classroom – engagement app that provides
games and other activities for students.
b. Kahoot (www.kahoo.com, free and paid options) – it’s a mobile application that allows teachers to construct
homework assignments almost as though they were video game-type quest. The app also has a feature where
teachers can write their own games and make them available to students with an access code.
c. Quizlet (www.quizlet.com, free) - this app allows educators to convert data-gathering into a gamified form
that they can use to inform their teaching practice.
d. Quizizz (www.quizizz.com, free) – this let’s teachers monitor the results of students work as they do it. The
app lets students progress at their own pace throughout the game.
e. Quizazile (www.quizazile.com, free and paid options) – it provides the same kinds of quizzes and
assessments as other similar tools, but it also let’s you track the work of individual students at a granular
level.
f. Plickers (available at App Store or Google Play, free) – this formative assessment tool uses a series of
abstract cards that the teacher photographs using a mobile device. The program then analyzes the data and
presents the teacher with individualized reports of student success.
Self-assessment in Formative Assessment
Self-assessment is aligned with the principle of learner agency which means that learning involves the
activity and the initiative of the learner, more than the inputs that are transmitted to him/her by the
teacher. With learner agency, are self-regulated learners who engage in self-monitoring and self-
evaluation. Self-regulated learners continually monitor their progress toward learning outcomes. Self-
regulated learners determine whether they attained the intended learning outcomes which they have
made as their very own learning outcomes.
So it’s best that students get actively involved to assess their learning to determine how they are
progressing. This can increase their self-confidence and motivation to learn. (Davis and McGowen,
2007).
Scoring Rubrics and Formative Assessment
In formative assessment, teachers give feedback. These feedbacks ate made more specific when they are
based on rubrics which enumerate the criteria and describe the expected student’s performance (process
and product). Scoring rubrics especially analytic rubrics are, therefore, a good framework for feedback.
(Brookhart, 2013). Analytic rubrics are of great help to students in assessing their own progress.
Additional Formative Assessment Strategies
• Below are formative assessment strategies from Watanabe’s book on Mindful
Assessment: The 6 Essential Fluencies of Innovative Learning (2016) for you to
try out: