Pedagogy Focus: Formative assessment

The latest instalment of our Pedagogy Focus series looks at the basics of formative assessment and how is it used in schools
17th August 2019, 8:04am

Share

Pedagogy Focus: Formative assessment

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/pedagogy-focus-formative-assessment
Formative Assessment Pedagogy

What is formative assessment?

Formative assessment, also known as assessment for learning, is a method of assessing pupils while learning is happening rather than at the end of a topic or sequence of lessons (summative assessment). 

Formative assessment can be conducted through a variety of methods, such as targeted questioning, exit questions and recap starter activities, or peer and self-assessment that promotes reflection and the sharing of knowledge.   

It is integrated and ongoing, moving away from marks, grades and levels. A key principle of this style of assessment is that, in evaluating the comprehension levels and learning needs of students, teachers can amend and tailor their approach in future.

Where did it come from?

Formative and summative assessment are terms that have been common in education since the late-1960s. 

However, formative assessment attracted fresh interest after Paul Black and Dylan Wiliam published their pioneering research, Inside the Black Box: raising standards through classroom assessmentin the late 1990s. 

How is it used in schools?

Ideas surrounding formative assessment usually underpin many aspects of a school’s teaching and learning ethos, and their policies on assessment; a focus on sharing learning outcomes and success criteria with students, integrating mini-plenaries, or a whole-school approach to peer and self-assessment, for example. 

Owing to the focus on continuous assessment, teachers can use the findings to build a picture of a class and groups of key students’ understanding and progress. 

Timely intervention (on a classroom and department/whole-school level) can then take place and more meaningful revision can be planned for students. 

Formative assessment is also useful for building students’ metacognitive awareness of how they learn and what they need to work on, which promotes greater responsibility and independence when it comes to learning.

Further reading:

Black P and Wiliam D (1998) Inside the Black Box: raising standards through classroom assessment. London: King’s College School of Education.

Black and Wiliams’ research: “Assessment and Classroom Learning”.

Black and Wiliams research: “Developing the Theory of Formative Assessment”. 

Want to keep reading for free?

Register with Tes and you can read two free articles every month plus you'll have access to our range of award-winning newsletters.

Keep reading for just £1 per month

You've reached your limit of free articles this month. Subscribe for £1 per month for three months and get:

  • Unlimited access to all Tes magazine content
  • Exclusive subscriber-only stories
  • Award-winning email newsletters
Recent
Most read
Most shared