Formative Assessment process

Formative Assessment process used by teachers can help them determine what their students are not learning, giving them the ability to adjust their teaching – in the moment- and to move all learners forward. Embedding formative assessment dimensions in everyday teaching is a research-based practice to improve individual student learning. The definition of formative assessment is that the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) as a system embraces is from the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). This definition was developed by the Formative Assessment for Students and Teachers (FAST) State Collaborative on Assessment and Student Standards (SCASS) or FAST SCASS. The definition of formative Assessment is: 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 more self-directed learners. Additional information about the formative assessment definition can be found on the CCSSO website. There is also a resource that provides an overview of the FAST SCASS’s revised definition on formative assessment.

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.

Instructional Support Resources | Professional Learning Resources

  Classroom Videos | Current and Previous Grant Projects

  

Arizona Leans In on Formative Assessment. This Ed Week article highlights Arizona Educator involvement in the Formative Assessment Insights course. This article was published online on November 9, 2015. This article was published in print on November 11, 2015, as An Arizona Initiative Sets Sights on Teachers.

Additional Research

Connecting Formative Assessment Research to Practice – An Introductory Guide for Educators (2009) The Connecting Research to Practice brief is intended to enhance the knowledge and build the capacity of state, district and school personnel to implement effective formative assessment practice. The brief defines formative assessment, examines the research, and outlines the components needed to develop a high-quality, research-based formative assessment plan in a state, district, or school.

Formative Assessment: An enabler of learning (Heritage, 2011) (link file Formative Assessment Article) This two-page article provides a great starting o point and foundational information about the process of formative assessment. This article supports the definition of formative assessment as a process and outlines the teacher’s role, the student’s role, feedback and classroom climate as critical parts of the formative assessment process.

Other State Formative Assessment Resources