Formative Assessment Resources

The Definition of Formative Assessment

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

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.

Summit III (June 14th and 15th) Resources

Margaret Heritage

Opening Keynote – June 14th – An Ecology of Formative Assessment June 14th and June 15th – Formative in the Disciplines Breakout Session – Observation and Feedback Opening keynote – June 15th – Nudging Learning Along

CSAI – The Center on Standards & Assessment Implementation

Session contact Sandy Chang ([email protected]) – Please contact Sandy if you have any questions about other CSAI resources.

• CSAI - lesson Planning with Formative Assessment – Presentation CSAI – Formative Assessment Lesson Planning
• FAI - Writing tips for Learning goals and Success Criteria CSAI - lesson Revision–Improving Lesson Plans with Formative Assessment
• Peer to Peer Professional Learning – Suzi Mast & Tracy Fazio Peer to Peer Professional Learning
• FARROP – Using the Formative Assessment Rubrics,
• Reflection and Observation Tools to Support Professional Reflection on Practice
• SAAL Continuums – Peer Reflection and Self Assessment Continuums
• Instructional Rounds and Formative Assessment – Jonathan Moore & Pam Betten Presentation

Summit IV (Jan. 30-31)-Introduction to Formative Assessment-Resources

Agenda

Day 1 - Opening Keynote - Nancy Gerzon

From Formative Assessment to Student Agency: Lessons from Arizona Educators

Breakout One Creating the conditions for Success: The Role of Leaders

Handouts MSDF - Keys to Success Learning Culture Notetaking Templates Birenbaum Culture Graphic

Presenters Marie Mancuso - WCC at Wested Pam Bettern - Sunnyside Unified School District Renee Sweeden - Chandler Unified School District

Breakout Two Developing a Vision for Student Agency

Handouts Picture a Student Fundamentals of Learning

Presenters Cheryl Mango - Paget - Coconino County ESA Bob Montgomery - WestEd Suzi Mast - ADE 

Day 2 - Breakout Session

Breakout One Learning Goals and Success Criteria

Handouts FA Lesson Planning Framework Lesson Plan Feedback on LG and SC Lesson Scenario Collaborative Team Checklist Collaborative Team Rubric Presenters Sandy Change - UCLA, CSAI Julie Park Haubner - UCLA, CSAI

Breakout Two Peer Feedback and Self-Assessment

Handouts 5 Attributes of Self Assessment 6 Attributes of Quality Feedback

Presenters Marie Mancuso - WCC at WEstEd Julie Eilertsen, Hamilton High School, Chandler Unified School District Lee Irby, Mount Eldon Middle School, Flagstaff Unified School District 

Breakout Three Eliciting and Using Evidence

Handouts Handout Teacher Lesson Plan Handout Eliciting and Using Evidence Handout Math Formative Assessment Data

Presenters Nancy Gerzon - WestEd Hilary Johannes, Hamilton High School, Chandler Unified School District Samantha Choffin, Summit View Elementary School, Sunnyside School District WestEd Formative Assessment Microsite Formative Assessment Summit Graphic

Summit V (June 13-14) - Power Learning, Ambitious Teacher

AGENDA

Day 1 – Keynotes – Margaret Heritage

Powerful Learning, Ambitious Teaching Formative Assessment in the Disciplines

Breakout I Language & Culture in Formative Assessment Practice

Handouts Reflect, Plan and Enact Kindergarten - A Window into My Family Problem-Place-based Learning Example

Presenter Barbara Jones, WestEd

Breakout II From Formative Assessment to Student Agency: What we are learning about helping students learn how to learn

Handouts Student and Teacher Shifts AGENCY Student and Teacher Shifts AGENCY CARD LABELS Noticing Learners Agency

Presenter(s) Nancy Gerzon, WestEd Marie Mancuso, WestEd

Breakout III Developing a Vision for Student Agency

Handouts Developing a Vision for Student Agency Handout Foundational of Learning Picture a Kid Handout

Presenter Cheryl Mango-Paget, Coconino ESA Kelly Donatell, Coconino ESA

Breakout IV Deepening our Understanding of Learning Goals & Success criteria

Handouts LG and SC Guiding Questions LG & SC Template 

Presenter Suzi Mast, ADE 

Teacher and Leader Breakout Sessions

Day 2 - Opening Session - Lenay Dunn

Evidence of Impact: What We are Learning about Formative Assessment Implementation and its Impact on Agency Theory of Action for Formative Assessment

Teacher and Leader Breakout Sessions

Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Breakout I Language & Culture in Formative Assessment Practice

Handouts

Presenter Barbara Jones, WestEd

Breakout II Roundtable Discussions

Handouts No Handouts

Facilitator(s) Suzi Mast Tammy Hall 

Breakout III Professional Learning Design that Supports Teacher Agency

Handouts PL - Recent Insights handout Professional Learning Design Sketch Template Professional Learning Design Tools & Concepts

Presenter Nancy Gerzon, WestEd Bob Montgomery, WestEd

Breakout IV Developing an Evidence Base at the Local Level

Handouts

Presenter Lenay Dunn, WestEd Marie Mancuso, WestEd

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 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.