Explore the world of formative assessment with Qridi. Learn about the definition, examples, strategies, and tools to enhance student learning and understanding.
Are you looking to revolutionize your teaching approach and improve student outcomes? Dive into the realm of formative assessment with Qridi as your guide. In this article, we'll explore the definition, examples, strategies, and tools of formative assessment, empowering you to engage and support your students effectively. We will outline 7 practical measures and tools to achieve good formative assessment practices in the classroom.
Qridi is widely used specifically in Finland, where learning outcomes are among the best in the world. One reason for the success of the Finnish education system is considered to be the emphasis on formative assessment in teaching.
Formative assessment is a dynamic process used by educators to monitor student learning progress and provide timely feedback for improvement. Unlike summative assessment, which evaluates student learning at the end of a unit or course, formative assessment occurs throughout the learning process. It aims to identify student strengths and areas for growth, guiding instructional decisions and fostering continuous improvement.
Using this approach, students are allowed to use assessment as a tool to gain ownership and understanding of their own learning. Teaching the skills of self-assessment help improve students' metacognitive abilities and support them with their growth towards becoming independent and self-regulated learners.
1. Classroom Discussions: Engage students in meaningful conversations to gauge their understanding of key concepts and identify misconceptions.
2. Digital portfolios: Allow students to record different stages of their learning progress and reflect on it. This builds children’s metacognitive abilities and guides them towards becoming self-regulated learners.
3. Quizzes and Polls: Administer short quizzes or polls during lessons to check for comprehension and adjust teaching strategies accordingly.
4. Self- and Peer Assessment: Encourage students to provide constructive feedback to their peers, promoting collaboration and self-reflection.
5. Observations: Observe student behavior, participation, and problem-solving skills during group activities or projects to inform teaching practices.
6. Visualize the learning paths: In order to be aware of the current stage of progress, what has already been covered and what lies ahead, different visualisations can be used. Learning objectives and their sequence can take the form of a train, house, mountain or a tree for example.
7. Set goals with students: Having a clear goal in mind can help learners understand the path they are on. Working on goals on an individual level and also keeping parents informed and included in formulating the goals greatly enhances the awareness of the current learning path.
While both formative and summative assessments are valuable tools for evaluating student learning, they serve different purposes. Formative assessment focuses on providing ongoing feedback to support student growth and improve instruction.
In contrast, summative assessment measures student achievement at the end of a learning period and often carries more weight in grading.
Understanding the distinction between formative and summative assessments is crucial for educators aiming to optimize both the learning process and learning outcomes. Here’s a deeper look at how these assessments differ and the appropriate contexts for each
The choice between formative and summative assessments should be guided by the educational goals:
By blending both formative and summative assessments effectively, educators can provide a balanced approach that not only measures learning outcomes but also enriches the educational journey. Integrating formative assessments with the strategic use of summative assessments ensures that students not only achieve learning objectives but are also guided continuously towards achieving those goals efficiently and effectively.
The power of formative assessment lies in its use as a tool to support learners' development of metacognition: If we allow students to practice relflection through our use of formative assessment methods, we nurture their development of self-evaluation skills.
Ultimately, the objective is to assist learners in becoming self-regulated, self-aware, and motivated participants in their own learning journeys, fostering a sense of ownership over their learning endeavors.
Qridi offers a range of powerful tools and features designed to streamline the formative assessment process and enhance student learning experiences. From customizable assessments and real-time data tracking to interactive feedback mechanisms and collaborative features, Qridi empowers educators to engage, assess, and support every learner effectively.
Qridi introduces learners and teachers to look at learning and progress as a group and as individuals. Learning is planned and monitored under the teacher’s guidance, future skills are strengthened and personal strengths identified. The learning journey is recorded and made visible with the help of different functionalities. The resulting data acts as an instrument for dialogue in learning.
Digital formative assessment has transformed learning in many ways, and its benefits are astonishing! Here are a few highlights:
Qridi offers all of this to students and teachers!
Formative assessment is a cornerstone of effective teaching and learning, providing valuable insights into student progress and promoting continuous improvement. By understanding the definition, examples, strategies, and tools of formative assessment, educators can create dynamic learning environments that inspire growth, achievement, and success for all students.
Tests, exams and quizzes are essential building blocks of traditional student assessment. They can be effective in measuring concept comprehension and knowledge, but often fail to recognize the development of skills and attitudes.
Furthermore, as traditional testing is descriptive and summative, it is not able to provide insights into learning processes or support students’ learning.
Finally, understanding the importance of supporting learner's active participation in the assessment process and how it affects their development of metacognitive skills will helps teachers increase the impact of their teaching and achieve greater results in learning.
Join the formative assessment revolution with Qridi and unlock the full potential of your classroom today!
Nord Anglia Education: Power of Metacognition
Nord Anglia Education Metacognition Study
Visible Learning: A Synthesis of Over 800 Meta-Analyses Relating to Achievement (John Hattie)
HundrED Spotlight: Formative Assessment - Improving Learning for Every Child