The importance of a formative assessment in learning and development cannot be undermined in today’s learning scenario. With the shift to remote learning, where face-to-face communication is limited, formative assessment becomes even more vital to get real-time information on learner understanding and engagement.
Table of Contents
- What is Formative Assessment?
- How is it Different from Summative Assessment?
- Examples of Formative Assessments
- Infographic
- Knowledge Check!
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Q. What are a few examples of formative assessments?
- Q. What is the role of formative assessment in online learning?
- Q. Can formative assessment be used in both online and in-person training?
In this article, we will discuss formative assessment in detail and understand a few examples of formative assessment that you can incorporate into your organizational L&D programs.
What is Formative Assessment?
Formative assessment is one of the wide variety of methods that are used to conduct in-process evaluations of learner comprehension, learning needs, and learning progress during a lesson, module, or course. Formative assessments help trainers identify concepts that learners are struggling to understand, knowledge they are having difficulty acquiring, or learning objectives they have not yet achieved so that adjustments can be made to the course, instructional strategies, and training support.
The ultimate objective of formative assessment is to gather detailed information that can be used later to improve instruction and learning when it is happening. An assessment becomes “formative” not with the design of an assessment, technique, or self-evaluation but with the way it is used, i.e., to inform in-process teaching and learning modifications. Taking a short quiz during a lesson to provide immediate feedback to learners or conducting open-ended discussions about a topic taught can be examples of formative assessments.
How is it Different from Summative Assessment?
Formative assessments are different from summative assessments:
“When the cook tastes the soup, that’s formative assessment. When the customer tastes the soup, that’s summative assessment.” – Paul Black, Educational researcher
The following are a few examples of formative assessments and summative assessments:
| Summative Assessment | Formative Assessment |
|---|---|
| Conducted at the end of a learning period | Conducted during the learning process |
| Aims to evaluate student learning | Aims to provide ongoing feedback |
| Measures the effectiveness of the curriculum | Helps teachers adjust teaching strategies |
| Often high stakes, like final exams or projects | Encourages students to improve learning |
| Examples include final exams, standardized tests, and final projects | Examples include quizzes, discussions, and drafts |
Examples of Formative Assessments
The commonly used examples of formative assessment in corporate L&D programs that you can incorporate in your L&D programs include:
1. Short Quizzes
A short quiz or mini-test is a great example of a formative assessment that can be embedded within e-learning modules to test knowledge retention and application. It will provide immediate feedback on learners’ understanding of the concept taught. Instructors can prepare short online quizzes for learners during or after a module before moving them to the next module. You can also make the assessment more game-based and fun by including points, rewards, badges, or leaderboards.
2. Pre-Course Open-Ended Questions
Formative assessments can be as easy as asking learners to recall what they learned in the previous module before starting a new one. The questions need not be complex. You could just ask open-ended questions like “What did you think most interesting about the subject?” or “What was its most difficult aspect?”. It will help learners to recollect their thoughts and help instructors gauge their retention ability.
3. Interactive Polls or Surveys
A quick poll or survey at the start of a course, lesson, or module can engage the participants and provide them with a glimpse of the important concepts they are going to encounter. You can use a survey to get a rough measure of the participants’ background knowledge so you can adjust your delivery to better meet their needs. To get the answers you need, ask the right questions. Use the learning outcomes as a guide when choosing question topics. Depending on the information needed, you can write questions that require factual answers or questions that solicit participants’ opinions.
Survey questions can include:
- What is your experience with the topic?
- Why are you interested in learning from this course?
- How do you see yourself applying what you will learn from this course?
The insight from the survey can help trainers make timely adjustments to optimize the training outcomes.
4. Word Cloud
If you’re searching for a concise formative assessment, consider a word cloud. Ask learners to submit a one-word answer to your questions regarding the concept taught. Word clouds encourage learners to think carefully before submitting their answers and are more fun than traditional lengthy assessments. Individual responses will give instructors dynamic visuals of learners’ understanding levels.
5. Concept Maps
Another way to assess learners is by asking them to make visual diagrams, i.e., concept maps, to showcase their understanding of a topic. Encouraging learners to construct visual representations of their understanding through concept maps promotes critical thinking and knowledge synthesis. By mapping hierarchies and interrelationships between concepts, individuals gain a holistic understanding of the topic while showcasing their analytical prowess. Concept maps serve as dynamic artifacts that illuminate both individual learning trajectories and collective knowledge landscapes.
6. Self and Peer Assessment
Self-assessments that ask learners to think about their own learning journey, to reflect on what they do well or struggle with, and to understand what they have learned or still need to acquire to meet course expectations or learning standards.
In peer assessments, learners evaluate each other’s work and provide feedback. The activity could be a project, presentation, or other learning activity. Instructors can ask learners to highlight their peers’ strengths and weaknesses and suggest improvement. This kind of formative assessment allows room for self-reflection while also developing learners’ evaluation skills.
7. Role-Playing or Simulations
Immersive simulations and role-playing scenarios provide learners with hands-on opportunities to apply theoretical concepts in real-world contexts. By simulating workplace challenges in a safe and controlled environment, trainers can assess skill development, decision-making abilities, and adaptability. These experiential learning experiences not only reinforce learning outcomes but also cultivate resilience and problem-solving skills essential for professional success.
8. One-on-one check-ins or Group Discussion
Scheduled discussions between the trainer and learner to discuss progress, challenges, and goals. Classroom discussion is a great way to increase learner participation in the classroom. Open-end discussions and debates allow learners to express their thoughts and opinions regarding a topic and foster an active training environment. Through such group debates, instructors can learn a lot about their learners’ abilities and comprehension.
How can we help?
Learning Everest provides educators/trainers/instructors with the right digital assessment tools and techniques to design engaging formative assessments that promote experiential learning and critical thinking. With interactive features like multimedia integration, gamified elements, and instant feedback, Learning Everest empowers you to deliver effective formative assessments that improve learning outcomes.
Schedule a meeting with us today to learn more!
Infographic
Formative Assessment in the Digital Age
Knowledge Check!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What are a few examples of formative assessments?
A. Examples of formative assessments include taking short quizzes for immediate feedback, conducting open-ended discussions, peer assessments, concept maps, and class discussions.
Q. What is the role of formative assessment in online learning?
A. Formative assessment is crucial in online learning to provide real-time information on learner understanding and engagement. It helps educators address confusion in learners and prevent knowledge gaps by promoting active learning and critical thinking.
Q. Can formative assessment be used in both online and in-person training?
A. Yes, a formative assessment can be adapted to online and in-person training with various techniques such as online quizzes and classroom discussions.
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