FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

18th August 2012Formative assessment

Introduction

Formative assessment is considered to be a range of informal as well as formal procedures, which is employed by the teachers during the process of learning to facilitate student experience and knowledge (Crooks,, T., 2001). Assessment drives educational practice in various forms (Biggs, 1996). It concentrates on qualitative feedback for the teachers and the students who want to increase their performance levels (Huhta, A., 2010). It is said that the basic purpose of the formative assessment is to determine how the information would be gathered and eventually used. It is argued that the most important part of formative assessment is not to implement it, rather it is to decide what would be done with the results of the assessment. Bell, B. & Cowie, B. (2001) proposed two models of formative assessment in schools. They are known as interactive formative assessment and planned formative assessment.

Discussion

I will be teaching a new course which would be science. It is a relatively new subject for the students in the new term. As the formative assessment is a procedure, I would first want to know how much my students are capable of doing and what their level of understanding is. I may ask assign each student with a written assignment asking them to evaporate the solution of salt and water. This could be a home assignment as well. I will then start the lecture by discussing different techniques of distillation, filtration, decantation and crystallization with the class. I may give routine day examples which every student experiences and take their suggestions as well. This would not only develop their thinking and knowledge process but I will also get to know the capabilities and knowledge of my students regarding the subject. The results of the assignment given to the students would further add to my needed knowledge.

I would then ask my students to explain the answers or solutions they have provided in their assignments. After the first quarter of the term, I would distribute small notebooks and ask the students to distribute it in to two parts. The first part would instruct them to write a big summary statement regarding a topic. Each student would be assigned a topic that had been taught in the class. On the side, the students would be required to identify the major issue or anything that they were not able to understand in the course so far. Then I would ask the students to provide me with a one page summary of the overall course. Considering the changing environments and increased needs of the students, I would develop web maps or concept which will basically show the relationships between various concepts and procedures. This would facilitate the understanding of my students.

I would constantly ask my students to explain me the relationships and formulas and even how they came up with the formulas. This way the students will get to understand the topic and argue on the concepts they agree or disagree ...