The Formative Assessment Process
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.(CCSSO FAST SCASS Austin, Texas June 2017)
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Connecting to Michigan's Top 10 in 10
- The Formative Assessment process used by students and teachers in an effective and intended manner connects to the following Top 10 in 10 Strategic Goals
Strategic Goal 2 Implement, with strong district and building leadership, high-quality instruction in every classroom through a highly coherent, child-centered instructional model where students meet their self-determined academic and personal goals to their highest potential. Strategic Goal 3 Develop, support and sustain a high-quality, prepared, and collaborative education workforce. Strategic Goal 4 Reduce the impact of high-risk factors, including poverty, and provide equitable resources to meet the needs of all students to ensure that they have access to quality educational opportunities.
Becoming Aware
These resources provide a beginning understanding of the formative assessment process. The purpose is to provide information and, that used by itself, is not likely to enhance formative assessment practices.
- New FAST SCASS Definition Paper: June 2017
This paper provides the background for revising the definition of formative assessment.
- MAC ALN Formative Assessment Feb. 2017
Written by the Michigan Assessment Consortium as a summary description of formative assessment.
- MAC Assessment Literacy Standards
The Michigan State Board of Education endorsed in May 2016 a set of assessment literacy standards for administrators, teachers, students and parents, and policymakers.
- CCSSO Vignettes
This document shares some classroom examples of formative assessment in practice. The vignettes are very short descriptions of formative assessment, some of which represent formative practices and some do not.
- Inside the Black Box
Companion article by Paul Black and Dylan Wiliam based on the influential research on formative assessment.
- Formative Assessment in Learnport
MI Excel has a Formative Assessment module in Learnport. To access, you must register for the module in Learnport.
- CCSSO Formative Assessment Next Generation Assessment System
Margaret Heritage describes why it is critical to make the distinction that formative assessment is not a tool but a process as part of effective teaching and learning.
Emerging Applications
These resources provide a deeper understanding of the formative assessment process.
- CCSSO Learning Progressions: Supporting Instruction and Formative Assessment
Margaret Heritage presents definitions and attributes of learning progressions and how they support instructional planning and formative assessment.
- CCSSO Assessment Labels Paper
This is a collection of labels that are currently used to describe various educational assessment types.
- CCSSO Supporting Formative Assessment for Deeper Learning
While written for policymakers, the primer provides a general description of formative assessment and its place in a comprehensive assessment system.
- MAC ALN Margaret Heritage Video Presentation and Interview Feb. 2017
Links to Margaret Heritage's presentation "The Role, Purpose, and Power of Assessment for Learning in an Assessment System" followed by links to an interview with Margaret.
- CCSSO Reaping the Benefits of Deep Formative Assessment: Lessons from Around the World
This is a summary of observations from international formative assessment experts that may impact how state and federal government officials, school leaders, and classroom teachers support and practice formative assessment.
Extending Learning Opportunities
More information coming soon!
It is recommended that the deepest applications of the formative assessment process occurs in learning opportunities that are job embedded and collaborative.
Each is a long term supported learning opportunity that provides opportunity to learn, implement, and reflect on teaching and learning.
FAME Research Related Support Links
- Abstract MAC Research on the 2015-16 FAME Project
- Abstract: MAC Research on the 2014-15 FAME Project
- Abstract: MSU Research on 2013-14 FAME Project
- FAME Presentation at 2012 CCSSO
At the June 2012 CCSSO National Conference on Student Assessment, the MSU research team and Dr. Ellen Vorenkamp, from Wayne RESA and FAME Regional Lead, presented some of the newest research findings from the FAME project. Click here for the presentation PowerPoint.
- FAME Presentation at 2012 AERA
A presentation on the Formative Assessment for Michigan Educators (FAME) was recently offered at the April 2012 AERA Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. MSU researchers, Dr. Ed Roeber and Dr. Amelia Gotwals, along with doctoral students Dante Cisterna, Tara Kintz, and John Lane, provided data on the impact of teacher learning of the formative assessment process. Click here for the session powerpoint and session paper.
- FAST Research Resources
Provided by CCSSO Formative Assessment for Students and Teachers (FAST) state collaborative, this document summarizes key ideas of the most significant research on formative assessment.
- Additional Formative Assessment Research by Category
This document, complied by the Michigan State University research on formative assessment team, is a synthesis of papers outlining findings on formative assessment.
- Formative Assessment and Next-Generation Assessment Systems: Are We Losing an Opportunity?
On November 10, 2010, CCSSO and leading authorities on formative assessment released a new report about the future of student assessment and the development of more effective ways to assess student learning. Click the report title to read this paper. The event was hosted by CCSSO and the Formative Assessment for Students and Teachers State Collaborative on Assessment and Student Standards (FAST SCASS) of which Michigan is a member.
