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Formative assessments are not designed to measure student achievement. However, they offer elementary and secondary educators a range of benefits that help them monitor student learning, improve classroom instruction and identify areas of curriculum improvement.
Identification
Formative assessment includes informal types, such as pop quizzes or teachers asking oral questions in class, and formal assessments, such as diagnostic tests.
Function
Formative assessments are designed to measure student progress in learning class material. They do not measure student achievement, which is the function of summative assessments, such as standardized achievement tests.
Benefits
The results of formative assessments can help educators identify gaps in student learning and ensure that teachers follow the school's curriculum in their instruction.
Effects
School systems use formative assessment results to improve classroom instruction and, when necessary, modify the curriculum.
Potential
Teachers can reinforce academic areas in which students need additional instruction or help, based on formative assessment results.
Source:
Arizona Department of Education: Formative Assessment
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