Understanding formative assessment

Why is it important to have a deep understanding of what your students need to learn beyond just the curriculum content?

• To ensure students pass their exams

• To tailor instruction to meet individual student needs and facilitate deeper understanding

• To make lesson planning quicker and easier

• To follow the school’s teaching policies

Which of the following is an effective method to identify what your students may already know before starting a new unit?

• Giving a comprehensive final exam

• Assigning a lengthy research project

• Setting an informal pre-quiz

• Asking students to write an essay on the topic

How can previous student data guide your planning for a new unit?

• By helping you determine the average grade in the class

• By identifying typically easy or difficult concepts or skills

• By deciding how much homework to assign

• By evaluating the effectiveness of your teaching methods

What is a key consideration when setting learning objectives?

• They should be based on the teacher’s preferences

• They should align with the curriculum and be based on student data

How should success criteria for each learning objective be communicated to students?

• Through a written test at the end of the unit

• By clearly explaining what students are expected to learn and the steps to reach the objective

• By letting students figure it out on their own

• Through random classroom activities

What is an example of a simple, low-key assessment method to check for student understanding?

• A formal mid-term exam

• A quick quiz or exit ticket

• A detailed research paper

• An oral presentation

Why is it useful to ask students questions that prompt them to articulate their reasoning?

• To make the class more interactive

• To assess how much individual students really know and identify their understanding

• To fill up class time

• To make grading easier

Which question type is NOT typically used to challenge students and assess their understanding deeply?

• Open-ended questions

• Multiple-choice questions

• Essay questions

• Problem-solving questions

Why should feedback be given promptly?

• To quickly move on to the next lesson

• To ensure students can immediately understand and correct their mistakes

• To increase the number of graded assignments

• To meet administrative deadlines

What makes feedback most effective for student improvement?

• Being general and applicable to all tasks

• Being specific, tailored to the assessment, and providing actionable steps for improvement

• Being brief and non-specific

• Being given only at the end of the term