Formative evaluation is oral or written evaluation that provides a pupil with comprehensible information on her/his current ability to achieve the set goal (knowledge or skills) and what they need to do to make further progress in learning.
A Guide for Beginning Teachers
Providing formative feedback
Continuous formative feedback is one of the most effective forms of supporting learning and building respectful relationships among pupils.
What is formative evaluation?
It is a continuous interactive evaluation of the pupils' learning progress. It is connected to continuous assessment of the pupils’ needs concerning achieving specific educational goals – acquiring particuar skills or knowledge. Formative evaluation is often referred to as evaluation for learning because it helps pupils develop their learning potential. When using formative evaluation, we do not compare pupils to each other, but rather we focus on the individuals’ achievement of the educational goals. Formative evaluation serves us, the educators, for assessment of our teaching effectiveness. It helps us decide how to adjust our educational methods and content to the pupils’ current needs.
Differences between summative and formative evaluation
Summative evaluation is realised at the end of a particular educational period when we find out what the pupils have learnt. Most often, we use grades to do so. But it can also take the form of verbal evaluation. Summative evaluation (both in grades or words) informs if and to what degree a particular pupil has achieved set educational goals.
| Summative | Formative | |
| Goal | Measuring a pupil’s final performance, comparing the pupil to others | Identifying pupils’ educational needs, getting feedback on teaching effectivity, improving pupils’ educational results, developing realistic self-assessment and positive self-perception of pupils |
| Timing | At the end of a particular period | Continuously |
| Purpose | Assessing (controlling) the learning | Supporting pupil’s learning |
| Who is it for | teachers, school, parents... | pupil |
| Teacher’s role | Measuring current performance (level of learning achieved) | Providing immediate feedback, promoting learning |
| Supporting motivation | Extrinsic | Intrinsic |
| Impact on learning | Temporary, weak | Long-term, strong |
What evaluation is formative?
It informs the pupil about:
- What s/he has learnt
- What s/he still needs to learn
- How to achieve the goals
It is essential to communicate in a manner that does not hurt the pupil's dignity and accepts diversity.
To be formative, the evaluation must fulfil the following functions:
- Informative (it provides enough specific information to let the pupil know where s/he stands regarding her/his learning progress)
- Corrective-conative (it provides concrete guidance for improvements)
- Motivational (it encourages the pupil to get better)
- Developmental (It encourages self-assessment and positive self-perception of the pupil. It should reflect the teacher's confidence in the pupil's abilities.)
- It helps to build the relationship (it is implemented in a partner-like relationship)
Assignment: What is wrong with the statements mentioned below
Dana has observed a couple of her colleagues’ classes. She wrote down several statements made by the teachers concerning the pupils’ work. She believes the teachers could have worded them better. Think about what is wrong with these statements. How do they fulfil the functions mentioned above? Share your thoughts in the discussion forum.
- Great job, Jane. Keep up the good work.
- Jan, you have not pulled it off again.
- You get an A. Congratulations.
- You see. Where there is a will, there is away. She is a nice and problem-free pupil.
- Thomas, only an idler could do it like that.
- You did really well in this test.
- I am sorry, but it did not go well.
- I can see you did not study very hard before the examination.
- You need to fine-tune it.
- Jarda, you have nicely surprised me. Did you do it yourself?
- One more F and you are going to fail the class!
Compare your ideas with the ones in the file
How to formulate feedback to help a pupil with learning?
Učitel doporučuje studovat od 12. 12. 2022.
Open the file after completing the assignment mentioned above.
Sources
Wiliam, D. & Leahy, S. (2016). Zavádění formativního hodnocení: praktické techniky pro základní a střední školy. Druhé revidované vydání. Praha: EDUkační LABoratoř.