Formative Assessment: The Bridge Between Teaching & Learning

The practice of consistent, focused formative assessment is the GPS of differentiation. It is only through these practices and attitudes that teachers develop knowledge of who is succeeding with current learning goals/learning intentions, who is falling short of those goals, and who is ready to move beyond current expectations in order to continue growing in a content area. Participants in this session will examine mindsets, principles, and practices that lead formative assessment practices that help teachers teach more effectively and help learners learn more effectively. Among topics considered will be the purposes and kinds of formative assessment, the characteristics of quality formative assessment, strategies for formative assessment, and translating information from formative assessment into instructional planning. The session will include opportunities for discussions with colleagues and a question/answer session for the whole group.

Objectives/Outcomes
Participants will:

1. Extend their understanding of the nature and purposes of formative assessment.
2. Consider ways in which particular approaches to diagnostic and on-going formative assessment might work in their settings.
3. Observe and analyze examples of formative assessment practices in classrooms at various grade levels and content areas.
4. Analyze examples of teachers moving from assessment to instructional planning and practice based on information gleaned from formative assessment.

Key takeaways from the workshop:

• Formative assessment is essential in today's classrooms and should be used meaningfully to identify learning gaps and follow up on them.
• Thinking Classrooms offers an effective approach to lesson planning, incorporating formative assessment and feedback.
• Assessment for learning and Assessment as Learning should be utilized to promote student agency and self-responsibility in learning.
• Formative assessment can help differentiate classroom activities to meet individual students' needs better.
• Bite-sized assessments can provide valuable insights to inform teachers how to proceed with lessons.
• The workshop's articles offer numerous reflections and discussion points to help teachers elevate their understanding and awareness of assessment planning and implementation.