Formative assessments benefit both students and instructors during the learning process. They give students opportunities to process content and practice important skills while giving both students and their instructors feedback on how students are doing in a course. They also inform faculty about the effectiveness of instruction and what course material may need reinforcement. This workshop will highlight the benefits of formative assessment, the qualities of effective formative assessments, the characteristics of quality feedback, and the benefits of having low stakes formative assessments. It will also guide faculty with the development of formative assessments, share examples, and identify available tools for assessment.
Upon completion of this workshop, learners will be able to:
Define formative assessment and describe the value for both students and instructors.
Distinguish the qualities of effective formative assessments.
Describe the importance of quality feedback as a key element in formative assessments.
Illustrate the value of low stakes when it comes to formative assessments.
Formulate formative assessments based on strategies and examples given.
