1. Monique Marshall and Lisa Memmelaar
CLT #4
EDAD 6360 Learning Theory in Educational Leadership
Sam Houston State University

2. WHAT IS FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT?
The act of assessing a student’s understanding of a concept during the learning
process is formative assessment. “The purpose of such assessment is to
facilitate, or form learning and not to assign a grade,” (Snowman, McCown,
Biehler , 2009, p. 487). The teacher is able to acknowledge any
misconceptions the students may have and adjust teaching and learning
strategies. This type of assessment is powerful because it allows open
communication from the learner to the teacher identifying the comprehension
level throughout the lesson (Brookhart, Moss, & Long , 2008).

3. 4 CORE ELEMENTS OF FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
· Identifying the gap: This is when teachers are determining the (ZPD) Zone of
Proximal Development. This is defined as the distance between what the child can
accomplish independently and the level at which he can problem solve with the
help of an adult.
· Feedback: When providing students with feedback, this affects students’
performance, motivation and self-efficacy. Formative assessments encourage
students to use feedback to improve their learning. The teacher takes steps to
close the gap by teaching, modifying, assessing, and re-teaching so that each
student is successful.
· Student Involvement: Students learn how to self and peer assess through active
involvement and participation. Students reflect and monitor to adapt to their own
learning needs. Students collaborate with peers and teachers to determine the
criteria for success such as an example of a rubric or paper.
· Learning Progressions: Through learning progressions, students have a guide or
criteria to follow so that students are engaged in learning.

4. FEATURES OF FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
• Students are assessed during the learning process
• Learner-centered environment
• Teacher and students collaborate
• Feedback from students is used to make adjustments to instruction

5. USE OF FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
To properly utilize assessment formatively, Frey and Fisher (2011)
suggests that the teacher determine student learning outcomes,
evaluate comprehension, offer feedback, and adjust forthcoming
instruction based on the accomplishment of the student. Hattie and
Timperley (2007) developed three effective feedback questions that will
support formative assessment:
• Where am I going? (What are the goals?)
• How am I going? (What progress is being made toward the goal?
• Where to next? (What activities need to be undertaken to make better
progress?) (p. 86).

6. FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES
Quizzes
Journal writing
Feedback
Peer assessment
Group activities
Classroom performance system
Discussions
Revisions
Presentations
Tests

7. (KewlKiwiChick, 2011)

8. QUOTES FROM CLASSROOM TEACHERS
“I ask students to tell me what they know or want to know about a topic; this helps me get a
better understand of what knowledge students already have or misconceptions they may
have about a topic.”
Debra Linder, Kindergarten Teacher
“When I want to quickly check what students know, I will ask yes/no or true/false questions
and they will respond with a thumbs up or down in front of them to answer. I can quickly
see if most students have mastered the skill or if I need to reteach. “
Jenn Lemons, 1st Grade Teacher
“During small group reading instruction I have students whisper read to themselves and I
observe their reading of a familiar text to see where they are making mistakes so that I
can adjust my instruction in the group to meet their needs. “
Diane Terry, 2nd Grade Teacher
“During small group math instruction, I ask students to explain how they solved the math
problem. This lets me see their thinking behind their math and it also lets other students
in the group self assess their work and understanding of the problem. “
Tamara Dukes, 3rd Grade Teacher

9. FEEDBACK VS. PRAISE
Many educators believe that praise is a form of feedback. In fact, praise only recognizes the high
achievement of student; however it does nothing to promote continuous improvement. Phrases
like, “You did great on your quiz,” “Good job,” and “Awesome” can be likened to sauce on a
steak. The sauce tastes good, but it would be even better accompanied with the steak –
feedback. As cited in Clark (2011) Torrance and Pryor (1998) believe, “many teachers focus on
praise as a form of „feedback‟ because of the efficacy of behaviorist reinforcement systems” (p.
162). In order for formative assessment to be successful feedback must be given to students so
the teaching paradigm can shift allowing a higher level of comprehension of concepts.
Feedback is considered to be a way to lead students toward methods that will help them to
improve by supplying information that can help the student with learning and retaining
knowledge (Burnett, 2002). Feedback can specifically identify the strength and weakness of a
student on a particular lesson allowing the teacher to modify instruction.
Feedback Praise
Identifies strengths and Appraises performance
weaknesses of performance
Learner-centered Teacher-centered
Promotes improvement Boosts self-esteem

10. WHAT TEACHERS NEED TO DO
The 4 core elements will help to gather information that will help with instruction and
meeting the student’s individual needs. We need to first use teacher knowledge to
get a clear vision before starting the 4 core elements. We need to establish what it
is we want the students to know by the end of the six weeks. Once we have a
vision, we might have a questionnaire that students will fill out so that we know
what students already know and don’t know. From this we would identify the gap
and determine flexible groups and how we should spend time teaching. We are
able to meet with students and give feedback. We will get students involved
through the questionnaire as they are actively participating in answering the
questions. They are reflecting back on their learning and determining what they
need extra help on. From this, we can interpret the results and develop a plan so
flexible groups will be successful by the end of the six weeks. Formative
assessments will drive our teaching so that every minute of every day can be
spent motivating and meeting the learning needs of students.

11. RELEVANT THEORISTS
Connie M. Moss, Ed.D.
Dr. Moss is currently works in the Department of Educational Foundations and Leadership
at Duquesne University as a professor. Prior to this, she worked 25 years as a K-12
educator and educational leader supporting lesson planning and assessment and
instructional support. She is an advocate for formative assessment and has made many
presentations and publications on the subject. Notable work by Dr. Moss is Advancing
Formative Assessment in Every Classroom.
Susan Brookhart, Ph.D.
Dr. Brookhart is a faculty member at ASCD where she offers professional development
training in formative assessment. Brookhart also serves on the state assessment
advisory committee for the State of Montana. She is the author and/or co-author of
several books on formative assessment: How to Give Effective Feedback to Your
Students, Advancing Formative Assessment in Every Classroom: A Guide for Instructional
Leaders, Formative Assessment Strategies for Every Classroom: An ASCD Action Tool.

12. RELEVANT THEORISTS CONTINUED…
Dylan Wiliam, Ph.D.
Dr. Wiliam is currently an Emeritus Professor of Educational Assessment at the Institute of
Education University of London. He has played many roles throughout his career in education
such as Senior Research Director at the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, NJ. In his
recent work Wiliam has focused on formative assessment . He has worked with educators in both
the United States and United Kingdom on creating formative assessment methods. Notable work:
Assessment for Learning in the Classroom, From Teachers to Schools: Scaling up Professional
Development for Formative Assessment, and Designing Feedback as Part of a System.
Paul Black, Ph.D.
Dr. Black began his career in education as a faculty member in the physics department. In 1987
he was chair of Task Group on Assessment and Testing. Black has been a visiting professor at
Stanford University in California where he worked with teachers to develop classroom formative
assessment. He co-authored Developing the Theory of Formative Assessment and Inside the
Black Box: Raising Standards Through Classroom Assessment. Other notable
publications on formative assessment: Formative and Summative Assessment by
Teachers’ Assessments: Promises and Problems.

13. RELEVANT THEORISTS CONTINUED…
Margaret Heritage
Margaret Heritage is Assistant Director for Professional Development at the National
Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards and Student Testing (CRESST) at UCLA.
She has many years of teaching and leadership experience in the United Kingdom as well
as the United States. Her current focus is on school improvement, learning progressions,
and formative assessments. Margaret Heritage is the co-author of Formative Assessment
for Literacy, Grades K-6: Building Reading and Academic Language Skills Across the
Curriculum, published by Corwin Press.
Rick Stiggins, Ph.D.
Dr. Rick Stiggins is a consultant who helps teachers and school leaders understand how
to use the assessment process and its results to benefit student learning. Dr. Stiggins
believes that formative assessment can promote student success. Dr. Stiggins has
worked with several universities such as the University of Minnesota and Michigan State
University. He has participated on the research and development team at the Northwest
Regional Educational Laboratory. Dr. Stiggins is author and coauthor of several books
Classroom Assessment FOR Student Learning, Assessment FOR Learning, Evaluating
Assessment Quality.

14. REFERENCES
Brookhart, S., Moss, C., & Long, B. (2008). Formative assessment that
empowers. Educational Leadership, 66(3), 52.
Burnett, P. (2002). Teacher praise and feedback and students’ perceptions of the
classroom environment. Educational Psychology, 22(1), 5-16.
Clark, I. (2011). Formative assessment: Policy, perspectives and practice. Florida
Journal of Educational Administration & Policy, 4(2), 158-180.
Frey, N., & Fisher, D. (2011). The formative assessment action plan: Practical
steps to more successful teaching and learning. ASCD.
Hattie, J. & Timperley, H. (2007). The power of feedback. Review of Educational
Research, 77, 81-112. doi: 10.3102/003465430298487

15. REFERENCES CONTINUED….
Heritage, M. (2007). Formative assessment: what teachers need to know and
do? Phi Delta Kappan. 89(2) 140-145
KewlKiwiChick. (2011, May 7). Formative assessment in schools. Retrieved
October 9, 2012, from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7XpUqNnKtI&playnext=1&list=PL61C6C3
07E418326E&feature=results_main
Snowman, J., McCown, R., & Biehler, R. (2009). Psychology Applied to Teaching.
New York: Wadsworth
Stiggins, R. (2005). From formative assessment to assessment for learning: a
path to Success in standards-based schools. Phi Delta Kappan. v87(4) 324-
328.