My detailed research on formative assessments and how they benefit student achievement.

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Does Formative Assessments
Support Student
Achievement?
Shannon Harless
SOE 115 Psychology of Teaching and Learning
Kendall College

2. OVERVIEW OF THE STRATEGY
According to Carnegie Mellon University, formative
assessment is utilized to monitor student learning to provide
ongoing feedback that can be used by educators to improve
their teaching and by students to
improve their learning. In
addition, it helps students
identify their strengths and
weaknesses (the target areas they
need to work on) and educators
to address the problems
immediately (Carnegie Mellon
University, 2017).

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CREDIBLE SOURCE #1
When formative assessments are effectively
implemented, the benefits include defined
learning goals, increased rigor, improved
academic achievement, enhanced student
motivation, increased student engagement,
focused and targeted feedback, personalized
learning experiences, self-regulated learners, and
data-driven decisions. Within the classroom, the
students who benefit the most are those
performing atypically, whether struggling or
gifted, although all children would benefit from
this practice (PowerSchool, 2017).

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CREDIBLE SOURCE #2
After further research, the Professional Learning Board
website provided more benefits of formative assessments such
as timeliness of results enables educators to adjust instruction
quickly while learning is currently occurring, the students that
are assessed are benefiting from the alterations to their
education, and the students
are able to use their
effective methods taught to
them to adjust and
improve their own
learning (Professional
Learning Board, 2011).

5. CREDIBLE SOURCE #3
Naiku Coach Seth Wagner reiterated the
benefits of formative assessments. He
explained about both formal and informal
formative assessments. The formal method
would include quizzes, work samples,
daily work, exit slips, and journals. The
informal method would include
demonstrations, directed questions, and
discussion reflections (Wagner, 2015).
These assessments allow you to plan
effectively in case there needs to be
another day studying a particular topic that
was not understood well the day before.

6. ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION
After researching many websites, I found many benefits of
utilizing formative assessments. Although they are not required
to complete, they are vital to assess yourself as an educator to
ensure your students are learning effectively. Also, they are vital
to ensure your students are able to identify if they are struggling
in a particular topic. It allows the students to set the pace of their
education by the speed they are learning. In addition, these
assessments allow an educator to inform the parents about
where their child is struggling and how we can work together to
ensure they are able to master these skills. I personally believe
the more information we have on our students, there will be a
higher likelihood that I can modify my teaching to be effective
to each individual child.

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CONNECTIONS TO
EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
I believe that formative assessments relate to educational psychology though
Vygotsky’s Social Development Theory. When children are learning, they are
typically in a large or small group instruction time. When preforming formative
assessments, they would occur during small group instruction time or one-on-one
assistance to a particular child. Children usually learn best in a group setting, but it
cannot be over stimulating. Through this social interaction, children are able to
build their cognitive development through developmentally appropriate activities.

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CONNECTIONS TO EDUCATIONAL
PSYCHOLOGY (cont’d.)
Children sometimes learn best from their peers
when they are having a difficult time
understanding what their educator is teaching
them. Finally, the small group instruction time
builds upon the Zone of Proximal Development
which is vital when teaching in a group. The most
effective way for children to learn is through
hands-on activities that allows them to play to
continually reproduce what they are learning until
they have mastered that particular skill. The
information gathered through these sessions allows
accurate formative assessments to be taken at the
beginning, throughout, and at the end of the lesson.

9. CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, in order to promote student achievement within your
classroom, it is vital to go above and beyond what is expected of
you as an educator. Preforming formative assessments assesses
your ability as an educator and your effectiveness while assessing
your students at the same time on how well they are understanding
what you are teaching. Formative assessments should take place
throughout each and every day to ensure you are putting your best
effort forward in your classroom. As I stated before, these
assessments are not required to be an educator but if you do not
assess your classroom, is it worth risking your students’ learning
and achievements? I think not.

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Communication with Families
When speaking with parents about formative
assessments, I would explain the process as this:
“When we are practicing what we are learning, I
like to spend time in small groups to observe how
your child is understanding what we are doing. For
example, if we are tracing letters and your child is
able to write their name without any difficulties, I
know they have mastered that skill. This would tell
me to provide them with the dashed letters, instead
of being solid, to see if they can accomplish this
too. This will allow your child to set the pace for
their learning.”

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References
 Carnegie Mellon University. (2017). What is the difference between formative
and summative assessment? Retrieved November 9, 2017, from
https://www.cmu.edu/teaching/assessment/basics/formative-summative.html
 PowerSchool. (2017). 9 Benefits of Using Formative Assessment to Increase
Student Growth. Retrieved November 9, 2017, from
https://www.powerschool.com/resources/blog/9-benefits-of-using-formative-
assessment-to-increase-student-growth/
 Professional Learning Board. (2011). Benefits of Formative Assessment in the
Classroom. Retrieved November 9, 2017, from
https://k12teacherstaffdevelopment.com/tlb/benefits-of-formative-assessment-
in-the-classroom/
 Wagner, S. (2015, March 17). Importance of Formative Assessment. Retrieved
November 9, 2017, from http://www.naiku.net/blog/importance-of-formative-
assessment/