Formative assessments: benefits, methods and practical tips

What are formative assessments?

Formative assessments continuously accompany the learning process

Formative assessments are continuous evaluation processes used during learning to gauge current skills and knowledge.

Unlike summative assessments, which provide a final evaluation at the end of a learning phase, formative assessments continuously accompany the learning process.

They improve learning or work processes through ongoing feedback and real-time adjustments.

Grades and certificates (summative assessment) are nice to have, but real progress happens in the middle - right where formative assessments come into play.

Benefits of formative assessments

Formative assessments offer versatile benefits that support and enhance learning and development processes - whether in schools or workplaces.

In an educational setting:

• Individual support: Students receive targeted support based on their current learning level.
• Flexibility in teaching: Teachers can dynamically adjust lessons to meet students' individual needs.
• Strengthening self-responsibility: Students learn to reflect on their own progress and optimize their learning strategies.
• Increased motivation: Regular feedback boosts learning motivation and student engagement.

In a workplace setting:

• Continuous development: Employees receive regular feedback that supports their professional development.
• Targeted support: Managers can specifically address the strengths and weaknesses of their employees to enhance performance.
• Increased productivity: Early identification of development needs increases efficiency in the work process.
• Improved employee satisfaction: Regular feedback fosters a culture of appreciation and continuous learning, enhancing employee satisfaction.

6 Effective methods of formative assessments

Formative assessments offer various methods that can be adapted to the needs of schools or workplaces. Here are some of the most effective approaches:

• Short tests and quizzes: These quick checks help immediately identify whether students or employees have understood the material. They provide instant feedback and can be easily integrated into daily routines.
• Oral questioning: In schools, teachers can check students’ understanding through targeted questions during lessons. In the workplace, managers can assess employees’ knowledge and progress through short, targeted conversations.
• Peer feedback: Learning together is more fun! Students evaluate their classmates’ work, which strengthens understanding and team spirit.
• Self-assessment: Students and employees reflect on their own performance and progress. This method promotes self-awareness and responsibility as learners identify and work on their strengths and weaknesses
• Learning journals: These are particularly suitable for the school context but can also be used in the workplace. Students or employees document their learning processes, challenges, and successes over a certain period, enabling deeper reflection and continuous improvement.
• Group discussions: Whether in the classroom or the office, discussing topics together deepens understanding and brings new perspectives into play. A good discussion generates fresh ideas and fosters teamwork.

For companies: best practices for implementing formative assessments

1. Regular 1:1 meetings

Managers can conduct weekly or monthly one-on-one meetings with their employees to discuss their progress. These conversations provide the opportunity to give feedback, review goals, and develop improvement strategies together.

2. Use performance check-ins

Why wait until the end of the year? Instead of waiting for annual performance reviews, managers can introduce regular, shorter check-ins to evaluate specific projects and tasks. Employees receive immediate feedback on their current projects and can adjust and improve their approaches directly.

3. Peer feedback rounds

Formative assessments can be integrated into teams through peer feedback rounds

Let the team ‘lay the cards on the tables’. Formative assessments can be integrated into teams through peer feedback rounds. In these rounds, team members evaluate each other and provide constructive feedback. This not only fosters the exchange of ideas but also helps identify blind spots and enhances understanding of different working methods.

4. Use digital feedback tools

Companies can use specialized software or platforms that allow employees to receive feedback on their work anytime. Some tools offer features like comprehensive feedback from colleagues, supervisors, and even clients, providing a holistic view of one’s performance.

5. Development plans and learning journals

Managers can encourage employees to create personal development plans that are regularly reviewed and adjusted. Employees can document their progress, reflect on challenges, and continuously implement improvements by keeping learning journals. This method fosters an active and self-determined approach to one’s professional development.

6. Workshops and training with feedback components

Incorporate what you’ve learned directly into the workday! After training sessions or workshops, formative assessments can be used to check participants’ knowledge. Direct feedback and reflection rounds after the training help solidify the learning and apply it specifically in everyday work.

For schools: best practices for implementing formative assessments

1. Clearly defined learning goals

Teachers should set clear, measurable learning objectives from the start and communicate them clearly to students. This way, students know exactly what is expected, and they can better understand the purpose of the assessments. It also helps students track their progress more consciously.

For example, the learning objectives for a history lesson might be:

“The students should be able to name the causes and consequences of World War I and analyze its impact on the European map.”

These goals are specific, measurable, and clearly communicated to students.

2. Diverse assessment methods

Mix the methods — from quizzes to peer feedback to self-assessments. This way, the learning process never gets boring, and each student finds their own approach.

Different methods appeal to different learning styles, allowing each student to showcase their strengths.

This diversity also ensures that the results are more comprehensive and meaningful, giving you a clearer picture of learning progress. So learning becomes not just effective but also exciting!

3. Regular feedback

Ensure that students receive continuous, specific, and actionable feedback. This motivates them to adjust their learning strategies and keep improving.

Example of poor feedback: “That was bad; you need to practice more.”

Example of good feedback: “You applied the grammatical rules well in your essay, especially the tense changes. What’s still missing is a clearer argument in your main section. Try structuring your main points better and back them up with examples. This will make your argument more convincing and your essay stronger."

4. Involve students

Encourage students to actively participate in the assessment process by setting their own goals and reflecting on their progress. This promotes responsibility and engagement in their own learning journey.

Here’s a quick example:

In a biology class, students can set a goal at the beginning of a learning unit:

“I want to be able to explain how photosynthesis works by the end of the week.”

Each day, they take a few minutes to reflect in a learning journal on what they’ve learned and how close they are to their goal. At the end of the week, they present their findings either in a small group or in front of the class.

5. Professional development for teachers

Schools should ensure that teachers receive regular training to learn and apply the best practices for formative assessments.

Such professional development could include workshops, training sessions, or peer learning sessions where teachers exchange ideas and learn from each other.

Through continuous professional development, teachers stay up-to-date with the latest educational practices and develop new, creative approaches to teaching.

Tools for creating and managing formative assessments

When it comes to effectively implementing formative assessments — whether in companies or schools — digital tools like Learning Management Systems (LMS) are true secret weapons. These platforms make it easy for you to create customized learning content, monitor learning progress, and conduct interactive assessments.

Our LMS system, Easy LMS, offers some cool features:

• A comprehensive and central platform to support learning processes and individual development.
• Seamless integration of training and tests.
• Creation of customized learning paths and assessments.
• Specifically tailored features for companies as well as consultants and coaches.
• Complete GDPR compliance.
• A simple and user-friendly interface.

Conclusion

Formative assessments provide an effective way to support and individually promote learning processes through continuous feedback and flexible adjustments. To achieve successful implementation, clear learning goals, regular feedback, and learner involvement are essential. Additionally, it’s important that managers or teachers are trained in best practices, such as regular 1:1 meetings and peer feedback rounds. With practical tools like Easy LMS, you can make these processes even more efficient.

Useful resources

1. Research Gate
2. Acorn 
3. Splashlearn

Frequently Asked Questions