Are you looking for some formative testing examples to check your students’ learning in a fun way? Look no further! We need to make sure our students are learning what we want them to learn before they take a test on the material and it’s too late to rectify any misunderstanding. You need to assess before you assess for a grade, is what I’m saying. And I’ve got just the fun and active ways to do that so that your students will enjoy themselves in the process.
Let me tell you, I would love to let go of grades all together, and just do formative assessment only. All we really need to know is that our students have learned what they need to; there really is no need to attach grades to it. But I also know we’re a long way from that ideal way of teaching, if we’re ever going to go there at all. Anyway, formative testing is here to stay and I have found great ways of doing it. Let me tell you all about it!
Definition of formative assessment
Formative assessment – or formative evaluation, formative feedback, or assessment for learning -, including diagnostic testing, is informal assessment done by the teacher, which happens during the learning process so that teaching and learning activities can be modified in order to improve student learning. It’s basically checking that your students have attained the knowledge they need to, so that you can fix any problems before you move on with something new. Formative assessment can be done in a variety of ways.
Formative assessment versus summative assessment
Formative assessment versus summative assessment are two different things. Formative assessment is assessment that does not result in a grade; it is low stakes. The goal of summative assessment is to evaluate student learning at the end of a unit of work by comparing it against some standard or benchmark. Summative assessments are often high stakes, as they usually result in a grade, like a standardized test or final project. Formative testing is basically just to discover whether we’re all on the right track towards the summative test.
What are some formative assessment types
The goal of formative tests is to identify struggles, misconceptions, and learning gaps. It can include students assessing themselves, peers, or even the teacher, through for example writing. You can have students write a short reflection on the material. Weekly quizzes are also a good way of quickly assessing you’re on track. In-class discussions are a third way of discussing the work with students and discovering any gaps. All of these can be organized fast and done in a short amount of time.
What are some examples of formative testing that I love
I have 5 ways of formative assessment that I use most often and that I love! Some are super quick and provide easy ways to check understanding. Others are a bit more elaborate, but they also help students gather the information that they are still lacking.
Fun formative testing examples: Red/ green cards
Pass each student a red and a green card. I made them quickly by cutting some red and green paper in smaller pieces (big enough to be clear though). I also laminated the paper beforehand, because I want to keep using them year in and year out (not very COVID-proof though). I prepare a set of true/false statements or yes/no questions, and students must answer by holding up a green card if they think the answer is yes or true, and a red card for no or false.
This way, you can easily spot whether students understand what you taught them or not. Note: if you need some anonymity for this process, have students close their eyes while answering, or keep their faces turned towards the desk. My school provides colored paper, but if yours doesn’t, I love Astrobrights for this! Grab them here!
Personal whiteboards
Pass each student a little whiteboard and a dry-erase marker. I make my own whiteboard by laminating white sheets of paper and cutting them in smaller pieces. And I get cheap markers at our local Action store. You can also do this activity in groups if you have fewer whiteboards available. I prepare a set of questions beforehand and students must write their answers on the whiteboard. This option is great for short answers or for multiple choice.
Check out the other uses I have for my own whiteboard in my lessons in this Whiteboard Games freebie!
Sticky notes / exit tickets
Pass each student one (or more) sticky notes and ask them to write something. You can do this at the end of a lesson as an exit ticket, when students write down what they learned that lesson. Or if you teach a language, have them use what they learned in a correct sentence. You could also ask them to stick the sticky notes in the correct spot on a poster. I’ve done this when I discussed the parts of speech and had students write down adjectives, nouns, verbs, etcetera, on sticky notes and stick them in the correct column. Check out these colorful ones!*
Online quizzes
Online quizzes like Kahoot, Quiziz, Blooket, or BOOM cards provide a quick way to assess students’ understanding. They’re also super fun because they’re flashy and pretty and online! It does take a bit longer to organize them, as you have to input the questions beforehand and choose the layout, but these platforms are all quite easy to use, I find. Students can see in real time whether they know what they should, and the teacher can get a sense of it at the same time. I know that in Kahoot, if you assign the Kahoot in question, you can also get a breakdown of all the answers that each student gave, which gives you all the information you could possibly want.
Mind map
Pass each student a blank sheet of paper and have them create a mind map of what they’ve learned. You can be as specific about what you want to see on it as you want. You do need to explain to students what a mind map is and how to create one. This way shows less clearly to you what the gaps are in students’ learning, but it does give students a chance to organize their thinking. I like mind mapping for larger units in which there is lots to connect.
Formative testing examples that work
These are the ways in which I do formative testing. I vary the ways in my groups, so they don’t see the red and green cards all the time, nor do they draw mind maps every unit. I think of what manner is most appropriate and then I prepare accordingly. Give some of them a try some time! I hope you enjoy these formative testing examples as much as I do.
Check out other articles about what I think are teacher essentials!!
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