FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT IN
THE LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER
Jennifer Stewart
LSI 2011 : From Isolation to Collaboration
June 16, 2011
Remember the LSI Essential Question
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How can school librarians demonstrate
through inquiry and collaboration
the characteristics of highly effective teaching
and learning?
CHETL Connections
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School Media Librarian designs lessons that allow
students to participate in empowering activities in
which they understand that learning is a process
and mistakes are a natural part of learning.
The school media librarian, classroom teacher and
student collaboratively gather information and
reflect on learning through a systematic process that
informs instruction.
Session Objectives
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To understand the meaning and purpose of
formative assessment
To explore examples of formative assessment
To consider applications of formative assessment in
the library media center
Four Corners
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Based on your current knowledge of formative
assessment, move to one of the following corners:
 The
Dirt Road (I can’t see where I’m going, it’s so dusty!)
 The Paved Road (It’s pretty smooth, but full of potholes.)
 The Highway (I’m fairly confident, but need to slow
down sometimes.)
 The Interstate (It’s an easy ride, and I can get you here
too!)
(adapted from Kagan Cooperative Learning Structure and
http://www.scribd.com/doc/11583669/Formative-Assessment-Ideas)
Formative vs. Summative Assessment
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Summative Assessments – “a means to gauge, at a
particular point in time, student learning relative to
content standards.” Examples include end-of-unit tests,
final projects, state assessments.
Formative Assessments – are part of the instructional
process and “inform both teachers and students about
student understanding at a point when timely
adjustments can be made.”
Summative assessment = noun
Formative assessment = verb
(from “Formative and Summative Assessments in the Classroom” by Catherine
Garrison and Michael Ehringhaus)
Formative Assessment Traits
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Ongoing
Informal
Quick
Student involvement
Include descriptive feedback
Inform future instruction
Provide basis for differentiation
Assessment FOR learning
Why use it in the library?

Turn to someone near you and think-pair-share
about why we should use formative assessment in
the library. Think realistically about your situation
and how it would work in your library. Be ready to
share what your partner says! 
Questioning
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A natural, easy and informative formative
assessment technique for the library (puzzled faces,
blank stares, answers from left field?)
Can lead to deeper thinking and further inquiry
The Question House (discuss handout)
Is questioning a type of formative assessment you
already use?
Written Formative Assessments
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Admit slips and Exit slips
Journaling
Quick Write activities like “3, 2, 1” or “Circle,
Square, Triangle”
Analogy prompts
Think-Write-Pair-Share
Whiteboard responses or response cards
Graphic organizers and concept maps
Kinesthetic Formative Assessments
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Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down
Traffic Light
Inside-Outside Circle
Four Corners
Sticky Bars
Commit and Toss
Oral Formative Assessments
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Questioning
Numbered Heads Together
Think-pair-share
Idea Spinner
What Will You Use?
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Using the handout on formative assessment
examples, and your own knowledge, work
individually or with a partner/small group to plan
how to use specific formative assessments in two or
more lessons you plan to teach in your library.
Consider : WHY did you choose the assessment?
HOW do you anticipate it would inform your
instruction and improve student learning?
The Next Step
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Implement new types of formative assessment to
engage students, inform instruction and improve
learning
Be intentional with questions
Include students in self-assessments
Incorporate in collaboration with teachers
Provide descriptive feedback
Infuse technology
In Conclusion
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Formative assessment is FOR learning, it is often
informal and it drives instruction
Formative assessment fits well with many library
schedules and situations
Formative assessment is something you likely
already do – now you can use it more powerfully!
Questions or comments?
Please answer one of the Question House questions
on a sticky note and place it on the Exit Slip poster
on your way out. 