Formative Assessment
A Maryland Race to the Top Initiative
Denise Hunt
NCSA June 2013
A New Path
All Students College and Career Ready
Compliance-oriented
Support-oriented
Data access
Assessments as
Summative
Educator quality
Data use for improving
instruction
Assessments as diagnostic
tools to improve instruction
Educator effectiveness
MSDE November 2010
Primary purpose is STUDENT LEARNING.
To that end, this project translates the
formative assessment research into easily
accessible practical classroom applications,
enabling teachers and students to forge
powerful partnerships as they work within 21st
century teaching/learning environments to
bring the understandings and skills described
in Common Core State Standards to life for
every student.
Project Overview
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Formative
Assessment
Project
Oveiew
Online Learning Modules
Instructional Resources for Classroom
Implementation
Resources for Leading and Sustaining
Formative Assessment Practices
Pilot for Feedback and Modification
"Formative assessment is a process
used by teachers and students
during instruction that provides
feedback to adjust ongoing teaching
and learning to improve students'
achievement of intended instructional
outcomes.”
CCSSO 2007
Formative Assessment / Assessment for Learning
Refers to PROCESS
Formative Assessment
Online Resources
Online Resources
Professional
Learning
Teacher
Resources
Administrator
Resources
Collaboration
Formative Assessment Online Learning Modules
Professional Learning Opportunities
A menu of online modules designed for
flexible use as self-paced tutorials or within
Independent Self-Paced
an online learning community.
Professional Learning
Communities
Formative Assessment Online Learning Modules
All modules contain a:
• Mixture of practical strategies incorporating video of classroom
formative assessment practices in action, a range of interactive
features and research information.
• Menu listed in a suggested order of viewing, outlining a learning
progression for both teachers and school leaders.
Topics covered in the learning modules include:
What is Formative Assessment
Establishing a Collaborative Climate
Sharing Learning Goals and the Criteria for Success
Eliciting and Using Evidence of Learning
Using Descriptive Feedback
Promoting Self and Peer-Assessment
Leading Formative Assessment (school & district)
Assessment Literacy
Putting it All Together
Instructional Resources for Classroom Implementation
Eliciting Evidence of Learning
Search
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Questioning
Discussion
Observations
Exit/Admit Slips
Practice Presentations
Four Corners
Learning/Response Logs
Graphic Organizers
Peer/Self Assessments
Visual Representations
Individual Whiteboards
Laundry Day
Think Pair Share
Appointment Clock
As I See It
Technology Tools
Think Pair Share
Think-Pair-Share (Lyman, 1981) is a
summarization strategy that can be used in any
content area before, during, and after a
lesson. The aim is to ensure that all students are
interacting with the information. The activity
involves three basic steps. During the "think"
stage, the teacher tells students to ponder a
question or problem. This allows for wait time
and helps students control the urge to
impulsively shout out the first answer that comes
to mind. Next, individuals are paired up and
discuss their answer or solution to the question
or problem. During this step students may wish
to revise or alter their original ideas. Finally,
students are called upon to share with the rest of
the class. There is also a Think-Pair-Square-Share
in which partners discuss answers with another
pair before sharing with the class. By walking
about the room listening to student
conversations teachers can use the
observations to provide descriptive feedback
to students and inform and adjust instruction
while the learning is developing.
Video clip
Websites on Think-Pair-Share …
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10
Benefits to Students
Students
Motivation
Self-Regulation
Teachers
Achievement
School
Leaders
Parents
Motivation
Self Regulation
Where
am I
going?
Where
am I
now?
Achievement
What
are my
next
steps?
Benefits to Maryland Teachers
Students
Enabled
Inspired
Teachers
School
Leaders
Access Learning
& Resources
Collaborative
Parents
Enabled
Inspired
Collaborative
Access Learning & Resources
Nurturing Self Regulated Learners
• Being confident that every student can improve.
• Creating a learning environment which supports a partnership
between teacher and students.
• Using assessment to inform teaching and learning
• Constructing clear and accessible learning goals with students
• Clarifying or co-constructing learning outcomes and ensuring that
students understand what success looks like
• Involving students in self and peer assessment and giving them
opportunities to reflect on their learning.
• Providing feedback that helps students recognize their next steps
and how to take them.
Benefits to School Leaders
Students
Teachers
Empowered
School
Leaders
Informed
Supported
Parents
Responsive
Empowered Informed Supported Responsive
As Instructional
Leaders,
principals are charged with
promoting a strong vision for highly
effective practices. Being strong
models of these practices by the
way they provide effective feedback
to teachers and support teachers’
professional growth is the strongest
approach for meeting that goal.
Formative Assessment practices
enables principals to lead by
example.
AfL Online Resource For Administrators
Leadership Resources
• Learning about and applying the Assessment for Learning process
• Leading a Professional Learning Community or providing regular
opportunities for teachers to reflect and discuss the changes in their
practices
• Communicating AfL messages with district leaders, teachers, parents,
and students
Benefits to Parents
Students
Teachers
School
Leaders
Parents
Active
Participants
Clearly
Understand
Well-Informed
Active Participants
Formative Assessment practices create a
common language for all stakeholders
around student learning.
It allows parents to take a more active
role in supporting their child’s education
outside of school.
It provides them with the language to
discuss student progress with not only
teachers and administrators, but most
importantly with their child.
Clearly Understand
Well-Informed
Student Learning - Common Core State Standards
NEXT STEPS
Where
am I
going?
Where
am I
now?
What
are my
next
steps?
Making available the
powerful process of
Assessment “for”
Learning to guide
classroom practice of
Common Core State
Standards
In the Best Interest of Every Student
Thoughts
Reflections
Questions
Q&A
THANK YOU!