Formative Assessment Essay

Assessment serves the purpose of ‘learning’ in education. Formative assessment is a procedure through which teachers and pupils assess learning in a daily classroom environment. “…formative assessment aims to gain insight into learning processes that can be used to support learning through tailored instructions and targeted feedback” (Stobart, as cited by Heitink, M. C., Van der Kleij, F. M., Veldkamp, B. P., Schildkamp, K., & Kippers, W. B., 2016). Instead of determining grades and marks, formative assessment determines the path towards a course of further and long-term learning. To identify pupil’s learning and understanding needs in the classroom, frequent and interactive assessments should be carried out. Formative assessment takes various

This talk could be between teacher-pupil, pupil-pupil and more effectively a whole classroom talk. Alexander (2006) has used the terms of ‘Dialogic talk and Dialogic teaching’ in which he has emphasised on the idea of improving ‘the talk’ in classrooms. Children talk and listen to each other effectively, they do mistakes and learn from them so it’s the talk main that initiates further learning towards correction of mistakes and developing confidence. One can say that this type of assessment helps in exploring ideas and extending learning, as Mercer, N., Dawes, L., Wegerif, R., Sams, C. (2004) take this idea forward by naming it ‘Exploratory Talk’. Talk can specially encourage children with special needs to participate in the dialogue and move towards positive progression. Talk can encourage pupil to be good writers and assists them share their ideas with their peers and

Goal setting feedback is more effective than the outcome feedback which simply tells students where they have gone wrong (Earley, as cited by Hattie, J., & Timperley, H. 2007). Feedback should focus on student success and achievement of long term goals aimed towards the development of pupil’s thinking and approach. Feedback plays a vital role in enhancing pupil’s achievements. It mainly focuses on improvement suggestions and closing the gap between current and desired