Closing the Gap: How Formative Assessments Drive Student Success

As educators, it is of utmost importance to identify students who may be struggling in their studies and provide them with the necessary support at the right time. One effective tool that we can utilize for this purpose is a robust assessment system. While a decline in academic performance serves as an obvious indicator of a student’s difficulties, we can heroically employ formative assessments to proactively identify those in need of extra attention before the end-of-term report is issued.

By analyzing the grades obtained from formative assessments, teachers can easily pinpoint specific areas where students require additional lessons and support. Regular application of formative assessments enables us to detect disengaged students, track their progress, and take timely action where necessary. Let’s consider this: which option would better serve our school in improving student performance? Waiting until the end of the term to identify struggling students or being proactive to ensure that our students continue to learn and thrive?

Royce Sadler, in his seminal paper “Formative Assessment and the Design of Instructional Systems” published in 1989, established the significance of formative assessment in bridging the gap between a student’s current learning status and the desired educational goal. It is through the consistent use of formative assessments and timely interventions that we can address the global learning crisis and provide every child with the opportunity to make progress in their educational journey.

Therefore, teachers and schools must have an effective monitoring and assessment tool at their disposal to identify students who require assistance in catching up and making significant strides in their learning. By embracing regular formative assessments and timely interventions, we can create an environment where every student can thrive and achieve their full potential.