Volume 5 (Issue 3) Download

Examples of Quick Formative Assessment in Physics and Chemistry

Ed van den Berg

 

Abstract

Formative assessment is a crucial element in teaching and learning. It provides teachers with information for choices in the teaching process, it informs students about what they did and did not yet learn, and embedded in the lesson it enriches the learning process. This paper shows that formative assessment can easily be integrated in the lessons and that results can be available and acted upon immediately during the lesson. Examples will be given of a) 2-minute single concept checks to see whether a concept is nderstood, b) a concept check to trigger in-depth conceptual discussion, or c) a series of checks to develop a concept or skill step-by-step while monitoring student progress. Most concept checks are answered with a drawing, a diagram, or a graph. The teacher diagnoses answers just in one look while going around the classroom. In less than half a minute the teacher can see 10 answers and that is usually enough to know the dominant errors and misconceptions present in the class. Then the teacher can provide brief immediate follow-up and feedback. Please note, formative assessment and feedback works only if it is not graded.