With so many tech tools that support assessment, a teacher can get lost in a sea of apps and websites. Which is the best to support how you are attempting to assess students? Whether you are trying to gather formative data used to guide instruction or summative data to evaluate student proficiency, the technology tool must be carefully chosen. While I am familiar with quite a few tech-based assessment tools, I decided to explore Formative. (Links to an external site.).
What is it?
Formative is a powerful assessment tool that allows teachers to assess and check students in real-time.
- use already created assessments, edit created assessments, or create their own
- wide variety of question options (audio recorded responses, essays, show your work, or traditional True/False responses)
- question bank available
Formative supports all types of assessment questions. I really like that about this tool. It can be a quick check, or it can require students to really think critically about their responses.
Can I Add Content?
Another feature of this assessment tool that I really like is that it allows teachers to embed content into the questions that are created.
- upload your own content in the form of a PDF or Google Doc
- embed links, video, audio, or images
The ability to enhance an assessment with multi-media is a real game changer. It provides a platform for students to practice responding to assessments of various formats. This is beneficial so students are prepared when taking state assessments such as IAR. Being familiar with a wide variety of question types can ease anxiety for students and allow them to really show their proficiency or growth.
How can students get in?
Formative is easy for students to access through Google Classroom or a quick join code.
Is it really a helpful assessment tool?
Analyze Errors
Once students are into the assessment, my favorite feature is that I can see what all students are doing on my screen at the same time. Error analysis can take place in real time and any student misconceptions can be addressed immediately.
Track Student Progress
Each question can be tagged with the Common Core State Standard that it is assessing as well. That makes it very easy to track student progress over time within a particular standard or across standards. Speaking of student progress, Formative also makes reviewing student data simple. The teacher dashboard allows teachers to view class data or data on an individual student.
Provide Feedback
You can provide students with meaningful feedback as you read student responses or allow Formative to score certain types of assessments for you and provide you with the data that can drive instruction.
Is Formative a Go or a No?
Assessments were easy to make and administer. Students were highly engaged. I felt that I received meaningful data in real time, and I was able to provide meaningful feedback to students. In an ever-growing world of assessment technology and apps, this COPPA and FERPA compliant app really is a powerful tool that can be used for both formative and summative assessments. Formative is a Go, for me.
