Consider how much your assessment approach encourages students to grow by synthesizing knowledge throughout the term, rather than simply summing it up at the end. Realizing the value of your ongoing feedback can be the key to unlocking student learning success.
Why is Formative Assessment Important?
Research shows that low-stakes formative assessments during learning are powerful tools for optimizing student success and development. By integrating these frequent checks for understanding throughout the course, you gain real-time, actionable proof of student progress. This data allows for immediate, evidence-based instructional adjustments, ensuring lessons are precisely tailored to address evolving learning needs and close identified knowledge gaps.
Timely, ongoing feedback delivered through this approach is crucial for fostering students' metacognition and encouraging self-regulated learning. It helps students self-reflect, promoting a deeper understanding that is vital for long-term knowledge retention. For faculty, it provides clarity on which concepts are being grasped and which require further attention, transforming the teaching and learning process into a dynamic, responsive cycle centered on mastery.
What Counts as “Good” Feedback?
Consider the following key points to constitute whether a specific formative assessment is deemed valuable (Oxford University video):
informs learning- gathers evidence that directly helps the learning process.
builds on prior knowledge
provides clear learning intentions
is actionable- students understand what they need to do to improve
focuses on the task, not the learner
involves feedback from both instructors and students
is well-timed- ideally during the work process
How can this be easily achieved in the classroom?
Effective teaching strategies that keep students engaged and studying on a regular basis include sending a quick video response, providing instant polling results and other real-time classroom engagement activities.
Five Formative Feedback Strategies to Implement
Try using iclicker for surveys, questions, or polls that provide quick and interactive feedback to keep students engaged.
Implement Peer Review where peers give feedback to one another.
Provide Rubrics as scoring guides that clearly outline assignment expectations
Have students answer a quick Minute Paper with a two question check-in using google forms.
End class with Exit Tickets for student self-reflection.
Additional Ideas to Incorporate
Encourage students to practice content using Problem Roulette.
Use Canvas SpeedGrader for recording audio comments when grading assignments.
Incorporate Canvas Discussions forums, for interactive communication and which are also able to record audio comments.
If you would like to speak with an instructional consultant about using these tools, or about formative assessment in the classroom, you can request a consultation.
References/Additional Resources:
Center for Research on Learning and Teaching. (n.d.). Formative Assessment. University of Michigan. Retrieved September 16, 2025, from https://crlt.umich.edu/formative-assessment
Stanford Teaching Commons. (n.d.). Formative Assessment and Feedback. Retrieved September 16, 2025, from https://teachingcommons.stanford.edu/teaching-guides/foundations-course-design/feedback-and-assessment/formative-assessment-and-feedback
LSA Learning and Teaching Technology Consultants. (2020, October). Giving Ongoing Feedback to Online and Hybrid Students. University of Michigan.
Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning. (n.d.). Formative & Summative Assessments: A guide on assessment types that instructors can use. Yale University. Retrieved September 17, 2025, from
https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/teaching/teaching-resource-library/formative-summative-assessments
Straub, E. (April, 2020). Formative Assessments. University of Michigan’s Online Teaching. Center for Academic Innovation. https://onlineteaching.umich.edu/articles/formative-assessments/.
Department of Education, University of Oxford. (May, 2024). Formative assessment and good feedback (Educational Assessment, Episode 1). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MniPAlijwk
