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Using Formative Assessment to Improve Student Outcomes in Classrooms

“Formative Assessment—the process of interpreting data on student performance to adapt instruction to individual needs-is perhaps the single most powerful tool available to teachers to help every student succeed to their full potential.”

With that bold statement, Michael W. Connell sets out to unpack formative assessment for the reader—what it is, how it works, and why it is so essential for learner growth. He shows how to incorporate it into different teaching methods and settings, such as flipped classrooms, programmed instruction, and more. The goal: to improve every student’s performance and provide the benefits of individualized instruction even in group settings.

Using Formative Assessment is available in paperback ($12.00, 96 pages, ISBN: 9781930583047), and accessible EPUB ($12.00, ISBN: 9781930583221) format.

Using Formative Assessment is the fourth title in the CAST Skinny Books™ series. Visit the Skinny Books page to learn more!

Table of Contents

  • About the Author
  • Introduction
  • Chapter 1: Individualized Instruction Is Central to All Great Teaching
    • Key Takeaways
  • Chapter 2: Why Should Teachers Care about Formative Assessment?
    • Why Is Formative Assessment Necessary?
    • Formative Assessment—Perhaps the Most Powerful Teaching Tool We Know
    • Key Takeaways
  • Chapter 3: Components of Formative Assessment in Practice
    • Example #1: Arithmetic
    • Example #2: Social Studies
    • How Can Classroom Teachers Use Formative Assessment More Effectively?
    • Evaluating Teaching Methods with Respect to Their Use of Formative Assessment
    • Key Takeaways
  • Chapter 4: Formative Assessment in Some Group Instruction Scenarios
    • Interactive Lecture
    • The Flipped Classroom
    • Programmed Instruction
    • Adaptive Educational Software
    • Teacher Dashboard
    • Summary
    • Key Takeaways
  • Chapter 5: Closing Thoughts
    • Let’s Connect!
    • References
ISBN
9781930583047
Copyright Year
2019
Page Count
96
ISBN
9781930583221

About the Author

Photo of author Michael W. ConnellMichael W. Connell, Ed.D., is an educational designer, researcher, and consultant who works at the interface between academic research and classroom practice. He has served as a faculty member at Harvard University, Dartmouth College, and the University of Texas. For decades, he has written, spoken, consulted, and taught extensively on the learning sciences and evidence-based design. He has also developed a number of commercial educational products, including products for Sunburst Communications, Lexia Learning Systems, and Native Brain, Inc., of which he is a founder.