How do educators assess student progress over time?

Using formative assessments to monitor student growth is an effective and comprehensive approach to assessing student progress over time. Formative assessments include various strategies, such as quizzes, observations, discussions, and assignments that occur during the learning process. These assessments provide ongoing feedback to both educators and students, helping to identify areas where students excel and where they may need additional support or intervention.

This method is designed not just to evaluate what students have learned at a single point in time, but to track their development and understanding throughout the instructional period. By regularly checking in on student progress, educators can adjust their teaching strategies, personalize learning experiences, and provide timely feedback, all of which contribute to improved student outcomes.

In contrast, grading only final exams does not provide insight into the learning process and can overlook significant growth that happens along the way. Relying solely on peer assessments can lead to biases and may not accurately reflect individual student progress. Conducting annual standardized tests may offer a snapshot of students' abilities at a specific time but fails to capture ongoing development or provide comprehensive insights into how students are progressing throughout the year. Formative assessments address these shortcomings by focusing on continuous improvement and growth.