Common Formative Assessment

Formative Assessment is a process in which evidence about student achievement is elicited, interpreted, and used by teachers, learners, or their peers to make decisions. These decisions will lead to the next steps in instruction that are likely to be better, or better founded, than decisions they would have made in the absence of that evidence. This module focuses on these key features of formative assessment: 

  • Student achievement evidence that must be elicited, interpreted and used 
  • Evidence that can be used by teachers, learners, and/or peers 
  • Evidence that is used to make decisions and action regarding next steps in instruction 
  • Evidence that improves decision-making 

This learning module contains three parts. The first part is the Introduction to Common Formative Assessment and Clarifying Learning. These second part is Eliciting Evidence of Learning. The third part is Feedback. 

Learning Objectives

In this module, educators will understand

  • The formative assessment process, its role and impact
  • How to clarify learning goals by developing learning targets and success criteria
  • How to compare daily assessment and common formative assessment and explain how both benefit teachers and students
    • How to develop effective daily and common formative assessments to elicit evidence of learning
    • How to interpret and act on formative assessment evidence to provide feedback and make data-based decisions to improve teaching and learning

Participant Handouts

Below are handout packets that are valuable to all sections of the CFA professional learning module as well as additional handouts specifically related to each of the sections.

Download All

The entirety of the professional learning module.

Pre-Post Knowledge Check

Pre and post-knowledge checks are a component of high-quality professional development. It is recommended that all consultants and other trainers/facilitators use them as they tailor their professional development for their audience. The pre-post knowledge check and the answer key are posted below for downloading and administering.

Presenter Materials

Powerpoint with Presenter Notes

Implementation Supports

Additional Resources