Formative Assessment
William favors formative assessment in the advancement of education. As a result, he supports the formative assessment as a tool to support effective learning. However, he points the following key points to be observed to ensure that the assessment is effective.
Firstly, effective questioning is crucial informative assessment. I support the view that questions should be well structured to ensure that they meet the intended purpose and reinforce positive learning. They should be geared in ensuring that only the learners thinking in a right perspective give the correct response. There is a contradiction on the effective of classroom questions. This is because the effectiveness of the class questions depends on various factors. For example, they might tend to favor those students actively participating in the answering process while leaving those inactive helpless.
Secondly, the feedback given to the learners plays an essential role in the learning process. However, he does not support the effectiveness of the teacher awarding marks alongside comments as a way of responding to learners. To my opinion, this may not be true because it assists the learner to realize what went wrong and the reason for the marks obtained. Therefore, detailed feedback is appropriate in knowledge accumulation as it directs the learner in learning deeply in areas of problem.
Finally, formative assessment should consider whether learners understand what they are required from them. In addition, they should be equipped with tools for self-assessment to enable them to improve in weak areas. When learners know what is required from them, they put all their effort in that area, which assists them to utilize their energies in improving their performance. Self-assessment is pertinent in this case, as it helps the learner is discovering what they ought to have covered yet they have not.
