What is a defining feature of formative assessments?

Formative assessments play a crucial role in the educational process as they are specifically designed to gauge student understanding during the instructional phase. These assessments are conducted intermittently throughout a lesson or unit, allowing educators to monitor learners' progress, identify areas where students may be struggling, and adjust teaching strategies accordingly. The primary goal is to inform both instructors and students, making it possible to enhance learning and improve educational outcomes before the culmination of a unit or course.

By focusing on real-time feedback and dynamic interaction, formative assessments help create a responsive learning environment where adjustments can be made immediately. This approach fosters an ongoing learning relationship between teachers and students, moving away from the traditional view of assessments as merely grading tools. Formative assessments emphasize growth and learning, making them fundamentally different from assessments aimed at measuring long-term retention or summative evaluations, which typically occur at the end of a unit or course.