## Design label: formative strategies

In the process of formative assessment, three central questions guide the approach:

1. What is the student working towards?
2. Where does the student currently stand in relation to the learning objectives?
3. What action is needed to help the student progress?

These questions are not asked just once but repeatedly throughout the learning process, allowing both the teacher and the student to adjust and refine their strategies as needed.

Formative assessment is about gathering information on students' learning progress. As a teacher, it is crucial to collect this information, as it serves as the foundation for decisions made regarding instructional strategies and learning approaches. With this information, both the teacher and the student can make adjustments to optimize the learning process.

Teachers play a significant role in this process. They are responsible for collecting the necessary information in the right way, at the right time, and for the right purpose. There are several ways to gather such data. According to the literature, five strategies can be used by teachers to enhance formative assessment:

1. Clarifying learning goals and success criteria
2. Engaging in effective discussions with students and organizing activities that provide insights into their learning progress
3. Providing feedback to guide further learning
4. Activating peers as valuable sources of information
5. Encouraging students to take responsibility for their own learning process

By using these strategies, teachers can better support students, ensuring that their learning journey is responsive and dynamic.

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## PRACTICAL TIPS

| Setting up feedback moments It is crucial to design multiple feedback moments throughout an educational unit. These should include different types of feedback: from the instructor or mentor, from peers (fellow students), and possibly from other relevant stakeholders, such as industry professionals. To make feedback more effective, refer to resources like Vernieuwenderwijs for guidance on best practices in giving constructive feedback.
| Integrate formative assessment into the course unit Formative assessment serves multiple purposes and should be embedded at several key points during the learning process. These moments of assessment are most valuable when varying strategies are used, ensuring they align with the students’ activities and progress in the course. Formative strategies can be applied in various ways, such as through quick quizzes, checklists, open exercises to practice skills, or the use of response cards. The goal is to integrate these assessment strategies in a way that reflects the ongoing learning activities and challenges the students
| Encourage self-reflection It is essential that students learn to monitor their own learning process and make adjustments as necessary. This can be facilitated by building in regular moments for self-reflection within the course unit. Self-reflection means students looking at their own performance and responding to their abilities. They should reflect on what is going well, what can be changed or improved in the future, and whether they need support or guidance. Self-reflection is a skill that must be developed over time. Teachers can support this process by using specific reflection methodologies. A few examples include: Korthagen Reflection: A method of structured reflection on one’s actions, typically involving five key questions that guide students to assess specific actions taken during their learning process. STARR Method (Situation – Task – Action – Result – Reflection): This method encourages students to review the situation, the task they were addressing, the actions they took, the results of those actions, and their reflections on the process.
| Monitor student progress Regularly monitor the individual progress of each student. One way to achieve this is through continuous assessment, as described above. This ongoing monitoring allows the teacher to provide tailored support or assistance based on the student’s needs. It ensures that any gaps in learning can be addressed promptly, keeping students on track to meet their goals.