While is appears formative assessment is relatively an unknown idea in
adult education, it may be very familiar to educators trained for k-12.  As
an undergraduate secondary education major in 1971, I was carefully taught
the difference between formative and summative assessments.  The emphasis
for formative assessment was on teacher-developed assessment tools.  We
studied Robert Mager's structure for formulating objectives and outcomes,
and were taught to create our own periodic assessments, oiften quite
informal,  keyed to those objectives.  One book that had a profound impact
on my teaching practice was called CLASSROOM QUESTIONS.	 Alas, I cannot
remember the author and no longer have the book.  But the book showed how
to structure questions by considering Bloom's Taxonomy.   If the title
rings a bell with anyone I'd love to be reminded of the author and whether
or not it is still in print.  It was a slim volume, less than 100 pages.

Questions for our special topics guests:  is the foundational work of Bloom
and Mager pertinent to how formative assessment was evaluated in the OECD
studies, and are we talking mainly about teacher-made tools?

Deborah W. Yoho
director, Turning Pages
     (formerly the Greater Columbia Literacy Council)
a community service of Volunteers of America Carolinas
803-765-2555   Fax:  803-779-1657
PO Box 1447  Columbia, SC  29202
yohogclc at earthlink.net



> [Original Message]

> From: David J. Rosen <djrosen at comcast.net>

> To: <specialtopics at nifl.gov>

> Date: 2/25/2008 1:40:36 PM

> Subject: [SpecialTopics 751]  What is formative assessment

>

> Colleagues,

>

> A discussion list subscriber wrote to me offline: "David, I've never  

> heard of formative assessment in adult basic

> education.  What is it?" I think she may speak for many in the U.S.  

> who are subscribed to this discussion.

>

> I encourage those who are new to this concept -- or possibly just  

> this term -- to post your questions now, to ask  Janet and our other  

> guests about what formative assessment means. You might ask questions  

> like "Does it mean that a teacher would......" or " ...that students  

> would...." or "Does it differ from summative assessment in that....."  

> or however you like.

>

> While we await subscribers' questions, Janet could you give some more  

> examples of formative assessment in adult foundation (basic) skills.

>

> David J. Rosen

> Special Topics Discussion Moderator

> djrosen at comcast.net

>

>

>

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