As there are many strategies used by teachers around the world, for all student levels, and thanks to my cohort colleagues sharp opinions and practices shared in our discussion forum, I had a rich material to explore and conclude that every teacher could use at least one strategy to assess their class and students to improve learning.
Two of the most used strategies, the pre-assessment and the exit ticket are widely used among teachers in many schools that use formative assessment strategies to evaluate student's progress. These tools are as easy to find examples as to use, and as you get used to it you can improve your methods and add more formative tools to your daily routine, and finally becoming part of your evaluation process.
There are some arguments about whether using formative assessment is part of the process of the curriculum building or if curriculum must incorporate formative assessment. In my opinion, both situations occur considering a learning environment as a dynamic ecosystem.
The more teachers apply formative assessments, the better will be the next version of the curriculum mapping, even the current one can be enhanced. Also, the more teachers collaborate on sharing their results with the teaching community, in their school, district, city or world-wide, the better their practice will be and the all in favor of the students.
Also, keeping track of our students responses and practices change plays a big role in this method of evaluation, and this part only has so many important elements and outcomes that I will mention below only the three most important to me:
1 - It's important to have a consistent tool/database to keep track of your student data and teaching changes, either Google Docs, integrated or not to a Learning Management System, Webassign, GoFormative or any other tool, but keep your data accurate and updated, it will be useful for you, your students and your school.
2 - Ask for professional development. If you need to learn one of those techniques or learn about a new tech tool that will help to implement formative assessment, get trained. Make it a personal goal if your school cannot provide guidance or funds. It throws light in the corners and then you can see the whole picture.
3 - Collaborate and share with your peers. The most valuable lesson of all times, from my teaching training cohort and school colleagues is how brilliant they are and how better we can all be, if each one of us collaborate and contribute to each other's success. Priceless.
Finally, I say that to myself and everyone: don't be afraid of change. Teaching is one of the most beautiful professions in the world, but it needs evolution as society evolves and new skills are needed. Therefore teachers like us need to be on the verge of innovation, with technology, encouraging critical thinking, curiosity and creativity.
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