In which type of feedback does an educator primarily focus on students' ongoing improvement?

Formative feedback is centered around students' ongoing improvement and development throughout the learning process. It is typically delivered during instructional activities and aims to provide constructive insights that can help students understand their strengths and areas for growth. This type of feedback is often focused on specific skills or knowledge gaps and encourages students to reflect on their learning approaches, engage in self-assessment, and make necessary adjustments to enhance their performance.

In contrast, summative feedback is usually provided at the end of a learning segment to evaluate student learning against a standard or benchmark, rather than to facilitate ongoing improvement. Diagnostic feedback is often used to assess students’ prior knowledge and skill levels before instruction begins, which aids in planning but does not focus on continuous development. Norm-referenced feedback compares a student's performance to that of their peers, which may not provide the individualized guidance necessary for ongoing improvements. Formative feedback, therefore, uniquely supports student growth by emphasizing their learning journey and providing timely and specific suggestions for enhancement.