What is the significance of formative assessments in education?

Formative assessments hold significant value in the educational process as they are designed to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback that can be used by instructors to improve their teaching and by students to enhance their learning. Unlike summative assessments, which evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional unit, formative assessments occur during the learning process. This allows educators to identify areas where students struggle and address those gaps in understanding immediately, facilitating a more responsive and adaptive teaching approach.

Incorporating formative assessments regularly in the classroom helps to create a continuous loop of feedback, enabling students to reflect on their understanding and take steps to improve before the final evaluations. This has a profound impact on student engagement, achievement, and overall motivation, making formative assessments a critical tool in fostering a supportive learning environment.