Useful tech tools: Formative

​Formative assessment is a HUGE piece of teaching. We do it all of the time, sometimes without the students even realizing we are doing it. There are so many ways that we can formatively assess students and the online websites and apps can be overwhelming. In our Useful Tech Tools posts we will offer up our insights into some of our favorite formative assessment tools.

One of my favorite online sites to use for formative assessment is aptly named Formative.

Formative is free to use and easy to sign up. I created my account and then created my classes. Students do need to create an account to really get the best use out of the site. When you create your classes, it generates a code for each class that you can share with students after they have signed up. If you school uses Google for their email system, the process is even easier. Students can sign up using Google.

Once you have created an account, you can begin creating. You have the option of uploading existing worksheets, making your own online worksheet, an online quiz, or an online drawing window. A teacher can add text, embed material, and add video. One of my favorite features is the ‘show your work’ question. It provide the student with a blank box and gives them the ability to draw or upload material to it.

Once you have your ‘Formative’ created, you assign it to your students. Added plus is that your Formative activity can be embedded into your learning management system. Students will see the assignment in their dashboard. Once they have completed the assignment and even as they are working on it, you will see live results on your end.

I started using Formative this year, and I have really loved it! I like the different options it provides me to create formative assessment activities for my students. I have used Formative to create bell ringer activities, exit tickets, and progress check quizzes to see how students are understanding material. I can challenge them and push them through the different tools offered to me by Formative and thanks to the live results, I can spot problems quickly. I can also show the class the results without showing names if I like to compare and discuss what the class is doing as it is happening.

Another great thing about Formative, is that they have a great support system. Within the site there is a chat function that is sent to the Formative team. Every time I have contacted them, they have got back to me within the day and usually within the hour.

Try out Formative and let us know what you think in the comments! If you have another use for it, we would love to hear it!