“Formative assessment identifies areas where students are excelling and struggling so that teachers can best alter their instruction to meet the needs of all students.”

Using technology as a formative assessment tool allows teachers the ability to immediately see where their students may be struggling and adjust their lessons accordingly – they can shift their lessons to answer student questions. Technology  may also offer teachers an alternative to pen and paper.  If they prefer, they may use technology to enhance their pre-existing formative assessment.

Using technology allows teaching to plan with a purpose.  They may use the data they collect to plan their next lessons – they may spend more time on a concept that the students may not be having difficulties with or they may move on to the next topic, if all of the students have mastered the concept. The patterns that teachers may find in their data can help to find patterns in individual learners and tailor groups for student success.

To utilize technology effectively within the classroom, teachers must first find what works for them.  It is through this inquiry that they are able to explore various modes of formative assessment and discover what works for them and their students.  Upon finding what works, technology can be used to tailor lessons and work toward student success.

Burns, Monica (2015). Empowering teachers with tech-friendly formative assessment tools. Retrieved from: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/tech-friendly-formative-assessment-tools-monica-burns