What does research say about the importance of formative assessments?
In a 1998 Phi Delta Kappan article entitled, “Inside the Black Box: Raising Standards Through Classroom Assessment,” authors Paul Black and Dylan Wiliam summarize their review of the research that would help answer the question, “Do improved formative, classroom assessments yield higher student achievement as reflected in summative assessments, and, if so, what kinds of improvements in classroom assessment practice are likely to yield the greatest gains in achievement?” They found several dozen research projects with sufficient scientific rigor and experimental control to permit firm conclusions. After reviewing the research, they asserted that, “There is a body of firm evidence that formative assessment is an essential component of classroom work and that its development can raise standards of achievement. We know of no other way of raising standards for which such a strong prima facie case can be made.” They reported effect sizes of one-half to a full standard deviation, and noted th
