Formative Self-Assessment
Formative self-assessment is a reflective process where individuals evaluate their own learning and performance during an educational or training experience. It is important as it fosters self-awareness, encourages ownership of learning, and provides insights that can guide future improvements.
The main aim of formative self-assessment is to accredit the learners own strengths and shortcomings and thus, to be in a position to be autonomous in their learning process. A good example could be a student making use of self-assessment as a tool to conceptualize their comprehension of the topic, consequently being able to pay attention to areas that are still unclear to them prior to a final evaluation.
Different methods of formative self-assessment can be teaching reflective journal, peer feedback session, and self- rating scale after assignments. Students, by way of example, after the completion of the project, can partake in a self-assessment rubric that will allow them to absolutely evaluate their contribution as well as what they have learned with respect to the project for them to obtain the feedback about their performance.
Some of the tools that can be used for self-assessment include digital portfolios, online quizzes that provide instant feedback, and learning management systems that are used to track the progress. For instance, an online platform might give the students quizzes that are tailored to their level of learning and provide instant feedback that would, for example, allow them to adapt their study strategies.
The primary advantages of formative self-assessment for students are the development of metacognitive skills, increase in motivation, and the ability to adapt a growth mindset. To illustrate, a student who consistently rates their own learning grasp is more likely to find ways to learn effectively and also keep a positive mindset on the challenges. They will consider it an opportunity to improve.