formative
FOR-muh-tiv
/ˈfɔːr.mə.tɪv/
Serving to form, shape, or develop; in education, referring to ongoing assessment used to inform and adapt instruction.
Focuses on providing active feedback during the learning process rather than assigning final grades.
The story behind the word. Derived from Latin 'formare' meaning to give shape. In 1967, educational researcher Michael Scriven coined 'formative evaluation' to describe process-oriented assessments that shape instruction while it is occurring.
Word relationships
- developmental: Developmental relates to growth stages, whereas formative emphasizes active shaping through feedback.
- summative: Summative measures final achievement, whereas formative nurtures ongoing learning.
Commonly confused with
- informative: Informative imparts knowledge; formative actively shapes growth and development.
Word family
- formatively (adverb): In a formative manner.
- formation (noun): The act or process of forming.
Collocations
- formative assessment
- formative years
- formative feedback
Example sentences
- "Teachers use formative feedback during daily lessons to adjust their teaching to student needs." Instructional Strategy
- "Her formative years in Chicago deeply influenced her later political perspective." Biography
Memory hook
Formative FORMS your knowledge while you are still learning. Shapes learning as it happens.
When not to use
Do not use to describe final, cumulative exams or end-of-term marks.
Fun facts
- A famous analogy compares formative assessment to a chef tasting the soup while cooking, whereas summative assessment is serving the soup to guests.
Related words
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