Formative Assessment as the Path to a Higher Quality of Knowledge

Abstract

Formative assessment of students' knowledge is seen as the bridge between the learning and teaching process. It mainly involves providing feedback and developing the student's ability to self-evaluate. In essence, the teacher shifts from the role of knowledge provider to the role of a guide through the learning process. Formative assessment increases the quality of knowledge, impacts the students’ involvement in the learning process, and encourages them to be responsible for their own knowledge and learning. It is indirectly already a part of the teaching process of many Slovenian elementary schools that provide education in line with the national education programme, whereas at schools that offer <i>The International Baccalaureate </i>(IB) international education programme, students can only formally be graded after prior formative assessment. The article discusses the discrepancies in understanding the importance of formative assessment in two established education programmes. In the international education programme, it serves as a valid basis for grading and is an integral part of the final grade, while in the national education programme, formative assessment is considered an activity parallel to knowledge assessment, which, according to the rules, should not be considered when grading. The final grade under the national education programme is only a snapshot of the student’s knowledge at that moment. It does not allow taking into account the student’s performance in partial knowledge assessments, which deprives children and parents of applicative and useful feedback about the student's knowledge or their progress. Sophisticated teaching methods, such as individualization, differentiation, and personalization, are considered quality tools of formative assessment as they encourage comprehensive learning and critical thinking, motivate curiosity and imagination, as well as strengthen the student’s ability to connect knowledge from various fields.