Assessment tools can help faculty evaluate how well their learners have met learning goals and objectives. Faculty can use formal assessment tools, like examinations and quizzes, to gauge student learning. Additionally, faculty can use informal assessment tools like in-class discussion, two-sentence mini-papers in class, brief student surveys or Socratic questioning, to determine if students are learning effectively. Frequent assessment allows faculty to be responsive educators to student learning needs.
Last Reviewed:
January 26, 2026
First Published:
March 1, 2022
Why Use This Strategy
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Researchers identified 10 maxims of formative assessment: faceless, facilitates learning, feedback, feedforward, focus on learning, flexibility, fast, frequent, friendly, fun. These maxims capture effective ways to collect and analyze formative assessment techniques. Feedforward, for example, considers feedback as a loop in which students receive feedback, based on assessment, and are guided on how to improve rather than simply being told about a gap in their learning.
- Prashanti, E., & Ramnarayan, K. (2019). Ten maxims of formative assessment. Advances in Physiology Education, 43(2), 99-102. https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/advan.00173.2018
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Maintaining academic integrity with online assessment can be challenging, but research has shown that certain strategies, like offering an open-notes option, using a watermark, or having timed exams can mitigate dishonesty. Additionally, using authentic assessment techniques, like a paper or project, or using a monitoring software, like Proctor U or Respondus, can minimize risk of academic dishonesty.
- Raje, S., & Stizel, S. (2020). Strategies for effective assessments while ensuring academic integrity in general chemistry courses during COVID-19. Journal of Chemistry Education, 97(9), 3436–3440. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.0c00797
Teaching Tips
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Researchers identified 10 maxims of formative assessment: faceless, facilitates learning, feedback, feedforward, focus on learning, flexibility, fast, frequent, friendly, fun. These maxims capture effective ways to collect and analyze formative assessment techniques. Feedforward, for example, considers feedback as a loop in which students receive feedback, based on assessment, and are guided on how to improve rather than simply being told about a gap in their learning.
- Prashanti, E., & Ramnarayan, K. (2019). Ten maxims of formative assessment. Advances in Physiology Education, 43(2), 99-102. https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/advan.00173.2018
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Maintaining academic integrity with online assessment can be challenging, but research has shown that certain strategies, like offering an open-notes option, using a watermark, or having timed exams can mitigate dishonesty. Additionally, using authentic assessment techniques, like a paper or project, or using a monitoring software, like Proctor U or Respondus, can minimize risk of academic dishonesty.
- Raje, S., & Stizel, S. (2020). Strategies for effective assessments while ensuring academic integrity in general chemistry courses during COVID-19. Journal of Chemistry Education, 97(9), 3436–3440. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.0c00797
Resources
- 50 Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATS). Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, University of Connecticut.
- Kibble, J. (2017). Best practices in summative assessment. Advances in Physiology Education 41(1), 110-119. https://doi.org/10.1152/advan.00116.2016
- Rubric Tutorial. College of Public Health, USF Health.
- Learning Objectives and Assessments: Evidence-Based Recommendations for Optimal Efficacy Meredith Ratliff et al, Lecturio Pulse.
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