Research has shown, however, Minstrell explained, that student performance
improves when the teachers and the curriculum purposefully
elicit students’ thinking about the topic of instruction and address possible
misconceptions. Formative assessment is the key to doing so, but
there are better and worse ways of using it. Sometimes, Minstrell and
his colleagues have found, the focus is on the teacher, on what has been
taught, and simply on whether the students “got it” or did not. The
results are used to assess the quantity and pace of planned instruction
and decide whether the teacher should go on or reteach. More effective,
Minstrell said, but less frequently done, is using formative assessment to
find out what understandings, including misconceptions or incomplete
knowledge, students have, and then to adjust instruction to promote
deeper understanding.