Formatives and summative are the buzzword in today’s educational circles. All the stake holders of education have attached different connotations to these words. Education is in its transition state and this transformation has brought along an increased sense of apprehension in some people and some have welcomed the changes with open arms and a sigh of relief.
The need of the hour is to have a 3600 view of this word “formative”, to peep into its soul, to absorb its real essence and implement it comprehensively. During the learning process there are certain gaps which remain due to students’ different learning patterns. Identifying and filling these gaps leads to formative learning. It is said that “beauty lies in this eyes of the beholder” hence the beauty of this word from different eyes may reveal starkly opposite descriptions. It’s the perspective which makes the difference. Let’s have a few glances of various stake holders of education on it.
A PARENT | |
View · Might have apprehensions towards his child not gaining enough as the sight of doing rigorous reading and writing practice may become rare. · Might feel his involvement into activities a waste of time · May not be able to correlate grades with real learning · May not value child’s innate talent or ability · May feel that studies are no more preparing his child for competitive examinations. | Counter view · Might see a sudden boom in child’s confidence · Might notice his inhibitions vanishing · Might notice the child becoming more curious · Might feel elated to see the child creating things most of the time. · Might discover some inherent or acquired talent in a child · May be able to correlate the feedbacks and discoveries and use the knowledge for an apt career choice for the child. |
A TEACHER | |
View · Might look at the teaching learning process as an additional labour · Might feel the pressure of increased documentation · Might feel compromised on language skills to report feed backs · May feel threatened by the new age learner who has the world of knowledge at the click of mouse · May resist change from lecture made to discussion mode · May feel integrating technology a harassing task | Counter view · Might jump to joy with the thought of conducting an activity in the class · Might take pleasure in distributing tasks amongst students and motivate them to collaborative learning · May love to moderate a discussion and promote critical and imaginative thinking · Might search opportunities in the curriculum to provide experiential learning to students · May feel immensely satisfied after an effective and constructive feedback by the pleasure of being able to connect to the students. |
BUT
In the eyes of a child there can be just one perspective if formative learning is taken up in the real sense of the word as the child is exposed to
· Joy of doing things
· Exploring the world of knowledge
· Innovating and imagining the abstract
· Discovering hidden talent
· Honing communication, thinking and decision making skills
· Learning to collaborate, work in groups and hence enhancing interpersonal skills
Some of the practices which effect formative learning most effectively are:
Activities | Benefits | ||
Dissociating a lesson into subtopics which are distributed in groups and children give a presentation on their respective topics | · Children hone their skills in · Comprehension · Analysis · Compilation of data · Visual presentation · Effective Communication · Confidence development | ||
Follow a KWL approach K-Know, W – Wonder, L – Learn | · .Building on previous knowledge · learning outcomes get clearly defined · imaginative thinking is enhanced | ||
Children can frame Questions / make a question paper/ assignment sheet/ create online test / Quizzes etc | · Better comprehension of topic · Question making skills ( critical thinking ) get enhanced · Creativity is ignited as various types of questions can be designed Viz.Puzzles, crossword, give one word for etc | ||
Carry out school wide , local area wide campaign on social issues | · Group work · Planning · Interpersonal skills · Power of conviction · Organising ability · Responsibility towards society | ||
Forming Quality circles for discussion on case studies for life skills | · . Sharing · Reflecting · Self discovered learning | ||
Interview a neighbour , family member people in different profession etc | · Learns to prepare a questionnaire · Interpersonal skills are honed · learning from people’s experiences · Drawing inferences | ||
Provide opportunity to students to join various clubs viz… Literary, dramatics, dance, vocal music, instrumental music, eco club, quizzing, cookery club, sports club, Science & technology club etc. 1. Senior most class to head the club 2. Design curricular and carry out activites 3. Designing assessment criteria and making an assessment report. | · Children discover their innate talent · learn to manage a separate entity on their own – Managerial skills Are promoted. | ||
Enactment / staging a drama indigenously | § Writing skills(Scripting) § Team work § Directing skills | ||
Design a costume/ logo | · Thinking out of the box aesthetic skills being honed | ||
Above are just a few examples which can be taken up by the teachers which will engage students and lead to learning accompanied with a lot of fun and skill enhancement. After all, that is formative learning all about.
Oliver Wendell Holmes has said it all in a sentence
“ Man’s mind once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions”
