What is an essential aspect of formative assessments?

An essential aspect of formative assessments is that they provide immediate feedback to guide instruction. This type of assessment is designed to monitor student learning throughout the educational process. By offering timely insights into student performance, teachers can adjust their teaching strategies and interventions to better meet the needs of their students. This ongoing feedback loop helps to promote student growth and understanding, as it allows both educators and learners to identify areas of strength and areas where improvement is needed. The emphasis is on enhancing the learning experience rather than solely evaluating it, which is why formative assessments are integral to effective teaching practices.