Formatively

Formatively is an adverb describing actions done in a formative, shaping, or developmental manner. In education, formatively refers to practices that monitor learning during instruction and aim to shape teaching and understanding rather than primarily certify final outcomes. The term derives from formative, which comes from Latin forma meaning “shape.”

In practice, formatively describes activities such as formatively assessing student work, providing feedback that informs subsequent teaching, or using ongoing checks for understanding to guide next steps. Formative assessment is a common context: teachers collect evidence of learning—through quick quizzes, exit tickets, drafts, or peer feedback—and adjust instruction accordingly. The objective is improvement and learning growth, with feedback that is typically descriptive and actionable rather than solely evaluative.

Formatively can also describe approaches in other domains, such as program evaluation or software development, where ongoing feedback and iteration guide development before final outcomes are determined. For example, a project might be formatively evaluated to identify issues during implementation and to inform improvements prior to a conclusive assessment. The term contrasts with summative assessment, which seeks to evaluate learning after instruction has concluded.

Because formatively describes processes and methods rather than end results, it is often used with nouns like assessment, feedback, monitoring, or evaluation. Related terms include formative assessment, assessment for learning, and formative evaluation.