Making the most of formative assessments in the MYP

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) thrives on a dynamic, inquiry-based approach to learning. In this fluid and flexible structure, formative assessment isn't just a useful tool; it's a pivotal component of the entire teaching and learning process, directly shaping the holistic development of an MYP learner.

Why formative assessments are essential in MYP

​​At its core, formative assessment is assessment for learning. Effective formative assessments represent an ongoing, diagnostic process that provides immediate feedback to both students and teachers about the progress being made towards learning goals. Unlike summative assessment, which is of learning (e.g., an end-of-unit exam), these formative assessments are low-stakes or no-stakes activities designed to inform the next steps in MYP teaching and learning."

The IB’s pedagogical philosophy, as outlined in publications like "MYP: From principles into practice", champions this approach. The IB emphasizes that assessment should be a continuous dialogue, where "teachers and students become partners in learning." Formative assessments are the key mechanism for this MYP partnership."

With formative assessments in the MYP educators provide ongoing feedback that helps students identify their strengths and areas for growth,regularly check their understanding tailor, their approach and ensure that MYP students grasp foundational concepts before moving on through these valuable formative assessments. This continuous feedback loop from formative assessments has a direct and significant impact on MYP summative assessment results as students are better prepared and more confident when tackling higher-stakes tasks.

How to design effective MYP formative assessments: A step-by-step guide

Creating a formative assessment task is more than just a quick quiz. It requires deliberate design that aligns with the specific MYP objectives and skills you want to develop in your formative assessments.

Step 1: Deconstruct the statement of inquire and learning objectives

Start with your MYP unit's Statement of Inquiry (SoI) to guide your formative assessments. And ask what are the core understandings you want MYP students to develop? From there, identify the specific MYP subject-group objectives (Criteria A, B, C, D) and the ATL skills you will be targeting in that unit.

Examples:

• Subject: MYP 3 Science

• Statement of Inquiry: Understanding the delicate balance within ecosystems requires us to model complex relationships and predict the consequences of change.

• Target Criterion: Criterion A: Knowing and understanding

• Target ATL Skill: Communication (Organizing and depicting information logically)

Step 2: Choose a "low-stakes" assessment method

Select a method that allows for quick feedback and doesn't create undue stress. On a platform like AssessPrep, you can move beyond static worksheets and engage MYP students with dynamic question formats for your formative assessments. The goal is information, not a grade.

Examples:

• Interactive hotspots: Upload an image (like a cell diagram or historical map) and have students click on specific areas to identify components.

• Video-based questions: Embed a short video clip and insert questions at key moments to check for comprehension.

• Audio responses: Ask students to record a short audio clip to explain their reasoning, perfect for practicing communication skills.

• Drag-and-drop: Create labelling exercises, sequencing tasks, or classification activities where students manipulate elements on screen.

• MCQ simulations: Use multiple-choice questions with rich media and detailed feedback for each option to simulate decision-making processes.

Step 3: Craft a clear and focussed task for students

The MYP formative assessment task should be directly linked to the learning objective identified in Step 1. The instructions must be clear, concise, and use student-friendly language.

Example task for a MYP 3 Science Unit: On the provided diagram of a forest food web, predict and illustrate what would happen to the populations of owls and mice if the snake population were to be completely removed. Write two sentences to justify your prediction.

Example Task for our MYP 3 Science Unit (using a Drag-and-Drop format): On the provided diagram of a forest food web, drag the ‘UP’ arrow to the populations you predict will increase and the ‘DOWN’ arrow to the populations you predict will decrease if the snake population is removed. Then, in the text box below, write two sentences to justify your choices.

Step 4: Define success (and provide feed-forward)

How will you and the MYP student know they are on the right track with these formative assessments? This doesn't need a full rubric, but clear "look-fors" are essential. The feedback you provide should be "feed-forward" that means positive, actionable suggestions for what you can do differently or better next time.

Example "Look-fors" and feed-forward:

• Look-for: The diagram accurately shows an increase in mice and a decrease in owls.

• Feed-forward: "Excellent prediction! Now, can you add one more level of impact? What might happen to the insect population if mice increase?"

• Look-for: The justification uses key vocabulary like 'predator,' 'prey,' and 'population.'

• Feed-forward: "You've clearly understood the relationship. Try incorporating the term 'interdependence' into your next explanation to elevate your scientific communication."

Step 5: Create a clear mark scheme or "look fors"

To make feedback for your formative assessments transparent and effective, MYP students need to understand the goalposts. A simple, task-specific mark scheme or a checklist of "look-fors" clarifies expectations. This empowers students to self-assess and understand exactly how to improve.

Platforms like AssessPrep streamline this process. Teachers can build and attach a rubric directly to the formative task. Even better, you can leverage AI assistance within the platform to generate a draft mark scheme based on your prompt and target criteria. This saves valuable time and provides a solid foundation for transparent evaluation, ensuring students know the "look-fors" from the very beginning.

Download our strategies that you can use for making an effective MYP formative assessment

Leveraging digital tools for enhanced formative assessment

Given these evolving trends in assessments such as focus on formative assessment is shifting from purely mark-based to more learning-based, digital platforms are a game-changer for MYP educators especially for the ones who use formative assessments. Powerful tools incorporating technologies like AI, VR, and AR can become powerful mediums, not just for delivering high-quality content, but also for assisting MYP teachers in generating more tangible learning outcomes from their formative assessments

Teachers can achieve multiple goals with the help of these tools:

• Time savings: Digital platforms can save educators over 30% of their time (based on various studies on assessment automation), particularly through features like auto-grading for recall-based tasks and streamlined feedback mechanisms. This frees up valuable time for more personalized student interactions.

• Future-proofing students: By integrating modern assessment tools, teachers naturally expose students to the power of these technologies, teaching them to embrace the future of learning and work.

• Richer data insights: Digital platforms provide immediate, actionable data on student performance, allowing teachers to quickly identify common misconceptions or areas where students are excelling, enabling more targeted interventions.

Conclusion: Smarter formative assessment with technology

Formative assessment in the MYP is less about judgment and more about guidance. By embracing diverse strategies for formative assessments and leveraging the power of modern digital tools, MYP educators can create a more responsive, engaging, and effective learning environment. When technologies like auto-grading are integrated, the process becomes significantly less labor-intensive, allowing teachers to focus on the invaluable human element of education: supporting student growth and understanding.

Ready to enhance your MYP formative assessment practices? Explore how platforms like AssessPrep can streamline your workflow with features like auto-grading and comprehensive analytics, making formative assessment truly work for you and your MYP students.