What is a common strategy for assessing student understanding?

Using formative assessments, such as quizzes and observations, is an effective strategy for assessing student understanding because it allows educators to gather information about student learning in real-time. This assessment method is designed to monitor student progress and provide immediate feedback, which can inform instruction and help teachers adjust their teaching strategies to better meet student needs. Formative assessments can encompass a variety of formats that engage students and can be tailored to different learning styles, facilitating a comprehensive understanding of student comprehension over time.

Standardized tests focus on a broad measure of knowledge and skills but do not offer the flexibility and adaptiveness that formative assessments provide. Long-term projects and group presentations, while valuable, may not capture immediate understanding or areas of difficulty as effectively as formative assessments do. They also often have a longer time frame, which can delay the feedback loop that is crucial for learning.