What is the overarching goal of formative evaluations?

The overarching goal of formative evaluations is to guide and inform future instruction. This type of assessment is intended to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback that instructors can use to enhance their teaching strategies and adapt to the learning needs of their students. Formative evaluations are typically conducted during the learning process, enabling educators to identify areas where students may be struggling and to adjust their instructional methods accordingly. This continual feedback loop helps ensure that all students are supported effectively in their learning journeys, making it a proactive approach to education.

In contrast, other options serve different purposes. Providing final grades or academic standings is the role of summative assessments, which evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional period. Evaluating student performance against norms often implies a comparative assessment, which does not align with the primary function of formative evaluations. Assessing comprehension of cumulative knowledge is more characteristic of summative assessments, where the goal is to determine what students have retained over time rather than to inform instruction during the learning process.