Which example would best represent formative assessment in a classroom?

Formative assessment is designed to monitor student learning and provide ongoing feedback that can be used by instructors to improve their teaching and by students to enhance their learning throughout the educational process. Observing students work during a hands-on activity is a prime example of formative assessment because it allows the teacher to assess students' understanding and skills in real-time. The instructor can identify misconceptions, offer prompts to help students think critically, and adjust instruction based on students' needs immediately.

This approach emphasizes the process of learning and provides a dynamic interaction where feedback is given while the learning is still occurring. Unlike traditional assessments such as final exams or high-stakes testing, which evaluate what students have learned after the fact, formative assessments are focused on guiding and improving student performance as it happens. This makes it a powerful tool in the educational process, ensuring that learning is a continuous development rather than a final product.