Formative Instructional Practices (FIP)

Formative instructional practices (FIP) are the formal and informal ways that teachers and students gather and respond to evidence of learning. It helps to think about learning as a journey, and formative instructional practices can guide teachers and students along the way, just like a GPS. These practices include four core components:

• Creating and using clear learning targets
• Collecting and documenting evidence of student learning
• Analyzing evidence and providing effective feedback
• Preparing students to take ownership of their learning  

The education system in Ohio is going through a period of significant change in order to ensure that all students are successful following high school graduation in a global economy. These changes include new standards and assessments, new accountability systems, and new teacher and principal evaluations.

Formative instructional practices are the heart of effective teaching and learning; these practices are critical to the success of teachers and students in Ohio. By learning about and using formative instructional practices, teachers will discover ways to effectively plan for instruction and assessment of new standards, as well as learn skills necessary to create student learning objectives (SLOs) that gauge student growth and may be a component of their professional evaluation.