Professional Learning Newsletter

See below for the list of recordings and resources from the summer series!

This week we are looking at FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT.

See below for tips on formative assessment.


This week our Professional Learning Consultant Alice Keeler is going to dive into Formative Assessment. More specifically tips and tricks for using Google Workspace for Formative Assessment... GOING BEYOND using Google Forms. Register free to join or receive the resources.

Summer Series Recordings and Resources

Better AI That Is Actually Helpful 

Click Here for the recording.

View the presentation slides: Click Here. 
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submit for your certificate.


Simplifying Classroom Workflows with Smart Browser Hacks

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submit for your certificate.






Join live Tuesday 6/16 at 12pm Central.

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Google Gemini
Formative Assessment


Gemini Gems simply save your prompt (instructions.) Click on the Gems icon on the left hand side of Google Gemini. The Instructions box is where you save your prompt. Come back to the Gems page to start your AI chat without having to provide the directions. Select your tool, in today's example we selected the Create music tool.

Teaching with Google Workspace
Formative Assessment with Google Forms


There are many ways to do formative assessment. Since formative has the word form in it, let's look at some ways to use Google Forms

Did you notice that Google Forms has a new logo? What do you think of it?

Google Forms can be a powerful tool for maintaining the continuous dialogue required for effective formative assessment. Gathering real-time evidence allows you to take constant readings of student understanding and make small, necessary adjustments to your teaching.

Digital Exit Tickets

Ask students to quickly submit one thing they learned and one thing they are still confused about at the end of a lesson. Reviewing these responses before the next class allows you to use the data immediately to adjust your instruction.

  • The Responses tab shows charts from multiple choice answers.
  • Click the copy icon for the chart and paste into a Google Slides. When prompted, choose to LINK the chart to allow it to update as student responses are submitted.


Self Reflection and Ownership

Create a Form that asks students to evaluate their own work against the success criteria you shared at the start of a task. This collaborative approach removes any mystery about grading and empowers students to track their own learning destination.

  • Utilize checkbox grid question type to allow students to evaluate on a rubric grid.


Peer Feedback

Set up a Form where students submit feedback for a classmate using the Two Stars and a Wish technique. They identify two positive features of a peer's work and one specific area for further attention, activating students as learning resources for one another.

  • Create a dropdown question.
  • PASTE the list of student names all at once to avoid having to enter each student one at a time.
  • Allow students to choose from the dropdown who they are giving respectful feedback to.
  • Share linked spreadsheet of feedback after reviewing that the comments are kind and helpful.


Closing the Loop

After a complex class discussion, send out a brief Form to see if the conversation cleared up misconceptions for everyone. This provides a low stakes check for understanding, especially for students who may not have spoken out loud during class.

  • Try the rating style question type


Key Practices for Formative Use

Keep these assessments ungraded to ensure students focus on growth rather than performance. Simply collecting data is not enough. It only becomes a formative process when you actively use the evidence you elicited to change your next instructional move.


For the summer, Alice Keeler is creating our PL Newsletter. As an Educational Technology and Math expert the summer newsletter will skew towards her expertise. Coming this fall will include segments from all of the professional learning consultants at Orion. Stay tuned!

More Topics and Templates to Come!!

 
 

Summer 2026

Join Orion for Professional Learning

In Person, Virtual, Asynchronous, and Credit Earning


Ready to learn more? This summer we have a lot of options for you. Please reach out to akeeler@orioneducation.org for more details.

INSTRUCTOR: 

Alice Keeler

DATE: 
All Summer

TIME: 

Varies, see website



LOCATION:

Online or Asynchronous


IN PERSON:

ORION SERVICE CENTER

13939 Diagonal Rd, Clearwater, KS 67026


 
 

More to Come! Please share this newsletter with other educators and let us know what you'd like us to cover in the future.

For more information, contact Alice Keeler at akeeler@orioneducation.org.

Orion Education & Training offers a variety of onsite and online professional learning opportunities with new workshops available monthly.

To learn more, visit us at orioneducation.org and click WORKSHOPS,

or give us a call at 620-584-3300.