Using Formative Assessment to Increase Learning of Biochemistry in High School Biology

Abstract

This paper reports the outcome of a research project in regards to a biochemistry unit performed in a high school biology cooperative teaching classroom. As a result of difficulties with this topic in previous semesters, the author decided to use a variety of formative assessment teaching strategies with the intent of seeing if student learning, through active participation, would be enhanced. Along with increasing understanding, it was hoped these different assessment tools would improve the success rate of lower achieving students on the unit exam. The findings show that the use of graphic organizers, reflective journals, cooperative groups and open-book quizzes improved the learning of biochemistry and increased test scores on the unit exam for all students.