The forward effects of testing

When it comes to the forward effects of testing, a 2018 study by Pastötter, Engel, and Frings found that testing has a powerful effect on a student’s encoding capabilities, putting forward the reset-of-encoding hypothesis: the leading theory explaining the forward effects of testing. 

In short, testing has been shown to reset a learner’s ability to absorb new information — wiping the slate clean and priming students to grasp and retain fresh concepts. 

There is also considerable research to support the effectiveness of checking for understanding throughout the learning process through formative assessments. 

While summative assessments generally involve the awarding of a grade without feedback or further opportunity to improve, formative assessments give students the opportunity to advance their learning by actively engaging with and implementing feedback.
- Reconsidering The Role of High-Stakes Examinations In Higher Education, Raoul Mulder and Sarah French, 2023. 

Plus, the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) explains that using regular, low-stakes testing can offer a more accurate insight into a learner’s current abilities and can help boost a student’s ability to recall information, both now and in the future. 

Keep Learning: Tune into Season 3 of the Atomi Brainwaves podcast to hear eminent educational figure Dylan Williams discuss formative assessment: what it is, why it’s important and how you can implement it into your classes. 

How today’s quizzes supercharge tomorrow’s learning outcomes

As an educator, you want to give your students the best possible opportunity to absorb new information effectively. By harnessing the forward effects of testing and using quizzes effectively, you can help learners get into the right headspace before starting a new topic or subject area. 

Regular formative assessments and quizzes allow learners to:

• Reduce test anxiety: Exposure to regular testing helps students to become familiar with the testing environment and understand that exams and quizzes are a normal, predictable part of the learning process.
  
• Deepen engagement with the learning process: Graded exams can come with high levels of pressure and stress for learners. However, framing testing as an opportunity to grow, learn, and improve helps learners feel more confident, positive, and engaged with their learning.‍
• Boost academic performance: Students gain real-time feedback throughout the term, with the opportunity to take steps to revise, improve and address mistakes before key assessment moments arrive. 

As Sarah explains, “small, consistent quizzes make taking 'tests’ less stressful as students feel familiar with the testing process.”

Framing tests as formative feedback tools that help guide future learning, rather than a punishment, can help to show students the benefit of testing.
- Sarah-Eleni Zaferis, Teacher and School Enablement Leader at Atomi

4 proven ways to turn testing into long-term learning opportunities 

Low-stakes, high-frequency testing can be more beneficial for learners than high-stakes, graded pressure during exam season. If you’re looking to harness the forward effects of testing with formative assessments, here are three practical places to start. 

1. Use pre-lesson quizzes 

Want to prime learners for the lesson ahead? Quizzes can be a fantastic task to assign as pre-work or an entry ticket for lessons, with the retrieval process helping learners to hit ‘reset’ and come in fresh to the lesson ahead. 

Plus, setting short quizzes as homework allows teachers to check for understanding and see where learning is at before moving on to hands-on tasks during class time. This process makes class planning more purposeful and allows educators to tailor the learning experience to the exact needs of students, too. 

Get started today by using the task feature in Atomi to build quizzes into students’ upcoming homework schedule. You can even schedule tasks ahead of time, perfect for staying ahead and preparing lessons in advance. 

Utilising the task feature in Atomi incorporates quizzes in broader class tasks so it does not feel stressful for learners, but gives maximum impact.

2. Build in mid-topic checkpoints 

Testing students informally throughout a topic is a powerful way to improve content retention. Additionally, it prepares learners for success in absorbing the remaining content on the topic. 

Mid-topic checkpoints can be helpful at key moments throughout a topic, such as after a foundational concept has been covered but before learners need to start applying this new knowledge in practical scenarios. 

Plus, it could be helpful to build in testing checkpoints once learners have learnt new rules and formulas, but haven’t started complex problem-solving yet. 

Look at unit plans and find areas where a test feels natural and will help inform or guide next learning steps.

Get started and use Atomi’s active recall quizzes feature, which allows you to easily assign quizzes throughout a subject as a mid-topic checkpoint — reinforcing knowledge and checking for understanding in real-time. 

3. Leverage end-of-class self-quizzes to prep for tomorrow’s topic 

Quizzes can also be a handy way to wrap up the end of class time to consolidate knowledge. 

Consider ending a lesson with a short Atomi quiz that gives students a chance to recall new knowledge and recap what they’ve just learned. Plus, they’ll score instant feedback to assess how they’re going in a low-stakes way. 

Again, framing is key here. As Sarah explains, “make these quizzes helpful for students by focusing on revision — this can help to drive student buy-in.”

Plus, by using Atomi, educators can give learners the ability to proactively engage with their learning outside of the classroom, too. 

Encourage students to discover and explore the Atomi platform to find quizzes that suit their learning needs. Remember: quizzes don’t always need to be teacher-directed.

How Atomi makes real-time quizzes and testing more impactful  

Looking for curriculum-aligned videos and interactive quizzes made to engage learners today? Atomi offers a range of dynamic assessment and testing tools, backed by actionable insights to help you deliver incredible learning experiences. 

‍New Atomi feature: Push to class is here.

Want to gather your students quickly and easily to run quizzes in real time? From starting a synchronous lesson to redirecting students to new content, push to class keeps your whole class aligned and engaged. Instantly send a notification to students, guiding them to join you on the lesson you’re currently viewing. 

With live presence indicators and clear visibility of who has joined, it's a powerful tool for maintaining classroom flow and ensuring that no student gets left behind.

Want to leverage the forward effects of testing in your classroom? Start a free trial of Atomi and help your students succeed with frequent opportunities to test and assess their progress before, after and during class. 

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