What strategies are effective for formative assessment in an e‐learning environment?

Abstract The web‐based formative assessment developed in this research is named Formative Assessment Module of the Web‐based Assessment and Test Analysis System (FAM‐WATA). FAM‐WATA is a multiple‐choice web‐based formative assessment module containing six effective strategies: ‘repeat the test’, ‘correct answers are not given’, ‘query scores’, ‘ask questions’, ‘monitor answering history’, and ‘all pass and then reward’. This research explored the effectiveness of FAM‐WATA, cognitive styles and e‐learning, and student attitudes towards the six strategies of FAM‐WATA. A total of 503 seventh‐grade students in central Taiwan were valid in this research. Overall results indicated that students displayed a positive attitude towards the six strategies of FAM‐WATA. In addition, results also showed that students in an e‐learning environment equipped with FAM‐WATA achieved better learning effectiveness, and that field independent students appeared to make better use of FAM‐WATA strategies than field dependent students. This research concluded that FAM‐WATA benefited student learning in an e‐learning environment.