What is an example of informal assessment in the classroom?

Observations of student participation in class discussions serve as an example of informal assessment because they provide immediate and qualitative feedback about student engagement, understanding, and interpersonal skills. Informal assessments are generally characterized by their flexibility and lack of standardized measures, making them more spontaneous and naturally integrated into the classroom environment.

By observing how students interact and contribute during discussions, educators can gauge their comprehension of content, ability to articulate thoughts, and readiness to collaborate with peers. This kind of assessment allows teachers to adjust instruction in real time and support individual student needs, fostering a more responsive learning environment.

In contrast, the other options represent more structured or formal assessment methods. Frequent quizzes, state assessments, and unit tests involve standardized procedures and are typically employed to measure specific learning outcomes in a more formal way, which does not align with the characteristics of informal assessment.