Laboratory assessments are important parts of chemistry
higher
education, but students are not always given opportunities to formatively
develop their understanding and skills before taking summative tasks
in this area. This report describes the use of formative–summative
paired chemistry laboratory assessments in gravimetric analysis and
titration practicals and demonstrates an association between student
engagement with formative online assessments and summative attainment.
The laboratory assessments described here use Smart Worksheet technology,
a customizable resource type which handles chained calculations, concept
questions, and quality of data checks. The Smart Worksheets are autograded
to support student learning without increasing staff marking burden
and can provide immediate feedback and multiple attempts for each
question to close the learning loop, plus a built-in timeline mode
for reviewing student journeys through the resource. These resources
were implemented in aligned formative–summative pairs to provide
students with a low-stakes practice of both the technology format
and chemistry calculation, getting them familiar and managing expectations
before module-mark bearing summative assessment. Student assessment
data from six consecutive foundation year groups were collected (total N = 818). Approximately half of the students chose to engage
with each optional formative resource, permitting comparison of student
attainment by those who engaged versus those who did not. For both
gravimetric analysis and titration pairs, students who engaged with
the formative assessment scored significantly higher in the corresponding
summative assessment. Additionally, students who engaged with both
formative assessments scored significantly higher in midmodule and
end of module tests than students who did not.