Which type of assessment tool measures student progress throughout a unit?

Formative assessment tools are designed to monitor student learning during the instructional process and provide immediate feedback. These assessments are integral for both teachers and students, as they help identify areas that may need further explanation or practice, enabling timely adjustments to teaching strategies. They encompass a wide range of techniques such as quizzes, discussions, observations, and even informal check-ins, all aimed at gauging understanding in real time.

In contrast, summative assessments are conducted at the end of an instructional unit to evaluate overall student learning, diagnostic assessments are used to identify students' strengths and weaknesses before instruction begins, and screening tools assess students to identify potential learning difficulties but do not typically provide ongoing progress tracking during a unit of study.

Thus, formative assessments are the most effective for measuring student progress throughout a unit, as they facilitate continuous improvement and engagement in the learning process.