The in class project helped me to see how difficult it can be to utilize FA in a course. And in addition to providing opportunities of FA, but using that in such a manner that the education experience is that much better for the students.
I would say that the most salient features of FA is flexibility. An instructor must be willing to adapt what is being taught in response to the FA, while still advancing far enough in the teaching that the students do not lack in material covered.
You and Mun Yee (and probably others, I just haven't read that far yet!) both identify flexibility as being a key element of formative assessment. Depending on the course, department, and institution the instructor will have varying degrees of control over what they can teach and at what pace. For anyone, it is difficult to balance. But formative assessment can also be an advantage in that it allows you to identify content that you don't need to cover, or cover in as much depth, because the students got it!
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