{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Moving From Formative Assessment To Action","description":"Drew Perkins talks with Valentina Devid  to explore why the term "formative assessment" often fails in practice and how shifting the focus to Formative Action can lead to more sustainable, durable learning. Valentina shares her journey from a history teacher seeking "intellectual nourishment" to a professional development expert specializing in evidence-informed instructional coaching. Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode Have some feedback you\u2019d like to share? You can email me at drew@thoughtstretchers.org. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it and please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you're listening. The conversation highlights a critical "lethal mutation" in education: teachers becoming too tool-focused (e.g., using mini-whiteboards) without a clear pedagogical goal. Valentina introduces her company\u2019s Five-Step Short Loop Model\u2014Orientate, Generate, Evaluate, Act, and Verify\u2014designed to help teachers make intentional, real-time decisions based on student thinking. A major focus of the discussion is the Verify (Mirror Question) step, which Valentina describes as a "humbling experience" that ensures the teacher's corrective action actually worked before moving on. Drew and Valentina also tackle the challenge of sustainability in professional development, discussing how to support school leaders in making informed, durable implementation plans rather than relying on one-off keynotes. Finally, they explore the intersection of Inquiry-Based Learning and cognitive science, breaking down the "false dichotomy" between explicit instruction and student-led questioning. Valentina argues that while retrieval practice is essential for fluency, inquiry is a vital tool for sense-making and creating the retrieval cues necessary for long-term, durable knowledge. Timestamped Episode Timeline [00:09:24] Valentina\u2019s Journey \u2013 From a "question-filled" history teacher to seeking rigor in teacher preparation. [00:13:49] Sustainable School Change \u2013 The mission of her PD company to move beyond one-off training days. [00:19:39] Assessment vs. Action \u2013 Why rebranding to "Formative Action" helps teachers focus on pedagogy rather than just tools. [00:31:22] The Five-Step Short Loop Model \u2013 A walkthrough of the Orientate, Generate, Evaluate, Act, and Verify process. [00:38:08] The Power of the "Verify" Step \u2013 Closing the loop with mirror questions to ensure learning stuck. [00:44:48] The Three Strategies \u2013 Integrating the Short Loop, Sense for Quality (modeling), and Feedback Processes. [00:57:21] Training Teacher Perception \u2013 How to use "Pedagogical Road Maps" to anticipate student pitfalls. [01:00:34] The Implementation Gap \u2013 Why teachers sometimes grasp concepts but struggle with classroom techniques. [01:03:45] Inquiry as a Formative Tool \u2013 Using Project Zero Thinking Routines to make thinking visible for action. [01:12:14] Defining Durable Learning \u2013 Ensuring knowledge remains in long-term memory through intentional curriculum design. [01:18:00] The Craft of Teaching \u2013 Discerning when to provide less guidance to maximize "hard thinking". ","author_name":"The ThoughtStretchers Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/ThoughtStretchersEducationPodcast.libsyn.com\/site","html":"