Formative Assessment…Ted Lasso Style.

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Every day is a chance to be better than we were the day before.”
Ted Lasso


Dear Faculty, 

As you approach the mid-semester point, we would like to share with you two ideas that at first seem unrelated but have a lot in common: Ted Lasso and formative assessment. 

Ted Lasso is a show on AppleTV about an American coach who moves to England to coach Football (soccer) for the first time. The show gained popularity during the pandemic and there are talks it may return for a fourth season. It’s hilarious, heartwarming, and provides exceptional lessons on leadership and teaching. We urge you to check it out if you have not seen it.

Ted Lasso also illustrates a roadmap of formative assessment strategies often executed in ways the players do not realize they are being evaluated. Through innovative activities, many based on the concept of collaborative play (see the podcast below), his players build trust with him and one another and strive to develop their skills while supporting the team. How does Ted do this? First, he built trust and rapport with each player, in one episode he gave each player a children’s book specifically chosen for their personality and goals. He challenges them, praises them, and sets goals that are attainable and measurable.

In just a few episodes (and from reading the attached article) you will quickly see that it’s not about his success, it is about fostering ways for those around him to reflect on how they can contribute to their growth as a player and a teammate. If you watch the series, take note of what happens when a former coach leaves Ted and joins another team… 

-The ID Team
CITS | Instructional Development


Click the titles below to view the articles.

The Lasso Way to Formative Assessment

20 Formative Assessment Examples To Use In Your College Classroom

Using Formative Assessment to Measure Student Progress

Five Ways to Make Peer Feedback Effective In Your Classroom


Click the titles below to listen to podcasts.

Interactive Experiences: Shaping the Future of Teaching

Choose your own adventure assessment


Save the Date! New Approaches to Teaching and Learning Conference

View a full list of Blackboard and Canvas workshops and self-paced offerings! 

Instructional Development works with faculty to…

  • Explore, design, and experiment with different teaching and learning modes.
  • Research and integrate technologies that can enhance teaching and learning.
  • Design and develop online courses and programs.
  • Write learning outcomes, design assessments, craft activities, and develop content.
  • Utilize best practices for using instructional technologies.

Feel free to contact us online to book an appointment!