This study delves into qualitative research aimed at exploring formative instructional practices within Hawaiʻi’s public schools. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) provided a definition for formative instructional practices, characterizing them as “student-centered teaching strategies that guide the educational process” with the aim of involving students in the learning process to enhance engagement and knowledge acquisition (Hawaii State Department of Education, 2022b, p. 24). According to the HIDOE, the effectiveness of this approach is maximized when both the teacher and the student collaborate to gather evidence to determine the studentʻs current position, identify the desired learning outcomes, and develop strategies to bridge the gap (Hawai‘i State Department of Education, 2022b). Formative instruction, occasionally referred to as formative assessment or assessment for learning, is integrated into the framework of effective academic practices, aiming to boost students’ dedication to their learning process.

Publications

Grillet, P., & Potes, S. (forthcoming). Formative Instruction in Hawaiʻi: Amplifying Teachers’ Voices.  Pacific-Asian Education Journal.

Grillet, P., & Potes S. (2024). Formative Instruction in Hawaiʻi: Teachers’ Perspectives and Practices. ISSN: 2186-2303. Proceedings of the Asian Conference on the Social Sciences 2024 (pp. 839-851) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2186-2303.2024.71 

Conference Presentations

Potes, S. & Grillet, P. (2025, January). Formative Instruction in Hawaiʻi: Amplifying Teachers’ Voices. Presentation at the IAFOR International Presentation at the conference on Arts & Humanities in Hawaii [IICAH2025], Honolulu, HI, United States. https://iicahhawaii.iafor.org/presentation/submission88764/ 

Grillet, P. & Potes, S. (2024, December). Formative Instruction in Hawaiʻi: Amplifying Voices and Humanizing Teaching. Presentation at the 14th International Conference On Education And Justice, Honolulu, HI, United States. https://www.kevinkumashiro.com/2024conferenceschedule

Grillet, P. & Potes, S. (2024, May). Exploring Perspectives and Practices: Formative Instruction in Hawai’i Classrooms. Presentation at the Asian Conference on the Social Sciences (ACSS2024), Tokyo, Japan and online. https://acah.iafor.org/presentation/submission81451/ 

Grillet, P. & Potes. S. (2024, April). Effective Academic Practices: Formative Instruction Practices. Presentation at the COE Graduate Student Research Symposium 2024, Honolulu, HI, United States. https://coe.hawaii.edu/announcements/coe-graduate-student-research-symposium-2024/ 

Grillet, P. & Potes, S. (2024, April). Effective Academic Practices: Formative Instruction Practices. Presentation at the HERN ESSER showcase, Honolulu, HI, United States. https://coe.hawaii.edu/hern/ Potes, S. & Grillet. P. (2024, January). Effective Academic Practices: Formative Instruction Practices. Presentation at the HERN Summit 2024, Honolulu, HI, United States. https://coe.hawaii.edu/announcements/coe-graduate-student-research-symposium-2024/