Previous research shows that very few studies concerning assessment in connection with cooperative learning (CL) has been conducted (van Aalst, 2013; Forsell et al., 2020). Accordingly, very little theoretical knowledge or useful tools have been provided to assist teachers in this significant but difficult task. Besides, teachers often express feelings of uncertainty about how to make group work assessments (Ross & Rolheiser, 2003) and a special challenge seems tobe how to disentangle the individual from the joint work when assessing (Forsell et., al 2020).

Consequently, there is a need to develop theoretical knowledge and instruments for assessing in connection with CL (van Aalst, 2013; Johnson & Johnson, 2004). However, research is making progress and some promising findings, as well as practical tools, are beginning to emerge (e.g. Bookhart, 2013; Johnson & Johnson, 2004). Recent research also indicates that teachers’ feedback to the students may support students ability to work more independently in CL and thereby gain more equal opportunities in the their work (Forslund Frykedal & HammarChiriac, 2018). Assessment in connection with CL can also be about the quest for equitability providing students with equal educational opportunity, as students tend to find assessment inconnection with CL unjust (Forslund Frykedal & Hammar Chiriac, 2016).

One way for teachers to assess students during CL is to provide the students with formative assessment, by employing feedback. The objective in this paper is to explore and problematize if teachers’ formative assessment, by way of written feedback, on students’ individual work during CL supports or impedes student’s further work with the task, hence guiding or hampering the students’ possibility for individual accountability.