Formative assessment is checking understanding during a lesson. Adaptive teaching is using that information to adjust instruction for each student.
Together, they create a cycle: Assess → Adjust → Practice → Reflect.
This guide shows how to run that cycle with hinge questions, exit tickets, and quick writes, and how AI tools can speed it up.
Formative assessment only matters when it drives action. That was the core message shared by guest speaker Steve of Primary EdTech, who walked through clear ways to check understanding and adapt instruction in real time.
Attended by hundreds of educators from around the world, the session explored how small shifts in assessment can open space for deeper feedback and more meaningful learning moments.
This article distills the heart of his session into a practical, classroom-ready guide.
Find more information about Steve here.
Why link formative assessment to adaptive teaching
Formative assessment checks learning during a lesson.
Adaptive teaching turns those insights into next steps for every student.
When paired with the right AI tools, you can move from “I think they got it” to “I know what to do next” within minutes.
To get a good reference of tools for assessments, check out our Ultimate List of 16 AI-Powered Online Assessment Tools. For more formative assessment examples by strategy, see our dedicated guide.
What is formative assessment?
A formative assessment is a check for understanding that happens during a lesson, not at the end of a unit.
Unlike summative assessments (like final exams or projects), formative assessments are low stakes.
Their goal is to monitor learning in the moment and give teachers and students feedback they can act on right away.
Think of it as taking the temperature of the room: you’re gathering evidence to decide what comes next.
Formative vs summative assessment
Formative and summative assessments serve different purposes.
Formative assessment monitors learning while instruction is ongoing and provides ongoing feedback.
Summative assessment, on the other hand, evaluates learning at the end of a unit, course, or program.
Take a look at the table below to see how they differ:
| Aspect | Formative assessment | Summative assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Monitor learning in the moment; gather evidence to adjust teaching | Evaluate proficiency against a standard at the end of a unit or course |
| When | During instruction (mid-lesson, end of class, between units) | End of unit, semester, or program |
| Stakes | Low or none; often ungraded, used for feedback only | High; typically graded and weighted (e.g., final exam, project) |
| Examples | Hinge questions, exit tickets, quick writes, thumbs-up, think-pair-share | Final exams, end-of-unit tests, research papers, presentations |
| What you do with results | Reteach, regroup, change pacing, or move on; act before the summative | Assign a grade; report progress; decide promotion or placement |
The key: use formative data to improve teaching and learning before the summative assessment arrives.
The Adaptive Teaching Cycle
Steve described adaptive teaching as the bridge between assessment and personalized learning.
It’s a continuous process that keeps teaching responsive to what students need in the moment.
Each stage builds on the last, creating a rhythm of evidence, action, and reflection that moves learning forward.
Assess → Adjust → Practice → Reflect → Repeat
- Assess: Collect a quick snapshot of learning during the lesson.
- Adjust: Tweak pacing, groupings, explanations, or scaffolds based on what you see.
- Practice: Give choice-based tasks that match confidence and learning needs.
- Reflect: Close the loop with goal setting, peer feedback, or self-reflection.
Steve’s reminder: you can enter the cycle at any point, but always loop back to reflection and next steps.
Three quick strategies that power the cycle
Each strategy below includes the concept, what to do with results, and how to run it.
Use Edcafe AI, Google Forms, Kahoot, or Poll Everywhere, whichever fits your workflow.
1. Hinge question (mid-lesson check)
A single multiple-choice question that reveals who is ready to move on and who needs support.
Strong hinge questions include feasible wrong answers that reflect common misconceptions.
Example:
Multiplying by 1,000. Include distractors that show digits moved in the wrong direction or the “add three zeros” mistake.
What to do with results:
- Keep a small group back for a fast clarity talk.
- Reteach with a new model.
- Release confident students to a challenge task.
How to run it: In Edcafe AI, choose Quiz and enter your topic (or paste from a doc, upload a file, or paste a YouTube URL).
In the Additional instructions field, add “include common misconceptions” or “write distractors that reflect typical student errors”. The AI then generates multiple-choice questions with explanations for each answer.
Edit any question, then give them the QR code or link to access the quiz.
Students simply enter their name and respond on their devices, and get instant grading & feedback after every submission, so they know the “why” to every correct answer or where they went wrong.
Optionally, you may use Kahoot or Poll Everywhere for a quick poll.
2. Exit ticket (end-of-lesson snapshot)
A short set of prompts that confirms core ideas and flags gaps you should address next time.
What to do with results:
- Start the next lesson with a targeted warm-up.
- Regroup students for focused practice.
- Share quick feedback statements the class can act on.
How to run it: In Edcafe AI, create a quiz with one to five questions. You can mix multiple choice and short answer if you like.
Use the Additional instructions field to align questions to your lesson objective (e.g., “focus on equivalent fractions and common mistakes”).
Share via QR code, direct link, or LMS (Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams) at the end of class.
The Responses dashboard would then show you who submitted, how long each took, and a per-question breakdown: which question most students got wrong and which answer choices they picked.
Use that to plan tomorrow’s warm-up or regroup for focused practice. Google Forms or Padlet work, too.
3. Quick write (reflect and consolidate)
One open prompt that builds metacognition and surfaces confusion you might miss in a quiz. Try prompts like:
- “What was the most important thing you learned today?”
- “What part of today’s lesson felt most challenging?”
- “Right now I’m feeling… about this topic.”
- “Three things I learned, two things I’m still curious about, one thing I don’t understand.”
What to do with results:
- Pull short quotes to model strong reflections.
- Create mini-conferences for students who need support.
- Set individual goals for the next lesson.
How to run it: In Edcafe AI, create a quiz and instruct it to add a Short Answer question. One open prompt, no right-or-wrong.
Students type on their devices and submit; no grading on your end.
The live responses dashboard then surfaces similar responses and recurring themes (e.g., easily spot 5 students that mentioned confusion about the decimal place).
From the same quiz, you can regenerate a simpler or harder version (use Additional instructions like “simplify for struggling readers” or “add higher-order thinking questions”), download a report of responses for evidence of progress, or clone it for next week’s class.
Learn how to create interactive quizzes with AI from topic, document, or YouTube.
Alternatively, form-based response systems like a simple Google Form can be a go-to as well.
A worked example: equivalent fractions
To illustrate how the adaptive teaching cycle works in practice, Steve shared a math lesson on equivalent fractions.
The example showed how quick checks and small adjustments can keep every learner moving at the right pace while giving the teacher real-time insight into what to do next.
- Assess: Run a hinge question on equivalence.
- Adjust: Keep a small group to address a shared misconception. Others continue with choice-based practice.
- Practice: Offer a scaffolded set, a visual model task, and a stretch challenge.
- Reflect: End with a quick write on “What helped you see two fractions are equal?”
Common barriers and how AI helps
Before diving into specific tools, Steve invited teachers to think about what makes personalization so difficult in the first place.
Time, large class sizes, and diverse learning needs often stand in the way of meaningful differentiation.
- Time pressure: Generate checks, explanations, and feedback in minutes.
- Mixed readiness levels: Personalize tasks by confidence or reading level.
- Language access: Translate, simplify, or add visuals so every student can take part.
- Engagement: Use low-stakes quizzes and instant feedback to keep momentum.
Steve noted that AI does not replace teacher judgment.
Rather, it speeds the parts that slow you down so you can focus on decisions that matter.
For more on AI-assisted differentiation strategies, see our guide.
Implementation guide to try
Here’s a simple five-day plan to help you bring formative assessment and adaptive teaching to life with Edcafe AI:
- Day 1: Add one hinge question to a current unit. Plan two likely misconceptions.
- Day 2: End with a three-question exit ticket tied to the main objective.
- Day 3: Use exit data to open with a targeted warm-up and regrouping.
- Day 4: Try a single-prompt quick write and set individual micro-goals.
- Day 5: Review the week’s data, celebrate progress, and map next steps.
Final thoughts and subtle reminders from the session
As Steve wrapped up the session, he reminded everyone that effective formative assessment is about how you use them to drive meaningful change in learning.
AI can make the process faster and lighter, but the teacher’s insight is what turns data into direction.
- Even one well-designed check can change the flow of a lesson.
- Editing AI-generated questions is part of good practice. Keep what fits and tweak the rest.
- Reflection is for both you and your students. It guides the next move and helps shape stronger learning habits.
Formative assessment only reaches its full potential when it leads to action, and with tools like Edcafe AI, those actions become easier to take, and more personal for every learner.
Watch the webinar replay
FAQs
What is a formative assessment?
A formative assessment is a check for understanding that happens during a lesson, not at the end. It gives teachers and students feedback they can act on right away. Examples include hinge questions, exit tickets, quick writes, and thumbs-up/thumbs-down. The goal is to monitor learning and adjust teaching in the moment, not to grade or rank.
What is the difference between formative and summative assessment?
A formative assessment monitors learning during instruction and provides ongoing feedback. A summative assessment evaluates learning at the end of a unit (e.g., a final exam or project). Formative assessments are usually low stakes; summative assessments are often high stakes. Formative data can be used to improve teaching and learning before the summative assessment arrives.
Is an exit ticket a formative assessment?
Yes. An exit ticket is a short prompt or question given at the end of a lesson to check what students understood. It’s a classic formative assessment because it gives you real-time feedback you can use to shape the next lesson, whether that means reteaching a concept, regrouping students, or moving on.
What is adaptive teaching?
Adaptive teaching is using evidence from formative assessment to adjust instruction for each student or group. It’s the bridge between checking understanding and taking action. The cycle includes: Assess (gather evidence), Adjust (change pacing, groupings, or scaffolds), Practice (give tasks that match needs), and Reflect (close the loop with goals or feedback).
How can AI help with formative assessment?
AI can speed up the parts that slow you down: generating questions, creating exit tickets, analyzing responses, and surfacing themes. It can tailor tasks by difficulty or reading level and provide instant feedback. AI does not replace teacher judgment. It frees you to focus on the decisions that matter most.