Inside Steve’s Classroom: Formative Assessment and Adaptive Teaching with AI

Formative assessment only matters when it drives action.

This 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. 

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

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.

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.

3. Quick write (reflect and consolidate)

One open prompt like “What was the most important thing you learned today?” It builds metacognition and surfaces confusion you might miss in a quiz.

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.

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.

1. Assess: Run a hinge question on equivalence.
2. Adjust: Keep a small group to address a shared misconception. Others continue with choice-based practice.
3. Practice: Offer a scaffolded set, a visual model task, and a stretch challenge.
4. 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. It speeds the parts that slow you down so you can focus on decisions that matter.

Doing this with Edcafe AI

In the session, Steve demonstrated how Edcafe AI makes formative assessment and adaptive teaching effortless through its interactive, AI-powered Quiz Generator. The tool builds an adaptive loop between teacher and learner.

Teachers can create instant checks for understanding, reflective prompts, or differentiated tasks, and students can access them immediately by scanning a QR code or opening a shared link. No student accounts needed.

Every quiz comes alive with real-time response tracking, instant analysis, and AI-generated feedback that help teachers act on results without delay.

Build a hinge question in under a minute

Edcafe AI’s Quiz Generator lets you create smart checkpoints that reveal misconceptions on the spot.

• Choose Quiz, enter a topic, and add a note such as “include common misconceptions.”
• The AI generates multiple-choice questions with correct answers and brief explanations.
• Edit or refine the ones you like best, then project the QR code or share the link so students can respond on their own devices.
• The live results view highlights which answers students are choosing, helping you decide instantly who needs reteaching.

Launch a 1-minute exit ticket

Use AI to close each lesson with quick reflection and data you can use immediately.

• Create a short quiz with one to five targeted questions.
• Share it via QR code or link at the end of class.
• The dashboard shows patterns of understanding, so you can adjust pacing or regroup students for the next lesson.

Collect quick writes without friction

The Short Answer quiz question type makes reflective writing fast and interactive.

• Add a single open prompt like “What part of today’s lesson felt most challenging?”
• Students type their responses directly on their devices.
• Edcafe AI groups answers and surfaces key themes so you can respond meaningfully to what students wrote.

Turn insight into action

• Regroup: Identify who needs extra support or stretch tasks right from the results page.
• Differentiate: Instantly regenerate quizzes or practice sets at different difficulty levels.
• Record: Download reports for evidence of progress and personalized follow-up.

With Edcafe AI, formative assessment becomes dynamic and two-way: students engage interactively, teachers respond intelligently, and learning stays in motion.

Implementation guide for next week

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