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Formative Assessment in Action:
Using EdTech for Effective Feedback
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From digital tools to instructional impact...
Purpose & Goal
Explore tools. Make decisions. Get feedback.
The Coaching Lens' goal is to support teachers in selecting and using digital formative assessment tools to gather meaningful data, provide timely feedback, and make instructional decisions that better support student learning.
You will explore commonly used edtech tools, apply them to realistic classroom scenarios, and evaluate their effectiveness for providing timely feedback and meaningful student data.
This self-paced module is designed to help you move beyond simply using digital tools and toward making intentional instructional decisions about formative assessment.
What You'll Do 📝
ModulePurpose 💡
ModuleGoal 🏆
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Title
Title
Title
Write a brief description here
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Write a brief description here
Learning Objectives 🎯
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
2️⃣Evaluate a digital formative assessment tool using a provided rubric to determine its effectiveness in providing timely feedback and generating meaningful student data, accurately scoring the tool on at least 4 out of 5 rubric criteria.
1️⃣Analyze classroom-based scenarios to determine the most appropriate digital formative assessment tool based on instructional goals and student needs, with at least 80% accuracy across scenario checkpoints.
Click to reveal
Click to reveal
How This Module Works
1️⃣Choose a learning path on the Tool Hub page to explore commonly used digital formative assessment tools categorized by their primary instructional purpose.
2️⃣Review key features and best-use scenarios for each tool.
3️⃣Complete scenario-based decisions at the end of each path.
4️⃣After exploring all paths, use a rubric to evaluate one digital formative assessment tool.
Warm-Up Poll
When you collect formative data (like an exit ticket or quick quiz), what is your most common 'next step' ?
Warm-Up Sort
Drag each assessment type into the correct category.
Formative Assessment
Mid-lesson "Draw It" slide on Nearpod
Non Formative Assessment
A final semester portfolio grade
Quizizz (Wayground) "Fast-Fire" game after a lesson
"Stop-Light" self-assessment (red, yellow, green)
State standardized science assessment
End-of-unit chapter test
Tool Hub
Choose A Path
Choose a category path. Complete the scenario at the end, then return here. You can revisit paths anytime.
It involves applying game dynamics (challenges, rewards, levels) in learning environments to increase user motivation and engagement.
It involves applying game dynamics (challenges, rewards, levels) in learning environments to increase user motivation and engagement.
Data to Inform Instruction 📊
Immediate Student Feedback 📝
Differentiation & Personalized Learning 🧩
Didactic technique that proposes solving real or simulated situations to foster critical thinking and practical application of knowledge.
It is the feedback the user receives right after an activity. It helps correct errors quickly and improves understanding.
Student Thinking & Reflection 🧠
HERE
When finished with all paths, click to proceed to the Tool Evaluation Task
Path 1: Immediate Student Feedback
These digital tools are most effective when teachers need quick insight into student understanding during or immediately after instruction.
Feedback goes beyond right/wrong and helps students understand mistakes or try again (when available)
Students receive feedback right away so they can adjust their thinking while learning is still happening.
Teachers can quickly identify who needs reteaching, support, or extension.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Instant student-facing feedback
Explanations or retries
Results that inform next steps
Title
Title
Title
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Tool Spotlight: Wayground
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
When to Use It
What You Do Next With the Results
What Data It Gives
Click through the cards to review key uses of Wayground, then press on each image to explore examples and features.
Title
- During or immediately after a lesson to check understanding
- When you need quick, whole-class feedback with minimal setup
- Immediate feedback to students on each question
- Clear response patterns that show misconceptions and question difficulty
- Adjust instruction, regroup students, or reteach specific concepts based on response trends
Write a brief description here
Checkpoint: Best Use Case
Which classroom situation is the BEST fit for using Wayground?
Tool Spotlight: Class Companion
🎯 Teacher-controlled criteria
✏️ Revision-focused support
🔁 Instant feedback
Click on each image to explore examples and features of Class Companion.
Checkpoint: Best Use Case
Which instructional need is Class Companion the BEST fit for?
Scenario Descision #1
Scenario: Ms. Rivera’s students have just completed a short written response explaining their reasoning during class. Before moving on, Ms. Rivera wants students to receive feedback they can act on right away so they can revise their thinking while learning is still happening. She also wants insight into common misunderstandings to guide her next instructional move.
Decision: Which tool is the most appropriate choice for this moment?
Path 2: Data to Inform Instruction
These digital tools are most effective when teachers need clear, actionable data to identify trends, misconceptions, and decide next instructional steps.
Data offers insights in how to group students and helps identify which students need reteaching, additional practice, or extension.
Results guide instructional adjustments, including what to revisit, modify, or move forward with.
Response patterns reveal where students are consistently misunderstand-ing key concepts.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Trends & Misconceptions
Results that inform next steps
Grouping Signals
Title
Title
Title
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Tool Spotlight: Nearpod
Response Types
Open response questions, multiple choice, draw or record responses, interactive whiteboards, and even gamified checks for understandings.
Data Dashboard
Real-time insights from teacher reports including lesson summary for each student, engagement metrics, and performance insights.
Checkpoint: Best Use Case
During a math lesson, Mrs. Cayton wants to check student understanding while instruction is happening. She plans on using the data to decide whether to reteach, adjust pacing, or create small groups for targeted support. Which Nearpod strategy would BEST help Mrs. Cayton collect actionable data to inform her instruction?
Tool Spotlight: Socrative
Temperature Gauge
See What Stuck
Exit Ticket: Guiding Instruction
Personalize It
Use this as an opportunity to learn what material "stuck" with students and what didn't. The open ended question on Socrative allows students to share what they learned.
Provide students a chance to answer in their own way, using pictures, gifs, drawings, or any other creative outlet. Socrative provides space to customize it's exit ticket feature.
Exit tickets can allow students to give feedback to teachers, in their own words, about the lesson. Socrative's first default question is "How well did you understand the material".
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Socrative provides pre-made exit tickets. These allow teachers to gauge student learning and drive future instruction. Here's some tips to make yours more meaningful.
Title
Write a brief description here
Checkpoint: Best Use Case
Mrs. Cook wants to quickly determine which students have mastered the key concept, which students need more practice, and what misconceptions she should address in the next lesson. Which approach best shows how Mrs. Cook should design and use a Socrative exit ticket to inform instruction?
Scenario Descision #2
Scenario: During a lesson, Mrs. Mayer wants to see student thinking as it is happening so she can immediately pause instruction, address misconceptions, and adjust pacing in real time.
Decision: Which tool is the most appropriate choice for this goal?
Path 3: Differentiation & Personalized Learning
These digital tools are most effective when teachers need flexible ways to adjust pacing, provide targeted practice, and respond to individual learning needs during instruction.
Adaptive pathways allow students to work at an appropriate challenge level while still targeting the same learning goal.
Match your students' needs in the moment with the right tool. This ensures instructional decisions are not based on assumptions or averages.
Adjusting pacing helps ensure students aren’t rushed or held back based on whole-class timing.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Pacing
Pathways & Practice Level
Targeted Support
Title
Title
Title
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Tool Spotlight: Edpuzzle
Click on each of the images to explore examples and features of Edpuzzle
Checkpoint: Best Use Case
Mr. Ward is introducing The Great Gatsby to his high school English class. To provide personalized learning for his students, what is the best way for him to use Edpuzzle?
Tool Spotlight: Quizalize
Flip the cards to review the key uses of Quizalize, then click on each image to explore examples and features.
When to use it
What feedback/data it gives
What you do next with the results
Gamification
Microlearning
Learning strategy based on small content units that are consumed quickly. Ideal for reinforcing concepts or learning in a flexible way.
It involves applying game dynamics (challenges, rewards, levels) in learning environments to increase user motivation and engagement.
- Live performance data showing which students are struggling, on track, or ready to extend
- Automatic grouping based on mastery, with item-level accuracy & misconception trends
- When students need targeted practice at different levels after a lesson
- When you want the tool to adapt questions based on student performance in real time
- Use the auto-generated groups to assign differentiated follow-up practice, reteaching, or enrichment
Checkpoint: Best Use Case
Drag each feature to the tool it best matches
Adapts questions based on student responses
Auto-groups students by mastery level
Embeds questions inside instructional videos
Assigns differentiated practice automatically
Controls pacing during direct instruction
Shows which students need reteaching vs extension
Quizalize
Edpuzzle
Scenario Descision #3
Scenario: After a math lesson, Mr. Salinas reviews student responses and realizes understanding varies widely. Some students are ready to move on, others need targeted practice, and a small group needs reteaching. He wants students working at the right level without creating multiple assignments by hand.
Decision: Which tool is the best fit for this goal?
Path 4: Student Thinking & Reflection
These digital tools are most effective when teachers want students to explain their thinking and use that insight to provide targeted feedback and adjust instruction.
You can see if a student actually "owns" the concept or if they are just repeating what they heard.
You get to see how a student connects the dots, which reveals exactly how they make sense of new ideas in their own way.
You can spot "wrong turns" in real-time and clear up confusion before a student gets stuck in a bad habit.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Reasoning Patterns
Explanation Quality
Misconceptions
Title
Title
Title
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Tool Spotlight: Snorkl
Click on each of the images to explore examples and features of Snorkl.
Checkpoint: Best Use Case
Which classroom situation is the BEST fit for using Snorkl?
Tool Spotlight: Padlet
Padlet
Click on each of the icons to explore examples and features of Padlet.
When to use it
What feedback / data it gives
What you do next with the results
Checkpoint: Best Use Case
Padlet is the BEST instructional choice when a teacher wants to:
Scenario Decision #4
Scenario: Mr. Lawing is wrapping up a unit on The Giver. He wants to assess how well individual students can move beyond basic plot recall to analyze the book’s deeper symbolism. His goal is to capture a "real-time" look at their reasoning as they connect a specific object (like the sled) to a theme, so he can identify exactly where a student’s logic might be breaking down.
Decision: Which tool is the best fit for this instructional goal?
Final Scenario: Digital Tool Evaluation
You’ve explored multiple formative assessment tools and practiced evaluating how they support feedback and instructional decision-making. Now, you’ll apply that thinking to a realistic classroom situation.
Scenario: Ms. Patel is preparing to move forward with instruction, but recent formative checks show mixed levels of understanding. She wants to select one digital formative assessment tool that will help her gather meaningful information and decide what to do next instructionally. - Students show mixed understanding after instruction
- The instructional goal is to identify misconceptions before moving on
- The teacher needs feedback and data that can inform next steps immediately
Consider the instructional goal, student needs, and the type of feedback or data required before choosing a tool.
Explore Tools
Choose Your Tool
Directions: Select one digital formative assessment tool you believe is the most appropriate fit for the scenario. You will evaluate your selected tool using a rubric on the next screen. Click the right arrow above to proceed.
Class Companion
Wayground
Nearpod
Socrative
Quizalize
Edpuzzle
Padlet
Snorkl
Tool Evaluation
- Use the rubric to evaluate how well your selected tool fits the scenario.
- Rate each criterion as Meets or Does Not Meet.
- Meets = 1 point
- Does Not Meet = 0 points
- A tool is considered a strong formative assessment option when it meets at least 4 out of 5 criteria.
- View the indicator feedback once you submit the form.
What Your Evaluation Shows
Most Appropriate Digital Tools 💯
The Right Tool for the Right Goal
4–5 points → Strong Fit
2–3 points → Partial Fit
0–1 points → Reconsider
🟡 2–3 Points: Partial Fit Edpuzzle, Quizalize, Kahoot These tools provide helpful feedback, but Ms. Patel may need additional time or steps to turn the data into immediate instructional action.
🟢 4–5 Points: Strong Fit Nearpod, Socrative, Wayground These tools provide immediate, clear data that allow Ms. Patel to identify misconceptions and adjust instruction right away.
🔴 0–1 Points: Weak Fit Padlet & Snorkl These tools support reflection and explanation, but they do not provide the immediate, actionable data Ms. Patel needs to decide what to do next during instruction.
- While we assigned these tools to specific pathways in this module, they are flexible. A tool’s category depends entirely on your instructional intent.
- Tools for Student Thinking can also be used to drive Immediate Feedback or Personalized Learning.
- The true "best" fit is any tool that captures actionable data to help you pivot your instruction.
✅ This tool is a strong formative assessment option for this scenario. It provides timely feedback and meaningful data that can guide next instructional steps.
❌ This tool is likely better suited for a different instructional purpose. Consider tools that provide more immediate feedback or clearer data for instruction.
⚠️ This tool may work, but there are tradeoffs. Review which criteria were not met and consider whether another tool might better support your instructional goal.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
For Ms. Patel’s scenario, a strong formative assessment tool should... - Reveal misconceptions
- Provide actionable data
- Support immediate instructional decisions feedback or clearer data for instruction.
Title
Title
Title
Title
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Apply What You Learned
Commit to one next instructional step!
Before You Go...
1-Minute Feedback: Guide our future support
Goodbye!
Do you have questions?
We are here to help you. If something was not clear or you want to delve deeper into any topic, don’t hesitate to contact us. Your curiosity is also part of the learning process.
Thank you for taking the course!
© 2026
Not quite!
Wayground is better suited for quick response checks rather than feedback on written work.
Correct!
Padlet is most effective when the goal is to surface and share student thinking in a collaborative space. While it does not generate automated data or individualized feedback, it supports reflection, discussion, and instructional sense-making.
Not quite!
Padlet is awesome for a group "shout out" or a shared collection of ideas, but it usually just gives you the final result. It doesn't let you listen in on the actual "brain-at-work" process that Mr. Ward is looking for here.
Rationale
- This is an evaluative snapshot used for acountability and ranking mastery over a long period, rather than a tool for timely feedback.
What feedback/data it gives
- Captures student audio explanations alongside their written or visual work.
- Uses AI-supported analysis to surface reasoning patterns, misconceptions, and partial understanding across students.
🔗 What student thinking looks like in practice👉 Empowering Student-Led Conferences with Snorkl (Book Creator Webinar )
When to use it
- When you want students to explain their thinking out loud while solving a problem or responding to a prompt.
- When insight into how students are reasoning matters more than whether the answer is simply right or wrong.
🔗 Supporting student voice and explanation👉 Snorkl: Using AI to Support Student Voice (The Merrills EDU)
Rationale
- This is a formative assessment because it reveals student thinking in real-time, allowing you to address misconceptions immediately before the lesson ends.
Correct!
Quizalize is the best fit because it adapts practice based on student performance and automatically groups students for targeted support, enrichment, or reteaching.
Not quite!
Padlet is less effective for this instructional need because it does not provide individualized feedback, automated grouping, or adaptive practice. Its strength lies in making student thinking visible in a shared space to support discussion, reflection, and collective understanding.
Correct!
This is a perfect example of differentiated instruction. By providing different content based on student readiness and allowing them to control the pace (rewinding), Mr. Ward is ensuring that the instruction is personalized to each student's needs.
Nice work!
There isn’t one "perfect" formative assessment tool. Strong instructional decisions come from matching the tool to the goal, the students, and what you need to do next. In upcoming coaching sessions, we’ll use choices like this to talk through when a digital tooltruly supports learning and when it might just add noise.
Not quite!
Quiz-style feedback is better supported by tools like Wayground or Kahoot, which focus on right/wrong responses rather than revision.
Rationale
- This is a formative assessment because it provides immediate feedback to students as well as visual response data to help you quickly identify misconceptions and adjust grouping or instruction.
What you do next with the results
- Use student posts to facilitate discussion, clarify misconceptions, model strong responses, or guide whole-class next steps.
🔗 Using visible thinking to guide instruction👉 How Teachers Use Padlet for Instructional Decision-Making (Class Tech Tips)
Rationale
- This measures the "sum" of learning at the finish line; it evaluates mastery for a grade rather than guiding active instructional decisions within the unit.
Correct!
Class Companion is designed to provide fast, individualized feedback on student work, allowing students to revise while learning is still in progress. This makes it especially effective for writing, explanations, and open-ended responses—not traditional quiz-style feedback.
Not quite!
Snorkl is less effective when the goal is quick correctness checks or automated practice. It is best used when teachers need insight into how students are thinking, not just whether answers are right or wrong.
What you do next with the results
- Use student explanations to target feedback, plan reteaching, or model strong reasoning for the class.
🔗 Providing actionable feedback from student thinking👉10 Ways to Provide Instant Feedback to Students (Ditch That Textbook)
What feedback/data it gives
- Question-level responses showing who understands and who needs support.
- Completion and accuracy data tied to specific points in the video.
🔗 Using response data during instruction:👉EdPuzzle Live Mode - A How To Guide
Not quite!
These options represent a "one-size-fits-all" approach. To truly personalize learning, Mr. Ward needs to use Edpuzzle’s features to meet students where they are. Choice D is the only one that adjusts the content and pacing to fit the individual.
Correct!
Embedded interactive questions in Nearpod generate real-time data that helps teachers identify misconceptions, adjust pacing, and group students based on need.
Correct!
Snorkl is most effective when insight into how students are thinking is needed. Capturing verbal explanations helps teachers identify reasoning patterns and misconceptions that may not appear in right-or-wrong responses.
Watch this short video to learn more about Snorkl.
⭐ Click here to visit their website.
⭐Take this certification course so you can dive in and make the most of all that Snorkl has to offer!
Not quite!
Edpuzzle is most effective for pacing instruction and checking understanding during a lesson, but it does not adapt practice or create mastery-based groups.
Watch this short video to learn more about Padlet.
⭐ Click here to visit their website.
⭐ Check out these awesome Padlet templates you can use in your classroom tomorrow!
Watch this short video to learn more about Quizalize.
⭐ Click here to visit their website.
⭐ Check out all of their different Solo and Team Game Modes !
Correct!
Nearpod allows the teacher to push lesson slides to student devices and monitor their work-in-progress (such as drawings or written responses) live on the teacher dashboard. This enables Mrs. Mayer to see the actual "thinking" process as it occurs and immediately control the lesson pacing to address misconceptions.
Finished! ✅
Edpuzzle supports pacing and in-the-moment checks during instruction, while Quizalize shines when you need adaptive practice and clear grouping for what comes next.
Correct!
Well-designed exit tickets in Socrative provide immediate, objective-aligned data that teachers can use to identify misconceptions and plan next steps.
What you do next with the results
- Monitor student progress and engagement for each assigned task.
- Varying metrics are available, including grades, engagement time, and number of attempts.
- Reteach, assign targeted follow-up practice, or adjust instruction based on where students struggled in the video.
🔗 Turning data into next steps:👉Using Edpuzzle Data to Guide Instruction (Video)
What feedback/data it gives
- Displays student thinking side by side, allowing teachers to notice patterns, themes, or misconceptions across the class.
- Provides qualitative insight through written responses, images, links, drawings, or Sandbox creations (rather than automated analytics).
🔗 Seeing patterns in shared student thinking👉 Padlet’s AI Tools That Support Digital Collaboration (TCEA Blog)
Correct!
Wayground works best when teachers need quick feedback and response data they can act on right away.
When to use it
- When students submit written work (short answers, paragraphs, drafts, explanations)
- When feedback timing matters more than grading speed
- When you want students to revise while learning is still happening
🔗 Overview of classroom use:👉 Class Companion: Instant AI Coaching and Feedback by Dr. Catlin Tucker
Rationale
- While the data is useful for long-term planning, the results are too delayed to help your students improve during their daily learning cycle.
Correct!
If Mr. Lawing needs to hear the "how" and "why" behind a student's answer, Snorkl is the way to go. It’s like looking over their shoulder while they talk through their ideas, making it easy to spot exactly where they might be getting confused.
Great work!
Summative assessments evaluate learning after instruction. Formative assessments are intentionally used during instruction to provide timely feedback and generate data teachers can act on right away or in the next lesson. The examples you identified as formative are designed to inform instructional decisions, support student understanding, and guide next steps—not to assign a final grade.
In this module, we focus on using digital formative tools to adjust instruction, respond to student needs, and improve learning in real time.
There’s no single right answer here!
What matters most is how easily formative data can be turned into timely feedback and instructional action. This module focuses on choosing tools that make those next steps clearer and more manageable.
Watch this short video to learn more about Wayground.
⭐ Click here to visit their website.
⭐ View a collection of their top FREE activities here.
What you do next with the results
- Ask students to revise based on feedback before final submission
- Identify patterns to reteach (organization, evidence, clarity, misconceptions)
- Use feedback trends to plan conferencing, small groups, or next-day instruction
🔗 Teacher workflow & instructional impact:👉 Free AI-Powered Tool Helps You Save Time and Support Every Student
Rationale
- This is a formative assessment because it empowers students to identify their own gaps, while also allowing you to provide targeted support based on perceived needs.
When to use it
- When students need to engage with content at their own pace while you check for understanding.
- When you want to embed questions into video to support guided practice or review.
🔗 Self-paced learning in action:👉 A Guide to Self-Paced Learning with EdPuzzle
Watch this short video to learn more about Edpuzzle.
⭐ Click here to visit their website.
⭐ Check out this collection of FREE Digital Citizenship lessons!
Not quite!
This use case doesn’t require immediate feedback or response data to guide next instructional steps.
Watch this quick tutorial to learn more about how to provide effective AI-driven feedback for students!
⭐ Click here to visit the Class Companion website.
⭐ Watch how teachers use Class Companion here.
Not quite!
Although Socrative is excellent for gathering quick data snapshots and quiz results, it is primarily a response system rather than a full lesson delivery platform. It does not allow the teacher to view student work as it is being created or control the instructional slides to adjust pacing in the same seamless way as Nearpod.
Not quite!
This option does not use the interactive elements in Nearpod during instruction, which provide insight into student learning progress. When combined with real-time data, instruction can be differentiated on the spot.
What feedback/data it gives
- Immediate, individualized feedback on student writing
- AI-generated comments aligned to teacher-defined criteria
- Teacher-facing insights into common errors and patterns across submissions
🔗 How AI feedback works:👉 Class Companion Tutorial for Students
Not quite!
Exit tickets should provide teachers with meaningful and actionable information related to the lesson objective that drives instruction.
Correct!
Class Companion provides immediate, individualized feedback on student work, allowing students to revise while learning is still happening.
When to use it
- When you want students to share ideas, explanations, or reflections in a visible, collaborative space.
- When collective thinking, discussion, or idea-building is more important than individual evaluation.
🔗 Supporting collaborative thinking and reflection👉 20 Useful Ways to Use Padlet in Class (Ditch That Textbook)
Formative Assessment in Action
Molly McRorie
Created on January 26, 2026
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Transcript
Welcome!
Formative Assessment in Action:
Using EdTech for Effective Feedback
Start
From digital tools to instructional impact...
Purpose & Goal
Explore tools. Make decisions. Get feedback.
The Coaching Lens' goal is to support teachers in selecting and using digital formative assessment tools to gather meaningful data, provide timely feedback, and make instructional decisions that better support student learning.
You will explore commonly used edtech tools, apply them to realistic classroom scenarios, and evaluate their effectiveness for providing timely feedback and meaningful student data.
This self-paced module is designed to help you move beyond simply using digital tools and toward making intentional instructional decisions about formative assessment.
What You'll Do 📝
ModulePurpose 💡
ModuleGoal 🏆
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Title
Title
Title
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Learning Objectives 🎯
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
2️⃣Evaluate a digital formative assessment tool using a provided rubric to determine its effectiveness in providing timely feedback and generating meaningful student data, accurately scoring the tool on at least 4 out of 5 rubric criteria.
1️⃣Analyze classroom-based scenarios to determine the most appropriate digital formative assessment tool based on instructional goals and student needs, with at least 80% accuracy across scenario checkpoints.
Click to reveal
Click to reveal
How This Module Works
1️⃣Choose a learning path on the Tool Hub page to explore commonly used digital formative assessment tools categorized by their primary instructional purpose.
2️⃣Review key features and best-use scenarios for each tool.
3️⃣Complete scenario-based decisions at the end of each path.
4️⃣After exploring all paths, use a rubric to evaluate one digital formative assessment tool.
Warm-Up Poll
When you collect formative data (like an exit ticket or quick quiz), what is your most common 'next step' ?
Warm-Up Sort
Drag each assessment type into the correct category.
Formative Assessment
Mid-lesson "Draw It" slide on Nearpod
Non Formative Assessment
A final semester portfolio grade
Quizizz (Wayground) "Fast-Fire" game after a lesson
"Stop-Light" self-assessment (red, yellow, green)
State standardized science assessment
End-of-unit chapter test
Tool Hub
Choose A Path
Choose a category path. Complete the scenario at the end, then return here. You can revisit paths anytime.
It involves applying game dynamics (challenges, rewards, levels) in learning environments to increase user motivation and engagement.
It involves applying game dynamics (challenges, rewards, levels) in learning environments to increase user motivation and engagement.
Data to Inform Instruction 📊
Immediate Student Feedback 📝
Differentiation & Personalized Learning 🧩
Didactic technique that proposes solving real or simulated situations to foster critical thinking and practical application of knowledge.
It is the feedback the user receives right after an activity. It helps correct errors quickly and improves understanding.
Student Thinking & Reflection 🧠
HERE
When finished with all paths, click to proceed to the Tool Evaluation Task
Path 1: Immediate Student Feedback
These digital tools are most effective when teachers need quick insight into student understanding during or immediately after instruction.
Feedback goes beyond right/wrong and helps students understand mistakes or try again (when available)
Students receive feedback right away so they can adjust their thinking while learning is still happening.
Teachers can quickly identify who needs reteaching, support, or extension.
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Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Instant student-facing feedback
Explanations or retries
Results that inform next steps
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Tool Spotlight: Wayground
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
When to Use It
What You Do Next With the Results
What Data It Gives
Click through the cards to review key uses of Wayground, then press on each image to explore examples and features.
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Checkpoint: Best Use Case
Which classroom situation is the BEST fit for using Wayground?
Tool Spotlight: Class Companion
🎯 Teacher-controlled criteria
✏️ Revision-focused support
🔁 Instant feedback
Click on each image to explore examples and features of Class Companion.
Checkpoint: Best Use Case
Which instructional need is Class Companion the BEST fit for?
Scenario Descision #1
Scenario: Ms. Rivera’s students have just completed a short written response explaining their reasoning during class. Before moving on, Ms. Rivera wants students to receive feedback they can act on right away so they can revise their thinking while learning is still happening. She also wants insight into common misunderstandings to guide her next instructional move.
Decision: Which tool is the most appropriate choice for this moment?
Path 2: Data to Inform Instruction
These digital tools are most effective when teachers need clear, actionable data to identify trends, misconceptions, and decide next instructional steps.
Data offers insights in how to group students and helps identify which students need reteaching, additional practice, or extension.
Results guide instructional adjustments, including what to revisit, modify, or move forward with.
Response patterns reveal where students are consistently misunderstand-ing key concepts.
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Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Trends & Misconceptions
Results that inform next steps
Grouping Signals
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Tool Spotlight: Nearpod
Response Types
Open response questions, multiple choice, draw or record responses, interactive whiteboards, and even gamified checks for understandings.
Data Dashboard
Real-time insights from teacher reports including lesson summary for each student, engagement metrics, and performance insights.
Checkpoint: Best Use Case
During a math lesson, Mrs. Cayton wants to check student understanding while instruction is happening. She plans on using the data to decide whether to reteach, adjust pacing, or create small groups for targeted support. Which Nearpod strategy would BEST help Mrs. Cayton collect actionable data to inform her instruction?
Tool Spotlight: Socrative
Temperature Gauge
See What Stuck
Exit Ticket: Guiding Instruction
Personalize It
Use this as an opportunity to learn what material "stuck" with students and what didn't. The open ended question on Socrative allows students to share what they learned.
Provide students a chance to answer in their own way, using pictures, gifs, drawings, or any other creative outlet. Socrative provides space to customize it's exit ticket feature.
Exit tickets can allow students to give feedback to teachers, in their own words, about the lesson. Socrative's first default question is "How well did you understand the material".
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Socrative provides pre-made exit tickets. These allow teachers to gauge student learning and drive future instruction. Here's some tips to make yours more meaningful.
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Checkpoint: Best Use Case
Mrs. Cook wants to quickly determine which students have mastered the key concept, which students need more practice, and what misconceptions she should address in the next lesson. Which approach best shows how Mrs. Cook should design and use a Socrative exit ticket to inform instruction?
Scenario Descision #2
Scenario: During a lesson, Mrs. Mayer wants to see student thinking as it is happening so she can immediately pause instruction, address misconceptions, and adjust pacing in real time.
Decision: Which tool is the most appropriate choice for this goal?
Path 3: Differentiation & Personalized Learning
These digital tools are most effective when teachers need flexible ways to adjust pacing, provide targeted practice, and respond to individual learning needs during instruction.
Adaptive pathways allow students to work at an appropriate challenge level while still targeting the same learning goal.
Match your students' needs in the moment with the right tool. This ensures instructional decisions are not based on assumptions or averages.
Adjusting pacing helps ensure students aren’t rushed or held back based on whole-class timing.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Pacing
Pathways & Practice Level
Targeted Support
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Tool Spotlight: Edpuzzle
Click on each of the images to explore examples and features of Edpuzzle
Checkpoint: Best Use Case
Mr. Ward is introducing The Great Gatsby to his high school English class. To provide personalized learning for his students, what is the best way for him to use Edpuzzle?
Tool Spotlight: Quizalize
Flip the cards to review the key uses of Quizalize, then click on each image to explore examples and features.
When to use it
What feedback/data it gives
What you do next with the results
Gamification
Microlearning
Learning strategy based on small content units that are consumed quickly. Ideal for reinforcing concepts or learning in a flexible way.
It involves applying game dynamics (challenges, rewards, levels) in learning environments to increase user motivation and engagement.
Checkpoint: Best Use Case
Drag each feature to the tool it best matches
Adapts questions based on student responses
Auto-groups students by mastery level
Embeds questions inside instructional videos
Assigns differentiated practice automatically
Controls pacing during direct instruction
Shows which students need reteaching vs extension
Quizalize
Edpuzzle
Scenario Descision #3
Scenario: After a math lesson, Mr. Salinas reviews student responses and realizes understanding varies widely. Some students are ready to move on, others need targeted practice, and a small group needs reteaching. He wants students working at the right level without creating multiple assignments by hand.
Decision: Which tool is the best fit for this goal?
Path 4: Student Thinking & Reflection
These digital tools are most effective when teachers want students to explain their thinking and use that insight to provide targeted feedback and adjust instruction.
You can see if a student actually "owns" the concept or if they are just repeating what they heard.
You get to see how a student connects the dots, which reveals exactly how they make sense of new ideas in their own way.
You can spot "wrong turns" in real-time and clear up confusion before a student gets stuck in a bad habit.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Reasoning Patterns
Explanation Quality
Misconceptions
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Tool Spotlight: Snorkl
Click on each of the images to explore examples and features of Snorkl.
Checkpoint: Best Use Case
Which classroom situation is the BEST fit for using Snorkl?
Tool Spotlight: Padlet
Padlet
Click on each of the icons to explore examples and features of Padlet.
When to use it
What feedback / data it gives
What you do next with the results
Checkpoint: Best Use Case
Padlet is the BEST instructional choice when a teacher wants to:
Scenario Decision #4
Scenario: Mr. Lawing is wrapping up a unit on The Giver. He wants to assess how well individual students can move beyond basic plot recall to analyze the book’s deeper symbolism. His goal is to capture a "real-time" look at their reasoning as they connect a specific object (like the sled) to a theme, so he can identify exactly where a student’s logic might be breaking down.
Decision: Which tool is the best fit for this instructional goal?
Final Scenario: Digital Tool Evaluation
You’ve explored multiple formative assessment tools and practiced evaluating how they support feedback and instructional decision-making. Now, you’ll apply that thinking to a realistic classroom situation.
Scenario: Ms. Patel is preparing to move forward with instruction, but recent formative checks show mixed levels of understanding. She wants to select one digital formative assessment tool that will help her gather meaningful information and decide what to do next instructionally.- Students show mixed understanding after instruction
- The instructional goal is to identify misconceptions before moving on
- The teacher needs feedback and data that can inform next steps immediately
Consider the instructional goal, student needs, and the type of feedback or data required before choosing a tool.
Explore Tools
Choose Your Tool
Directions: Select one digital formative assessment tool you believe is the most appropriate fit for the scenario. You will evaluate your selected tool using a rubric on the next screen. Click the right arrow above to proceed.
Class Companion
Wayground
Nearpod
Socrative
Quizalize
Edpuzzle
Padlet
Snorkl
Tool Evaluation
What Your Evaluation Shows
Most Appropriate Digital Tools 💯
The Right Tool for the Right Goal
4–5 points → Strong Fit
2–3 points → Partial Fit
0–1 points → Reconsider
🟡 2–3 Points: Partial Fit Edpuzzle, Quizalize, Kahoot These tools provide helpful feedback, but Ms. Patel may need additional time or steps to turn the data into immediate instructional action.
🟢 4–5 Points: Strong Fit Nearpod, Socrative, Wayground These tools provide immediate, clear data that allow Ms. Patel to identify misconceptions and adjust instruction right away.
🔴 0–1 Points: Weak Fit Padlet & Snorkl These tools support reflection and explanation, but they do not provide the immediate, actionable data Ms. Patel needs to decide what to do next during instruction.
✅ This tool is a strong formative assessment option for this scenario. It provides timely feedback and meaningful data that can guide next instructional steps.
❌ This tool is likely better suited for a different instructional purpose. Consider tools that provide more immediate feedback or clearer data for instruction.
⚠️ This tool may work, but there are tradeoffs. Review which criteria were not met and consider whether another tool might better support your instructional goal.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
For Ms. Patel’s scenario, a strong formative assessment tool should...- Reveal misconceptions
- Provide actionable data
- Support immediate instructional decisions feedback or clearer data for instruction.
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Apply What You Learned
Commit to one next instructional step!
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Not quite!
Wayground is better suited for quick response checks rather than feedback on written work.
Correct!
Padlet is most effective when the goal is to surface and share student thinking in a collaborative space. While it does not generate automated data or individualized feedback, it supports reflection, discussion, and instructional sense-making.
Not quite!
Padlet is awesome for a group "shout out" or a shared collection of ideas, but it usually just gives you the final result. It doesn't let you listen in on the actual "brain-at-work" process that Mr. Ward is looking for here.
Rationale
What feedback/data it gives
🔗 What student thinking looks like in practice👉 Empowering Student-Led Conferences with Snorkl (Book Creator Webinar )
When to use it
🔗 Supporting student voice and explanation👉 Snorkl: Using AI to Support Student Voice (The Merrills EDU)
Rationale
Correct!
Quizalize is the best fit because it adapts practice based on student performance and automatically groups students for targeted support, enrichment, or reteaching.
Not quite!
Padlet is less effective for this instructional need because it does not provide individualized feedback, automated grouping, or adaptive practice. Its strength lies in making student thinking visible in a shared space to support discussion, reflection, and collective understanding.
Correct!
This is a perfect example of differentiated instruction. By providing different content based on student readiness and allowing them to control the pace (rewinding), Mr. Ward is ensuring that the instruction is personalized to each student's needs.
Nice work!
There isn’t one "perfect" formative assessment tool. Strong instructional decisions come from matching the tool to the goal, the students, and what you need to do next. In upcoming coaching sessions, we’ll use choices like this to talk through when a digital tooltruly supports learning and when it might just add noise.
Not quite!
Quiz-style feedback is better supported by tools like Wayground or Kahoot, which focus on right/wrong responses rather than revision.
Rationale
What you do next with the results
🔗 Using visible thinking to guide instruction👉 How Teachers Use Padlet for Instructional Decision-Making (Class Tech Tips)
Rationale
Correct!
Class Companion is designed to provide fast, individualized feedback on student work, allowing students to revise while learning is still in progress. This makes it especially effective for writing, explanations, and open-ended responses—not traditional quiz-style feedback.
Not quite!
Snorkl is less effective when the goal is quick correctness checks or automated practice. It is best used when teachers need insight into how students are thinking, not just whether answers are right or wrong.
What you do next with the results
🔗 Providing actionable feedback from student thinking👉10 Ways to Provide Instant Feedback to Students (Ditch That Textbook)
What feedback/data it gives
🔗 Using response data during instruction:👉EdPuzzle Live Mode - A How To Guide
Not quite!
These options represent a "one-size-fits-all" approach. To truly personalize learning, Mr. Ward needs to use Edpuzzle’s features to meet students where they are. Choice D is the only one that adjusts the content and pacing to fit the individual.
Correct!
Embedded interactive questions in Nearpod generate real-time data that helps teachers identify misconceptions, adjust pacing, and group students based on need.
Correct!
Snorkl is most effective when insight into how students are thinking is needed. Capturing verbal explanations helps teachers identify reasoning patterns and misconceptions that may not appear in right-or-wrong responses.
Watch this short video to learn more about Snorkl.
⭐ Click here to visit their website.
⭐Take this certification course so you can dive in and make the most of all that Snorkl has to offer!
Not quite!
Edpuzzle is most effective for pacing instruction and checking understanding during a lesson, but it does not adapt practice or create mastery-based groups.
Watch this short video to learn more about Padlet.
⭐ Click here to visit their website.
⭐ Check out these awesome Padlet templates you can use in your classroom tomorrow!
Watch this short video to learn more about Quizalize.
⭐ Click here to visit their website.
⭐ Check out all of their different Solo and Team Game Modes !
Correct!
Nearpod allows the teacher to push lesson slides to student devices and monitor their work-in-progress (such as drawings or written responses) live on the teacher dashboard. This enables Mrs. Mayer to see the actual "thinking" process as it occurs and immediately control the lesson pacing to address misconceptions.
Finished! ✅
Edpuzzle supports pacing and in-the-moment checks during instruction, while Quizalize shines when you need adaptive practice and clear grouping for what comes next.
Correct!
Well-designed exit tickets in Socrative provide immediate, objective-aligned data that teachers can use to identify misconceptions and plan next steps.
What you do next with the results
🔗 Turning data into next steps:👉Using Edpuzzle Data to Guide Instruction (Video)
What feedback/data it gives
🔗 Seeing patterns in shared student thinking👉 Padlet’s AI Tools That Support Digital Collaboration (TCEA Blog)
Correct!
Wayground works best when teachers need quick feedback and response data they can act on right away.
When to use it
🔗 Overview of classroom use:👉 Class Companion: Instant AI Coaching and Feedback by Dr. Catlin Tucker
Rationale
Correct!
If Mr. Lawing needs to hear the "how" and "why" behind a student's answer, Snorkl is the way to go. It’s like looking over their shoulder while they talk through their ideas, making it easy to spot exactly where they might be getting confused.
Great work!
Summative assessments evaluate learning after instruction. Formative assessments are intentionally used during instruction to provide timely feedback and generate data teachers can act on right away or in the next lesson. The examples you identified as formative are designed to inform instructional decisions, support student understanding, and guide next steps—not to assign a final grade.
In this module, we focus on using digital formative tools to adjust instruction, respond to student needs, and improve learning in real time.
There’s no single right answer here!
What matters most is how easily formative data can be turned into timely feedback and instructional action. This module focuses on choosing tools that make those next steps clearer and more manageable.
Watch this short video to learn more about Wayground.
⭐ Click here to visit their website.
⭐ View a collection of their top FREE activities here.
What you do next with the results
🔗 Teacher workflow & instructional impact:👉 Free AI-Powered Tool Helps You Save Time and Support Every Student
Rationale
When to use it
🔗 Self-paced learning in action:👉 A Guide to Self-Paced Learning with EdPuzzle
Watch this short video to learn more about Edpuzzle.
⭐ Click here to visit their website.
⭐ Check out this collection of FREE Digital Citizenship lessons!
Not quite!
This use case doesn’t require immediate feedback or response data to guide next instructional steps.
Watch this quick tutorial to learn more about how to provide effective AI-driven feedback for students!
⭐ Click here to visit the Class Companion website.
⭐ Watch how teachers use Class Companion here.
Not quite!
Although Socrative is excellent for gathering quick data snapshots and quiz results, it is primarily a response system rather than a full lesson delivery platform. It does not allow the teacher to view student work as it is being created or control the instructional slides to adjust pacing in the same seamless way as Nearpod.
Not quite!
This option does not use the interactive elements in Nearpod during instruction, which provide insight into student learning progress. When combined with real-time data, instruction can be differentiated on the spot.
What feedback/data it gives
🔗 How AI feedback works:👉 Class Companion Tutorial for Students
Not quite!
Exit tickets should provide teachers with meaningful and actionable information related to the lesson objective that drives instruction.
Correct!
Class Companion provides immediate, individualized feedback on student work, allowing students to revise while learning is still happening.
When to use it
🔗 Supporting collaborative thinking and reflection👉 20 Useful Ways to Use Padlet in Class (Ditch That Textbook)