Designing formative assessments using Kahoot

kahoot logo

Learning Objectives

By the end of this module you should be able to:

  1. Navigate the Kahoot platform
  2. Justify the benefits of Kahoot for formative assessment
  3. Design a Kahoot formative assessment

Kahoot for Formative Assessment

In the last lesson, you participated in a formative assessment Kahoot to gauge your preliminary understanding of what formative assessment is and how it can be used.

Kahoot is an excellent platform for formative assessment for a variety of reasons:

1. It's engaging.

Kahoot labels itself as a "game-based digital learning platform," but the main takeaway of many students is GAME. The bright eye-catching colors, catchy music, and fast-paced nature of Kahoot make it appealing to all learners.

 Play is our first language and shared by all humans. Therefore it's the foundation 
 of our approach to an inclusive & student centered classroom. Inclusive design for
 us is both about the interaction design and the behaviours it instigates."
 - Johan Brand, CEO at Kahoot!

2. It is low or no-stakes

Kahoot requires players to enter a "nickname" or temporary username for each quiz. The anonymity ensures that players feel comfortable participating without fear of failure or judgment from peers. "Low-stakes" is a term typically used to describe formative assessment because the results have little or no impact on student grades. Despite the fact that Kahoots are low stakes, the competitive nature is often sufficient enough to ensure maximal student effort. Remember, formative assessment is FOR learning!

3. It is easily accessible

As a "Bring Your Own Device" platform, Kahoot requires minimal equipment and no registration on the student's part. This makes implementation fast and easy. Students can play individually with their own device or as a team. The easy to read text and limited choice options make this form of assessment accessible to students with disabilities or accommodations.

Kahoot User Guide and Tips

Open and review the Kahoot User Guide below. Your assignment for this unit will involve creating a Kahoot assessment including multimedia such as images and videos, so be sure to identify how to add these to a quiz when reviewing the guide.

Kahoot User Guide


  • Take screenshots of existing curriculum content or review problems, and embed them straight into your questions, framing the questions/answers around them.
  • Write questions that are tailored to your lesson. Determine what type of knowledge you are aiming at assessing and frame your question around this learning objective.
  • Incorporate material and media that was covered during your lesson/unit.
  • After each question take advantage of teachable moments, especially those questions that students demonstrate difficulty with. Combine your Kahoot with appropriate questioning techniques to gain the best results.


1. Watch the following 5 minute youtube video on how to design your very own Kahoot (CLICK HERE). You will need to register with your email address at in order to access the platform.

2. Design a 10-15 question Kahoot that meets the following criteria:

  • Contains at least one embedded video/gif (can either be the intro video or on a question)
  • Contains at least 3 images
  • Assesses student knowledge of a specific lesson or unit
  • Has a descriptive title and description
  • Can be used in your current classroom (you will be using the results from your assessment in Lesson 3!)


Continue to Lesson 3: Analyzing formative assessment results right arrow


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Getting Started WIth Kahoot (2017).