Kahoot!
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| Picture from: https://kahoot.com/press/ |
Today, I'll be reviewing a standout:
Kahoot!, is a game-based formative assessment tool. This user-friendly tool gives
teachers and students the ability to create quizzes and surveys about any
subject area following simple steps. Its flashy graphics and fluid design make
learning fun.
Pros:
- It’s free.
- It’s a shared experience. Everyone responds and receives feedback at the same time.
- There are millions of publicly created Kahoot! games you can use or duplicate for yourself and make changes.
- It can also be used for professional development purposes. With the Team mode it’s possible to pose pedagogical questions and promote food-for-thought discussions among teacher peers.
Cons:
The speed of a Kahoot! game can make some students feel like they’re left
in the dust since learners demonstrate their knowledge in different ways. Even
if the instructor configures time extensions, there are still points to be
earned in being correct faster.
Unique Features:
- Ghost mode. Kahoot! remembers how each student scored on each question. When you play the game again in ghost mode, it displays former attempts as “ghosts”. Students can compare their current attempt to previous attempts to see how they’ve progressed.
- The mobile
app. This versatile app lets you create Kahoot! games on the fly, add pictures from your camera roll, and even host a Kahoot! game from your mobile device.
Alternative Ways to Play:
The Blind Kahoot! game. It’s a way to teach with Kahoot! instead of just
reviewing. Throw students a tricky question at the beginning. Then use images,
videos, class discussions and questions to teach it. It’s scaffolding — teach a
little, ask a question, repeat, repeat, repeat. Learn all about the Blind
Kahoot! game in this blog post!
If you're new to Kahoot! the following YouTube video can be an excellent
introduction:
Final Note:
Although competitive tools or review games such as Kahoot! have lots of
advantages to both teachers and students, I believe we educators need to give
priority to cooperative learning strategies, tasks, and activities in our
practices and keep reinforcing the importance of learning together instead of competitive
and the individualistic notion of learning and success.
If you're interested to read about competitive and cooperative learning, check out the following book.
Johnson, D., Johnson, R. (1999). Learning together and alone: cooperative, competitive, and individualistic learning. Boston: Allyn and Bacon
Picture from: https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Learning_Together_and_Alone.html?id=lh8iAQAAIAAJ&redir_esc=y
Hi Sadaf
ReplyDeleteVery clear structure. I like your small headings and the bullet points in this blog. After read your blog I definitely have a bigger picture of Kahoot! now. I totally agree with you that we should give priority to cooperative learning even if we use competitive tools in class. That's a brilliant critical reflection when we considering use ICT in TESOL.
Hi Sadaf,
ReplyDeleteGreat review! Thanks for updating me on some of Kahoot's functions I was not aware of such as the Ghost Mode and the Blind Kahoot. Will definitely try those. Kahoot is a fantastic tool indeed, however one needs to have a projected screen in the classroom to play it which is not always available. I appreciate your recommending the book. I feel I am starting to be a big fan of collaborative learning during my MA here at Warwick as I see how we are learning from each other.
Hey Sadaf,
ReplyDeleteI hadn't really thought about the fact that Kahoot rewards the fastest learner - it is a good point... it doesn't mean that THOSE slower don't know the answer...hmm I wonder if it is possible to turn this feature off?
Hello! Sadaf!
ReplyDeleteYour blog about Kahoot! is very useful! You use some subtitles to emphasize the theme and the importance of this part. It is very clear and nice to read! And you add references to the last part!That's great!