Especially after COVID-19, activity-based learning has become popular for enhancing student engagement. Incorporating gaming models like Kahoot, an online quiz, can make learning more enjoyable and challenging. This article provides a practical guide on how educators can leverage Kahoot to create a fun and interactive learning environment. The educator needs a strategy for including Kahoot, which should not be included with a precise aim. By creating an experiential learning experience, educators can encourage students to reflect on their own learning experiences and, with insistent feedback, assist in goal-driven actions.
By 2016, 20 million users were using Kahoot, which has doubled by 2022 and has been associated with the pandemic and the movement to online classes. But it is advised not to become too dependent on this as an educational tool, as it needs to be meaningful, challenging, and promote feedback.
Kahoot offers a wide range of creative approaches to a quiz. First, it is important to clarify a focus point for the quiz before setting up a Kahoot quiz. For example, I have used it to test students’ knowledge about assessments or recap particular theories or concepts covered in a module. Offering Kahoot as a tool can enrich the students’ learning by guiding them through their course, allowing them to establish what areas they need to work on, thus incorporating the cognitive learning theory.
As an educator, the quiz design can incorporate a mixture of true/false, multiple-choice, or image/video-based questions. Additional purchases may be required for some designs. Kahoot includes graphical images and sounds and can allow the educator to use a wide range of questions, thus creating a more inclusive and challenging experience. Using a variety of questions can assist in critical thinking and problem-solving. Students can work independently or in group dynamics to share knowledge. Not only can it reduce pressure on the students, but it can also encourage healthy competition among students, motivating them to review course material.
Kahoot is more than just a quiz. It is a tool for enhancing knowledge and building student confidence. While students may perceive it as a test, educators must emphasise that it is a fun educational tool. Mistakes or incorrect answers should be seen as part of the learning process, fostering a supportive and encouraging learning environment. Kahoot offers anonymity, whereby students can create a name, hiding their identity and assisting students who are hesitant or nervous. Encouraging team play can foster a collaborative approach, assist in building relationships, and reduce the fear of being singled out.
An introduction of Kahoot as a formative assessment can assist the educator in establishing knowledge gaps. It offers the opportunity to monitor students’ understanding in real time. Offering regular check-ins at the beginning or end of classes can establish whether students are retraining information and remaining on track.
As beneficial as Kahoot is for students learning, it is important not to overuse it and become dependent on this tool. Overuse results in repetition and potentially boring students. As educators, we need to find ways to challenge students and source ways to test their knowledge. Ensuring the students understand the reasoning behind the experimental game Kahoot can encourage their participation.
Natalie Quinn-Walker is a lecturer in public health and deputy course lead at Birmingham City South Campus – Seacole.
