KAHOOT

Kahoot is another web based assessment application which is similar to Socrative.  You can create a quiz, discussion or a survey and engage learners in a game or competition type setting, as I have witnessed in some of the lectures.  Being web based this means you and your learners will need a good internet connection, and hardware such as a computer, laptop, ipad, or similar mobile device. 

Kahoot is colourful and has a gameshow type appeal to it.  I recall it being used by children at my son’s primary school and thought it was creative and a fun way to learn.  The children were using the computers and having a lot of fun.

My next experience of Kahoot was in a lecture at University.  The lecturer logged on and the information was displayed on the smartboard.  Learners were asked to log into www.kahoot.it and then enter the pin generated for the session.  Once logged into the quiz, the learners are faced with a question and four potential answers, and there is a set time limit in which to answer.  The faster you answered correctly the more points you got subject to an upper score per question.

On a number of occasions the lecturer provided immediate feedback on why it is the correct answer and why the others cannot be correct, or asked the learners as to why a particular option such as A, B, C or D can or cannot be the answer.  This helped to engage the learners in a discussion and aid the learning experience, as well as peer led learning to take place.  The lecture controlled the pace of the questions in that learners would get the next question when the lecturer clicked on it.  The learners were engaged and were learning from the feedback, and asking if they could have another session in the next lesson.

One drawback I have seen is that when the learner logs on they can hide by using a nickname.  This means that it is open to abuse through anonymity but also allows a learner to hide through lack of knowledge or confidence.  This can be evident as before each question the leader board displays the scores of all the participants which might have a negative bearing on learners who need more help.

Overall, Kahoot is an excellent assessment application to review learning and can be used at any appropriate juncture in the lesson.  Eatherton (2014) rightly states that the use of technology must benefit the learners achieve the learning outcomes.

Kahoot is colourful, fun and more engaging for learners and I will use it in my lessons.

References:

Kahoot. 2015. https://getkahoot.com/ (Accessed on: 16 December 2015).

Eatherton, T 2014, 'ADVENTURES IN TECHNOLOGY', Techniques: Connecting Education & Careers, 89, 8, pp. 8-9, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 14 January 2016.