You Oughta Know About...Kahoot!

I know I’m not the only one using Kahoot! in the classroom, but I know it hasn’t gotten the recognition it deserves…I mean, I just doesn’t seem to be as prevalent as it SHOULD be because, guys, it’s SO EASY to use!  I’ve literally put a Kahoot! together at the end of my lunch break right before my kiddos walked in.  So what’s all my fuss about...

Kahoot! is an online tool where you can create, use, and save quizzes to check for understanding or review with your kiddos before a unit test.  If you work with a grade-level team, you and your teammates can create and share quizzes for all areas of study for the current year and for years to come!

Here’s what you do: 

Go to getkahoot.com and create an account.  Next, click create quiz to get started and name your quiz.  Then write your questions, choose the point value, time allotment, and enter your answer options. 

You can add YouTube videos, make your questions multiple choice, true/false, or fill in the blank for interest and to keep your kiddos on their toes.  

As you save and continue, add photos, a description, and share your Kahoot! in social media!  Now you’re ready to play! 

Choose how you want to launch your Kahoot!  May I suggest displaying the game PIN throughout the game in case your little sweeties exit by mistake.  I also like to choose “Randomize order of questions?” to challenge students when we [inevidentibly] play the 2^nd and 3^rd time in a row. 

Now, launch your Kahoot! and project the screen displaying your Kahoot!’s game PIN. 

Here’s what you need your kids to do:

1.     Students play along at Kahoot.it in a computer lab or on iPads

2.    Students enter the game pin that you are projecting. 

3.     Students choose a Nickname! (insert guidelines and behavior management HERE)

Student Screen upon entering kahoot.it

Once you see the total number of your students logged onto your Kahoot! begin your game!  It is very kid-friendly and simple.  Your answer options have corresponding shapes on the students’ screen that they simply click.

 

How they get points (which is what this is all about right?):

Students not only earn points for accuracy, but also points for how quickly they enter their answers, which is fun for those high-achievers and also helps with behavior management.  How?  Well, students have to keep their celebration dances to a minimum or else risk missing out on time on the next question.

Features I love:

As the time ticks away, the number of submitted answers are displayed.  So you can say, “Double check that you submitted your answer; I’m missing 3 students’ answers.” 

Then after a question’s time expires and the correct answer is displayed on the screen, you can review it with your students.  Kahoot! tallies the number of students that chose each possible answer and displays them at the end of each question.  The majority of your students will have answered correctly and then, of course, there are those outliers that chose an answer to the question that makes no sense whatsoever…use this as a teachable moment!  It’s anonymous!   

You will get the attention of the students’ that answered incorrectly and hopefully will be able to correct any misconception they had about that topic.  I like to take this time to teach my students test taking skills such as eliminating silly answers and re-reading the question if they are uncertain of what they are supposed to be looking for.

Features my students love:

1.     Getting to choose their own user names!

2.    A top 5 player scoreboard after each question...duh

Kahoot! encourages positive peer pressure to compete academically in an anonymous environment.  You will have your class asking when the end of a unit is so that they can review all they’ve learned using Kahoot! and you will be the classroom hero!

Already using Kahoot! in your classroom?  Leave a comment below! I’d love to hear from you!

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