Tech Tip Tuesday: Kahoot

Happy Tuesday! If you're back at school, I hope you're settling into your routine by now. If you're one of those lucky ducks who doesn't go back until after Labor Day, I hope you're enjoying the last sweet days of your summer (while the rest of us envy you!).

This week's tech tip is all about Kahoot! Kahoot! is a game-based digital assessment tool that works on any device with an internet connection. Kahoot! is free to create and free to use. Since it is a web-based tool, it works on any device that has an internet connection and a web browser.

Kahoot! allows you to create a variety of assessments, from quizzes, to discussions, to surveys. You can even embed media into your Kahoot!, such as YouTube videos or images. Most of the time I've seen Kahoot! in action in a classroom is when a teacher is using it in quiz mode.

Quiz mode has timed responses and a points system to create a competitive atmosphere. The survey mode is similar to quiz mode, but does not include the scoring component. This allows a teacher to receive feedback or assess knowledge without the element of competition. The discussion mode has a single question, without the competitive elements. This can be used to prompt class discussion. Student responses will then appear at the front, which could ignite debate among classmates.

Some other great features of Kahoot!:

• The ability to share it with anyone in the word. Your class could play with another class that is across the country or across the world!
• Kahoot! Tracks all the data from each Kahoot! you launch in your classroom and makes it available in your dashboard. Hard, fast, data that can be used to track knowledge and inform instruction at your fingertips!

Kahoot! has created a great user guide with explicit, clear instructions to help you get started!

Why this is great for ELLs:

This tool gives every student a chance to answer each question you ask- total class participation- without putting the student on the spot like traditional questioning. The competitive nature is naturally engaging, and the points system and leaderboard allow students to see learn and accept that not everyone answers every question right all the time- and that's OK! In addition, when using it in quiz mode, students are able to get instant feedback on whether they were correct or incorrect. Data at your fingertips allows you to adjust the lesson as you continue.