Kahoot!

                  

In education today technology is always advancing, and one way it has advanced is in the form of online testing.  A prime example of an online application that is widely used across the country to quiz students on their knowledge is Kahoot.  Kahoot is a game-based learning platform that allows teachers and administrators to self-generate multiple choice quizzes that are accessed via the web.  The process behind creating a Kahoot is rather simple, which is a positive for teachers that have little experience with technology.  Kahoot requires teachers to generate questions in the form of a typical multiple choice question seen in a pencil and paper version; however, student answer using their technological device, whether that be their phones or a laptop.  Once the question is created, teachers then have the option to set a time limit per question, requiring students to answer the question in the given amount of time or receive a wrong answer if not answered on time.  the next step is for the teacher to publish the quiz and share the entrance code with their class.  Whoever has the access code will be admitted into the game.  When students enter the code they will then be instructed to enter a display name.  This function can be risky in the sense that students like to mess around and enter inappropriate names, nevertheless, the teacher has the ability to remove the student from the game, which in that case, they will be required to re-enter under a different, more appropriate name.  Once the game has started students will be competing with one another to see who can answer the most questions correctly as well as who can answer them the quickest.  After the game has concluded their will be a leaderboard with first, second, and third place.  While some may think that only certain subjects would be able to apply to Kahoot, there are actually endless possibilities to what subjects are best suited for the application.  Anything that can be answered with multiple choice answers is suitable for the Kahoot application.  

In terms of using it in the classroom, I believe that it has been a revolutionary development in online learning that has sparked a drive in students to do well.  The feeling of competition is a great motivator as many students find themselves competing quite regularly whether that be in academics, athletics, video gaming, etc.  When I was in high school I remember using Kahoot in many of my classes and every time the teacher said we were playing a Kahoot everyone got excited and very invested.  In my future classroom I plan to utilize the Kahoot application because it is an effective way to test students knowledge as they are taking the time to answer correctly and efficiently, overall enhancing their learning experience.