How to use Kahoot in teaching

 1. What is Kahoot

Kahoot is a great gamified interactive platform that can be used to do some real-time testing/surveys. There are web and app versions, both of which are free to use.

Kahoot's testing feature is perfect for classroom teaching, motivating students and keeping track of their learning at the same time by setting up gamified competitions to answer questions and score points.

2. How to use Kahoot

Step 1: Go to https://creat.kahoot.it.

 2. Click Sign Up (or Log In if you already have an account).

 3. Choose the Teacher option and select your institution type (School, University, etc.).

Step 2: Creating a Kahoot Quiz

 1. Click Create at the top.

 2. Select a Quiz (there are more than ten kinds of fun quizzes).

 3. Add Questions:

 • Type your question in the box.

 • Provide 4 answer choices (one must be correct).

 • Set a time limit (5s–120s) depending on the question difficulty.

 • Add images, videos, or audio for enhanced engagement (Optional).

 4. Click Save once your quiz is complete.

Step 3: Playing a Kahoot Game in Class

 1. Choose Classic Mode (individual play) or Team Mode (group collaboration)

 2. Click Start on your created Kahoot.

 3. Share the Game PIN with students.

 4. Once all students have joined, click Start Game!

 5. Students answer each question in given time, earning points based on speed and accuracy.

Why is Kahoot relevant to language learning?

• Motivation: The use of Kahoot in the classroom is consistent with motivational learning theory. Self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985) emphasises the importance of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in learning, and Kahoot utilizes both. Competitive aspects (leaderboards, scores) stimulate extrinsic motivation, while fun interactive experiences enhance intrinsic motivation.

• Input: Input is essential for language learning, and Kahoot's exercises allow learners to learn vocabulary and grammar in the course of practice sheets.

• Timely feedback: In Kahoot's exercises, students' answers are corrected instantly. Students can immediately reflect on their answers and realise what went wrong, which reinforces learning.

Using Kahoot in the Classroom

1. Warm-Up Activities

•   Teachers can start with a quick vocabulary quiz related to the lesson topic to activate prior knowledge.
•   Example: A “Guess the Word” Kahoot where students match words with images (useful for young learners or visual learners).

2. Formative assessment and practice

• Teachers can create grammar and comprehension quizzes to help assess students' understanding.
• With Kahoot's interactive data, teachers can see how well students are grasping knowledge by looking at the percentage of right and wrong answers to each question

3. Peer Collaboration and Discussion

• Teachers can use ‘team mode’ to develop communication skills by having students collaborate on discussions and answer choices

Limitations of Kahoot

• There are network and equipment requirements that require each student to have a computer or mobile phone.
• The translation of Kahoot's pages in other languages is not comprehensive enough, and many buttons and prompts are still in English, which requires a certain level of English from the user.