In-class Student Engagement Tools
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Kahoot!
Description: Kahoot is a game-based educational classroom system. It allows teachers to create quizzes, discussions, and surveys in the form of an online game. Players/students play using their devices (smartphone or computer), while the game is displayed on a shared screen to unite the lesson.
Why should faculty use it?
- Play and learn at the same time.
- A formative assessment tool that is fun.
- An instructor can download a spreadsheet of results from each game, with color-coded correct and incorrect answers.
- Enhanced engagement and gamification of learning content.
Video Introduction: How to Use Kahoot! In the Classroom by Tech in 2 in 2014
How faculty access software: Get Kahoot
User Guide: Kahoot Support
Accessibility Statement Link: Inclusion and Accessibility policy
Plickers
Description: Plickers is an application that scans student answers and automatically processes them. Students are answering by raising pieces of paper with bar codes assigned to them. Jonathan Wylie, a Digital Learning Consultant, has a great description on his blog, Plickers: Classroom Clickers without the Clicking
Why should faculty use it?
- Informal assessment, pre-assessment.
- Review of the materials learned in class.
- Checking attendance.
- Polls or class surveys.
Video Introduction: How to Use Plickers in the Classroom by Tech in 2 published on Oct 15, 2014
How faculty access software: Plickers
User Guide: Plickers help site
Another user guide: Plickers
Thumball
Description: Thumball is soft, stuffed, soccer-style ball used as an educational toy, training tool, conversation starter, icebreaker game, speech/language material, social skills game, team building, plus much more.
Why should faculty use it?
- Thumball is a useful tool for student "active" engagement
- Faculty can throw the ball to a particular student, whatever number their right thumb is on they answer the question assigned to the number, the student then tosses it to another student
- Gets students talking using "non-threatening" questions at the start of the semester.
How faculty access: Both the CLE at the East campus and the West campus have Thumballs that can be borrowed (with suggested icebreaker questions).
WheelDecide
Description: WheelDecide is a free online spinning wheel. Set your own custom choices and then spin the wheel to make a random section. you can add student names or activities you want to choose from.
Why should faculty use it? It is a free way to arbitrarily select students to call on or to arbitrarily select activities to complete during class.
How faculty access: WheelDecide
User Guide: Wheel Decide User Guide