Emily James
Description
I found Kahoot because I have used it in several Supplementary Instruction session here at Auburn. Kahoot is an interactive website that allows the teacher to assess students on material in class. The teacher can create multiple choice, short answer, or poll types of quizzes. The quizzes award a set amount of points to students, depending on if the student gets the question right or wrong, which encourages healthy competition among students. To use Kahoot, the teacher gives the students a game pin and the students type that pin number in on a different electronic device, so they can be included in the game.
Possible Usage
Kahoot can be used for all ages in all subjects to review material and make sure the class is understanding the material. Depending on the grade level, there might have to be some adjustments to how Kahoot is used. In order to participate in Kahoot, everyone needs a phone, tablet or laptop to answer the question. In a middle school classroom or high school classroom, the chances of everyone having their own technology is greater than in elementary school. However, it is becoming more common for schools to supply iPads to students. Even if the Elementary school didn't supply them, the teacher could bring their own electron device and let the students take turns answering the questions off of it, or the class could use the school’s computer lab.
Bloom's Taxnomy and Rationale
ISTE Standard and Rationale
Kahoot would fall under the Remember category of Bloom's taxonomy. Since it is just a quiz, the students only need to remember and recall the information taught in class. Also if it is used in a history class, at a younger age the students are not asked in depth questions and would generally be asked to remember dates. Kahoot just a tool that will be used to assess how well the students are retaining the information, and where they might be struggling, and does not require as in-depth thinking that are associated with the higher levels of Bloom’s taxonomy
Technology Operations and concepts: students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems and operations
1. Understand and use technology system
Kahoot will require the students to interact with different types of technology, especially if they are younger and using an iPad for the first time. If there is access to a computer lab, this would also help to show how well they can operate a computer.
Criteria Selction
ALOCS and Rationale
My three criteria for selecting a tool was that it was free, engaging, and productive. Kahoot is completely free for the teacher and students. There is also no limit to the number of quizzes the user can make, or the amount of questions on each quiz. A tool being free is important because since this is something that a teacher could potentially use multiple times, it would be impractical to use if it was not free. Kahoot has fun music playing in the background, and creates competition by awarding points to the students who get the correct answer, which makes it engaging. If the tool itself is not engaging, then the students lose focus and don't pay attention to what a teacher is trying to make them learn, which is a waste of time for both the students and the teacher. Kahoot is productive because even though it is fun and engaging, it does not obstruct learning. As fun as a tool can be, the students must be able to take something away from it educationally, which is why the tool need to be productive as well.
The following is from the Social Studies course of study for the 4th grade.
15.) Identify major world events that influenced Alabama since 1950 including the Korean Conflict, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, and the War on Terrorism.
Kahoot is an excellent way to make reviews for all of the subjects mentioned above. At the end of each unit, before a test, a teacher could make a quick quiz to test the student's understanding. This also allows the students to see their understanding of the material themselves. The teacher then knows what they need to review the most, and the students can see what they need to study.
Importance of Kahoot
Kahoot is a tool that shows how I plan on incorporating my teaching philosophy into my classroom. Part of my teaching philosophy is too in corporate fun in the classroom. Kahoot does this by playing fun music and allowing for the students to pick fun nicknames for themselves. I also think Kahoot is a tool that more teachers should use, because it can be used for all grade levels. It also hilights a different Bloom's Taxonomy, Understand, than the other two I have chosesn.