We are now in a digital world where quizzes and activities do not need to be paper based. Digital resources are aplenty and will save you time, while also increasing engagement with your students. Check out the four website below that can become a regular addition to your classroom.
Kahoot
Kahoot is a classic in the classroom. The website allows users to create, label and store their own quizzes or access those create by other teachers online. Once you are logged in, you can search through these resources quickly and save to your own account, which makes the process of locating resources incredibly efficient. You can search based on year group and subject, so that the quiz is catered to the specific learning needs of your classroom.
Below, you will see the search bar at the top, along with the available free quizzes that you can use in the class.
Once you choose a topic, you can select how the students will play. Again, a wide range of options so that multiple uses of the website do not become stale to your students.
Once students are logged in via a QR code, they are ready to play. Each option in response to the question will be a colour. Student merely select the colour on their device that corresponds to their answer. Once all students have responded, a tally is produced. You will even see the spread of correct or incorrect answers and can complete the some additional instruction between questions.
Website: https://create.kahoot.it/auth/login
Blooket
Another website quite similar to Kahoot is Blooket. Free to users, but a paid membership will provide you with additional access and resources. Much like Kahoot, you can design your own quiz, or discover what other teachers have created.
What’s is great about these resources is that you are not limited to academic quizzes. Sometimes it is nice to switch off, provide students with a brain break and have fun with a totally different topic. Some students who do not thrive academically know a great deal about a wide range of other subjects. Allow students to throw you a topic that they are passionate about. It could be Disney processes, logos/brands or general knowledge. You can even give students a prize at the end!
Website: https://www.blooket.com
Jeopardy
While Jeopardy is more of an American game show, you will be surprised at how quickly students pick up on the fundamentals of this game.
You can create your own Jeopardy game based on student learning, or search through the JeopardyLabs for others the have been created. Have students split into teams, create a name and record it on the leaderboard.
Jeopardy is much more time consuming as a game rather that Kahoot and Blooket that can have time restraints, however, it is a fantastic resource for conclude a learning program or end of term activity.
Website: http://jeopardylabs.com
Menti
There are plenty of activities that encourage the use of paper and post it notes that ultimately waste precious resources. Menti on the other hand allows you to transpose this activity to a digital environment.
At the start of the lesson, you might want to pose a question to students, create a discussion board or even a poll. Menti allows for a wide range of these functions.
Once you have selected the option, it is merely a matter of creating a question that will provoke a strong response with students. Depending on what you are looking for, aim to encourage students to have a detailed response.
Students will go to the website menti.com and type in the allocated code a the top of the screen. They will then be free to type and post a response anonymously (Although you will be able to see how many responses have been posted). From there, you can review answers, patterns in student understanding and expand on some of the ideas students have explored.
Menti is a great resource to use at the start fo a lesson, though an be used in a wide range of lesson types.
Website: https://www.mentimeter.com
The English Classroom 