Blooket: A learning investigation
Blooket.com
I am always looking for new ways to teach to my students. Last year when I was helping a fellow teacher on my campus, I noticed she was using an online program called Blooket. I hadn't heard of the program, but the high school students we were teaching loved it! That got me thinking about my own classes.
For those of you not familiar with Blooket, it's a game-based student response system that can provide teachers with formative assessment options (Guhlin, 2021). In other words, it's an educational online video game for students and teachers. With a free account, teachers can use Blooket to host a question set with a specific game mode. The game is displayed via a screen or projector, then students compete on their own devices, like a Chromebook, tablet, or smartphone. The smartphone aspect is one reason high school students love it.
Blooket tracks student progress, keeping a record of student responses. In turn, students are able to track their statistics via global a leaderboard ranking (Guhlin, 2021).
From the Blooket website: "The way it works
is that a teacher/host picks a question set and a unique game mode. Then, we
generate a code that players can use to join the game on their own devices.
After the game starts, players will answer questions to help them win. That's
where the fun starts, because we offer a variety of games to keep students
engaged and excited!"
Blooket's mission: "At Blooket, we are striving to change
the way students learn. While reading and studying an oversized textbook is
certainly one option, we like to opt for a far more fun alternative. However,
Blooket isn't just fun, it's also incredibly effective. By creating memorable
experiences with classroom content, students learn the information without even
noticing (and without paper cuts)."
You can follow these steps to get started (Guhlin, 2021):
- Start with a question set. You can make your own, import one, or find one.
- Decide on a game mode. There are several game mode choices. Find one you like.
- Host a game and allow students to play. Students use a game identification number to join the game.
- Play the game. As students play the game, they answer questions that target content that has been taught in class.
- Review results. Students and teachers can review the performance data to identify areas of growth.
Games can be played solo or in teams. They can also be assigned as homework, depending on the game mode. To play a game as homework, students still connect with a game ID code, but to save their progress, they'll need to create their own accounts. All forms of gameplay generate summary reports. For more detailed reporting, teachers can upgrade to paid Plus accounts (Common Sense Media, 2020).
Blooket YouTube
How does Blooket facilitate cognitive presence?
As I was setting up my own Blooket account, I realized I needed a couple of students to test this out for me so I could see how the program fully worked. I called upon two of the best students I know, my own children. My son is in second grade and my daughter is in first grade, so I search for a Blooket game that they both could easily play. The program allows you to create your game, or you can search through thousands other teachers and people have already created.
I watched my children play their first game on naming colors. My son was on an iPad and my daughter was on my iPhone. Neither child had any issues signing up or playing the game. I watched as both were very competitive with each other. The more questions they got correct, the better they did in the game.
Blooket does show some cognitive presence in that you can work in teams or solo, you have to get questions correct or you will not do well against other students/players, and it gives teachers feedback on how each student did in the game, if they subscribe to the plus features. The teacher can even put students in randomized groups for a new outlook on communication.
The challenges pose cognitive agility, while collaborative ventures with peers augment project-based collaborations, establishing a holistic educational tapestry (IQ Newswire, 2023).
Another nice thing about programs like Blooket is they are made for all students. So, if you have students with learning disabilities or special education needs, Blooket helps engage those students.
Video games have shown they have multiple ways for students to master a goal, they can be personalized in gameplay, and most students, even those with special needs, are familiar with video games (Salgado, 2023).
Video games also model mastery of learning and problem-solving (Salgado, 2023).
Loving Little Learners YouTube
How does Blooket facilitate teacher presence?
First of all, you have to have a teacher to initiate a Blooket game. Second, as I mentioned before, Blooket gives you the option of creating your own Q&A game or using ones already created.
Blooket could be a fun option for content review, if it can fit into a multiple-choice format, or you can also import sets from Quizlet into Blooket (Common Sense Media, 2020). Teachers can alter how fast to answer each question, add images to questions, and add already created Blooket games to a favorites list.
Blooket can be assigned for homework and even has games for solo play that are just as engaging and addictive (Common Sense Media, 2020).
Like any online learning tool, it's easy for a teacher to skip a lesson that day and just do a Blooket. I, personally, would use Blooket after a lesson. When I created my account, I made two Blookets. One on yearbook terms for that class and another on basic photography for my photo class. These Blookets will be used as review/pop quiz for the end of the six weeks. My students have already been taught the lessons, so they should know the material.
I noticed that there were Blookets that were created as final exams, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to quite do that yet. For a final exam in my journalism classes, I like something a little more comprehensive or a hands-on assignment like a photo essay or story.
Blooket would also be a good way to pre-expose students to something new, just to see how much they already know. Then, you could make another Blooket after the lesson is taught.
If the teacher just throws up a Blooket and doesn't look at any data afterwards, or go over the Blooket with their student, then it's just a waste of time and a way for the teacher to get out of teaching. This program needs a teacher's presence to facilitate the full value of the program.
How does Blooket facilitate social presence?
If you have ever watched children or teenagers play video games, you know how competitive that can be. Blooket is no different. Even though the games are educational, students love the competitiveness and embedded incentives (earning and spending coins) as well as the mechanics (Factory mode, players can strategically spend money on upgrades to hopefully make the money back -- and more -- over time) (Common Sense Media, 2020).
Some of the group gameplay features are really nice for classroom management, like auto-generating groups, randomizing points, and offering competitors multiple routes within the game to win (Common Sense Media, 2020).
The social presence is there. I watched my two children compete against each other and they were socially interacting, loudly!
If students are working in groups, then learning can be shared and communication skills will be learned, along with teamwork and leadership.
For students with special needs, Blooket would be a great way for them to review content without having to write answers or do a lot of reading. The teacher could read the questions as they come up and the answers. It would also give them interaction with other students. Even if the game is played by individuals, they are still competing with fellow students, and what a thrill they would have being the winner.
Blooket allows the teacher to set times on each question. Each question has to have at least two answers, with an option for four. It's very customizable for all students.
Students will disabilities can have difficulties staying engaged during classes, but programs, like Blooket, can get them engaged and engaged with other students (Salgado, 2023).
What I liked about Blooket
I liked that Blooket gives you the ability to create your own Q&A or use others already created. It was easy to sign up. Easy to navigate.
It's very customizable and I saw my own children very engaged. I also enjoyed the instant feedback and data it provided.
I think Blooket will be great to use for a pop quiz or review of content. I will defiantly being using more in my class. I think it will also be a good replacement for bell ringers some days.
Blooket is fun, engaging, and a great learning tool. I would encourage all teachers to give it try and to learn from it the more you use it.
I would also encourage teachers to use the randomize group feature as a team building activity for your classroom.
You can also randomize questions, so students are all working on different ones. That way they can still be competitive, but work at their own pace.
How could Blooket improve
One aspect I saw with Blooket is the games are so fast-pace that retaining of information may not be there like we teachers want.
Also, one downfall to any group working together is one person could be the one to answer all the questions.
I wouldn't reward based on the place the students come in on the game. I would set a bar or standard that the student has to meet, so that they slow down and read the questions. '
Another downfall is to get the individual student data, you have to pay around $40 a year. It's worth it, but not everyone may be willing to do that.
Also, it's very easy to just go with the free one, find a game, and not follow up on it.
This is not a program I would use, right now, for a final exam, but for a review or quick quiz, it's great!
References:
Blooket (n.d.). Blooket. Blooket.com. Retrieved September 19, 2023, from blooket.com
[Blooket]. (2020, July 22). Getting Started with Blooket - Teacher Edition [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/hhn7dAP6BF8?si=9XKMLuTu2msyid_e
Common Sense Media (n.d.). Blooket Review. Retrieved September 19, 2023, from https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/blooket
[Loving Little Learners]. (2020, November 20). Using Blooket to Increase Student Engagement [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/wvF0zjpfKTY?si=Yos8r2ST1VUdYOKg
Salgado, G. (2023, July 16). Video Games & UDL: Accessibility for all [CTAT Conference Presentation Dallas July 2023]. Gina Salgado. https://www.canva.com/design/DAFkZpUWKnQ/BVisMxXOI1xBsEZKs5gnjw/edit?utm_content=DAFkZpUWKnQ&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton
TCEA (2021, February 15). ASSESSMENT-BASED FEEDBACK TOOL: BLOOKET. Technotes. Retrieved September 19, 2023, from https://blog.tcea.org/assessment-based-feedback-tool-blooket/
Vents Magazine (2023, August 12). Blooket Join Game – Where Education Meets Entertainment. Retrieved September 19, 2023, from https://ventsmagazine.com/2023/08/12/blooket-join-game-where-education-meets-entertainment/
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