“Teaching should be such that what is offered is perceived as a valuable gift and not as hard duty..”-ALBERT EINSTEIN

Kahoot!: Beyond the Buzz – How Gamification Is Rewiring Classroom Engagement

Kahoot!: Beyond the Buzz – How Gamification Is Rewiring Classroom Engagement

Introduction

Picture this: a classroom buzzing with excitement. Students are hunched over their devices, racing to answer questions while a leaderboard fuels the competition. Cheers erupt, groans follow, and all the while, learning happens. This isn’t game night—it’s a regular day in class powered by Kahoot!, the gamified learning tool transforming student engagement in 2025. But is it truly advancing learning, or is it just another classroom gimmick? Let's explore what the research and real-world examples say.

What Is Kahoot? A Primer

Launched in Norway in 2013, Kahoot! grew from a prototype at NTNU to a worldwide educational mainstay. It allows teachers to create interactive quizzes (called "kahoots") that students join via a game PIN. Questions appear on a shared screen while students respond on their devices, gaining points based on accuracy and speed. By November 2023, the platform had surpassed 10 billion cumulative participants (Kahoot!, 2023).

Its vibrant visuals, catchy music, and real-time feedback make it a go-to for teachers who want to turn lectures into interactive experiences (Wikipedia, 2025).

Why It Works: Motivation and Memory

Kahoot! taps into student motivation like few other tools. A 2020 study involving Saudi EFL students found it boosted vocabulary, listening skills, and overall classroom engagement compared to traditional drills (Alharthi, 2020). The competition and speed component adds urgency—learners are more focused and excited to participate.

This enthusiasm is more than anecdotal. Research shows that gamified learning environments activate dopamine release, which supports memory formation and attention retention (Rojabi, Pratolo & Lofti, 2022). Kahoot! makes students want to participate, not just because they have to, but because it's fun.

Still, time pressure isn't for everyone. Some students find it stressful. That's why Kahoot!'s self-paced “Challenge” mode is a welcome alternative, allowing for accessibility and personalization.

Collaboration or Competition? Why Not Both?

While Kahoot! is often seen as a competitive platform, it also fosters collaboration. Its "Team Mode" allows groups to discuss and answer questions together, encouraging peer learning and dialogue. In some cases, students reported feeling like they were working together even within a competitive format (Oktaviani, 2024).


But for collaboration to be meaningful, educators must be intentional. A 2024 meta-analysis recommends strategies such as having students create their own quizzes or including debriefing discussions after each game session to encourage reflection and deeper learning (Sağlamel & Yıldırım, 2024).

Beyond Language: Versatility in Action

Kahoot! isn’t just for vocabulary drills. It’s used in subjects ranging from math to medicine. In one example, medical educators adopted Kahoot! to assess students’ grasp of key concepts before exams—using the platform for real-time formative assessment (Kahoot!, 2023).

When compared to competitors like Quizizz, Kahoot! tends to excel in live classroom settings due to its energetic pacing and group dynamic. Quizizz, with its self-paced structure, is often better suited for homework or asynchronous activities.

Limitations to Keep in Mind

No tool is perfect. Kahoot! requires access to internet-connected devices, which may exclude under-resourced schools. Overusing the platform might also shift focus from actual learning to simply "winning" the game (Alharthi, 2020).

Accessibility is another concern. A study focusing on elderly learners found that the game’s fast pace and visual design can present usability challenges, though enthusiasm remained high when the environment was adjusted to meet user needs (Forssell et al., 2023).

Conclusion: Where Gamification Fits in Education

Kahoot! isn’t a replacement for good teaching—it’s a tool that, when used well, can amplify it. Its ability to increase participation, encourage collaboration, and offer real-time feedback makes it valuable. Still, thoughtful integration is crucial. Educators must balance fun with rigor and competition with inclusivity to ensure the tech enhances rather than distracts from learning.

What’s Next?

Looking ahead, could Kahoot! evolve with AI-driven features that adapt questions based on student performance? Or might we see a renewed appreciation for low-tech, human-centered strategies? Likely, the future lies in blending both worlds. For now, Kahoot! remains a vibrant piece of the education puzzle.

References

Alharthi, S. (2020). Assessing Kahoot’s Impact on EFL Students’ Learning Outcomes. TESOL International Journal, 15(5). https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1329509

Forssell, M., Hassan, L., Turunen, M., & Aura, I. (2023). Accessibility of Kahoot! and Quizizz: Utilizing educational games with elderly students. Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Communities and Technologies (C&T). https://doi.org/10.1145/3593743.3593760

Oktaviani, A. L. (2024). Gamifying education: Exploring student perceptions of Kahoot! as a learning medium. STAIRS: English Language Education Journal, 5(2), 88–97. https://journal.unj.ac.id/unj/index.php/stairs/article/download/49153/19248/149652

Rojabi, M., Pratolo, M., & Lofti, M. (2022). Gamification in language instruction. World Journal of English Language, 14(3). https://www.sciedupress.com/journal/index.php/wjel/article/download/25367/15786

Sağlamel, H., & Yıldırım, M. A. (2024). A Qualitative Meta-Analysis of Kahoot! in Language Instruction. Journal of Qualitative Research in Education, 69-94. https://doi.org/10.14689/enad.39.1903

Kahoot! (2023, November 9). Kahoot! reaches 10 billion participants in 10 years! Kahoot! Blog. https://kahoot.com/blog/2023/11/09/kahoot-reaches-10-billion/

Wikipedia contributors. (2025). Kahoot! In Wikipedia. Retrieved July 8, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kahoot%21

Comments

Post a Comment