Gimkit is an innovative, interactive learning tool that was made to be used in the classroom. However, tutors, homeschoolers, and online teachers are also starting to use it more and more. Gimkit is unique because it combines quiz-based learning with fun game features, like those found in strategy and role-playing games. It was made by a high school student in Seattle. Its goal is to make formative assessment and subject review more interesting for students while giving teachers useful feedback on how their students are doing in real time.
How Gimkit Works?
Gimkit is like a quiz site where students can answer questions to make virtual money that they can use in games. But it does more than just show results; it also lets students use their winnings to buy upgrades, power-ups, or bonuses, based on the game mode. This one-of-a-kind gamified economy system keeps students interested and driven while also helping them remember important concepts.
Teachers can make their own kits (quiz sets), copy sets from Quizlet, or use sets that have already been made from the Gimkit dashboard. Kits can be about any topic and can be changed in many ways. Gimkit can be used for a lot of different age groups and subjects because it is so adaptable. It can be used for everything from basic school spelling to high school biology or foreign languages.
Gimkit is the Dashboard
The Gimkit dashboard is where teachers do all of their management. They can make and organize kits, as well as keep an eye on their students’ progress and game records.
Make a Kit
Teachers can either make their own sets of questions by hand or import them. There can be more than one answer to each question, and pictures or audio can be added to make the questions more interesting and easy to understand.
Give Out Homework
Kits can be given out as live games or as tasks that can be done at any time and have a due date. This helps with flipped classes and learning from home.
Learn more about flipped learning here: https://www.edutopia.org/topic/flipped-classroom
Track Progress
The dashboard keeps track of how each student answered, how many times they got it right, how long they spent on each question, and their total performance. It gives reports both during and after the game.
You Can Change the Game Types in Gimkit
You can play Classic, Team Mode, Humans vs. Zombies, or Trust No One. Before running a lesson, teachers use the dashboard to choose the type of game and other settings.
The dashboard is simple to use, with a clear style, bright graphics, and straightforward buttons. Teachers can put kits in folders and use open access to work together with other teachers.
Gimkit Host: You Can Run a Live Game
A teacher needs to host a game to get students interested in a live session. With the Gimkit host tool, teachers can use one of their kits to start a live session. The steps are easy to understand:
Pick Out a Kit
Pick out the quiz you want to use.
Choose a Game Mode
You can pick from a number of fun game types.
Set Up the Settings
Choose a time limit, turn on or off power-ups, let latecomers in or out, and how the students are grouped.
Generate Gimkit Code
The host hits “Continue” once all the settings are set and a unique Gimkit code is made.
This code is like a key to the room. To join the game, students type the code into their phones or tablets.
As the game goes on, the teacher, who is also the Gimkit host, can see real-time information like which kids are ahead, how many questions have been answered, and how correct the answers are. The owner can stop the game, end it early, or make the timer go longer.
Gimkit Codes: The Key for Students to Get Started
A unique Gimkit code, which works like a PIN or invite code, is linked to each live game event in Gimkit. Students use this code to get into the game on their own laptops, tablets, or phones.
How to Use the Codes in Gimkit:
- The teacher shows the Gimkit code on a screen in the classroom or in a Skype meeting chat.
- They need to enter the code at https://www.gimkit.com/play
- Depending on how the host is set up, students either type their name or a classroom nickname after entering the code.
Random numbers are used to make these codes, and they are only good for that time. This makes sure that the game area is safe and focused. For homework, students don’t need a code; they can just join in and get to their work right away.
Game Modes and How Students Feel About Them
There are different game modes in Gimkit to make things fun and new. Each mode changes the way you learn in a different way:
- Classic Mode: Each student plays alone and gets paid for right answers.
- Team Mode: Players are put into groups, and their winnings go into a team pot.
- Trust No One: A mode similar to “Among Us” where players have to do jobs and spot fakes.
- The Floor is Lava: Students must keep giving right answers to keep the “lava” from rising to their platform.
- People vs. Zombies: A fast-paced game where players switch sides based on how well they do.
Because you can buy power-ups and upgrades inside the game, Gimkit is more than just a quiz—it’s a teaching experience that you can get lost in.
Why Using Gimkit is Good for Teachers
- Instant input on what the class understands
- A lot of students involved
- Making material in a variety of ways
- Easy to keep track of and report through the Gimkit website
To the Students:
- Playing helps kids learn
- Competition and prizes can motivate people
- Helps with planning and thinking critically
- Available on several devices
Limitations and Things to Think About
Even though Gimkit is a great tool, it does have some problems:
- Based on Subscriptions: You can’t do much with the free version. Gimkit Pro has more game options and reports with more information.
- Dependence on Devices: Each student needs to have their own device, which could be a problem in places with limited resources.
- Internet Needed: For live games, you need a stable internet link.
Still, these problems can be solved with careful planning and execution.
Conclusion
Gimkit has changed how teachers test and interact with their students. It makes boring practice fun by combining quizzes with changing game features. The Gimkit dashboard gives teachers a lot of power and information, and the Gimkit host tool makes it easy to run sessions. Gimkit codes make it easy and quick for students to join games. Gimkit is a useful tool for teaching in the 21st century, both in the classroom and in the real world.