The use of Kahoot! to improve the student experience

The gamification tool, Kahoot!, can provide an element of fun, competition and learning in one tool that also allows for data capture to facilitate the adaptation of future teaching session. Research shows that when students are having fun, they learn more effectively (Nicolaidou, 2018) and their experience in class improves (Coveney et al., 2022). The use of tools such as Kahoot! have grown exponentially since the movement to online learning during the COVID-19 lockdowns in March 2020 (Dinchner and Wagner, 2021). With a shift back into the classroom, tools such as this should not be left on the virtual shelf but can be utilized to enhance the student experience and achievement in health-based subjects (Lobo, 2023). The use of gamification platforms such as Kahoot! have been shown to improve attendance (Martínez-Jiménez et al., 2021), motivation for self-study (Wichadee & Pattanapichet, 2018, Panthoni et al., 2023) and in-class engagement (Mahon, Lyng, Crotty, & Farren, 2018). Students at the University of Worcester have reported positively on the use of Kahoot! in anatomy and physiology-based modules within the Department of Health and Wellbeing. Students commented ‘gives us a chance to revise and learn in a fun way’ and ‘We chat about it after class, which we don’t normally do’ (HEAL0002 Module Feedback, unpublished). However, gamification tool use in Higher Education has come with criticism regarding the competitive nature of the tool (Dicheva, Dichev, Agre & Angelova, 2015). However, by incorporating Kahoot! into teaching and not merely using it as a quiz, this can be an invaluable resource to enhance the student learning experience and improve engagement.