Blooket is a web-based quiz game platform for group competition or solo study. Blooket joins an expanding group of game show platforms for the classroom. What sets it apart is that the quizzes can be re-themed using a variety of “game modes” that offer unique visual themes and gameplay types, turning quizzes into competitive experiences similar to games learners might play on their phones for fun.

Like other quizzing tools, educators create question sets and then launch games. Learners join with a code and then answer questions in real time with their devices. Learners can participate in teams or individually, and the participant with the fastest correct answer wins. Unique to Blooket, however, is that quizzing is embedded with the context of different games — each with their own visual theme and rules. For instance, in the Racing mode, learners might answer five questions and then watch as their avatars face off in a race determined by how well they did on the quizzes. For added excitement, educators can choose to randomize point earning potential. This means that the student who responds the quickest might earn fewer points than the student who responds correctly 10 seconds later (although responding incorrectly always earns zero points). The Café mode challenges learners to  answer questions so that they can prepare and serve food to customers. The Tower of Doom mode gets learners to choose characters (who each have stats) and battle them against opponents, answering questions to give them an advantage.

Games can be played solo or in teams, or they can be assigned as homework, depending on the game mode. Team sizes also vary across modes. To play a game as homework, learners 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, educators can upgrade to paid Plus accounts.

Blooket could be a fun option for content review — if what you need learners to review will fit in a multiple-choice format. If you already have sets in Quizlet, you can import them (text only) into Blooket. You can also search public question sets to use or adapt as your own. Most games reward answering quickly, but educators can alter settings to de-emphasize speed. During class, you can use Blooket for class-wide review. Putting learners into randomized groups is easy, which may help level the playing field or encourage camaraderie. Blooket works best when every student has a device. If devices are limited, you could make a classroom station for solo play. You can also assign games for independent practice or homework. Even the solo games are engaging and addictive, so learners will enjoying working through question sets and earning points/coins/blooks along the way.

One additional note about privacy if you’re planning to use it with younger kids: At the end of each game (which learners can hop into with just a code), players will be prompted to create an account. Kids will likely want to create one so that they can save and spend coins, purchase additional avatars, and save progress during independent play. However, according to the law and Blooket’s terms, children under 13 shouldn’t create accounts, so educators should make sure to instruct kids under 13 to skip past this.

Blooket is slick, engaging, and even a little bit addictive. Learners will love the competitive games, cute design, and embedded incentives (earning and spending coins) as well as the mechanics (e.g., in the Factory mode, players can strategically spend money on upgrades to hopefully make the money back — and more — over time). The gameplay, however, can be so absorbing (and distracting), that the learning feels secondary. Of course, the speed and competitiveness of play does incentivize learners to answer questions over and over, and this ends up effectively drilling facts. 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. However, the lack of question variety limits the style of learning that can happen, and the learning, ultimately, is something you do alongside the game rather than as a part of the game itself. It’d be great to see Blooket explore different varieties of learning and competing that allow more open-ended participation, similar to Jackbox.

Website: https://www.blooket.com/

Overall User Consensus About the App

Student Engagement

Gameplay is flashy, fun, and competitive. Learners will want to plow through questions. Some of the game modes are busy and can be distracting, though.

Curriculum and Instruction

Learners get instant feedback on their devices and the class screen. Basic multiple choice is the only question type, however, limiting the learning potential. Games also don’t integrate learning well.

Customer Support

There’s a support chat window, a simple FAQ, and some basic tutorials. The feedback and dashboard are minimal but functional.