Recently, great selections of response tools and apps have been released for classrooms and libraries to aid with student learning. Some focus on polling, others on open ended answers, some have a combination for many different types of responses, others use devices while some do not, but the idea behind all of these tools is to get students involved and responding in a fun and informative way.

Flipquiz

Flipquiz is a gameshow style tool where the user can create boards for test review, quizzing, game nights, and much more. Each board created has points from 100 to 500 and in theory the questions get harder at each level of points. The person building the board can also create up to six different categories of questions. Flipquiz is completely free and users can create as many boards as they wish. This site is considered “Freemium” and does have a pro or paid level. There are individual and team subscriptions and at the pro level users get board scoring options, digital flash cards to accompany created boards, options to use previously created public boards, as well as image uploading to use with Flipquiz questions. This is a user friendly site that can be used with students at every level and age.

Flippity

Working with Google Spreadsheets, the site Flippity offers the user many different options including flashcards, certificates, random name pickers, and gameshow boards. This is a site where you can get a lot from your information in a Google Spreadsheet. Flippity provides a template to be altered and edited. Once all questions and answers are complete the new gameshow template and questions are published. Flippity gives step by step instructions on making all of their items and it couldn’t be easier or freer. Make as many gameshow boards, digital notecards, or certificates as needed. They have you covered.  While not as shiny as Flipquiz or the next site discussed in this column, Flippity makes creating a gameshow board easy for teachers, librarians, and students. It’s a great tool to review information in class or have a game-based activity on a literature choice in the library.

Jeopardy Rocks

Very similar in style to both of the previous tools is Jeopardy Rocks. Up to four different teams can play, competing in a six category game. The site is very cute with vegetables as the team captains; a neat idea if nutrition is being covered, otherwise it’s just a bonus in who gets to be broccoli over tomato. This site keeps score for the user and has a very television gameshow feel. Jeopardy Rocks is also “Freemium.” Each creator can generate up to three games for free and after that there is a cost. While Jeopardy Rocks is a fun option for gameshow activities in class and well worth sharing, it is limited by the cost. It is easy to use and students will enjoy the television style of the game.

Friendly competition in a classroom or library always seems to spark the students. Even when the point system is turned off, students enjoy using a gameshow style tool for test or information review over more traditional methods. Something boring can always be made better and these types of tools are just one way to enhance class activities. Each one is easy to use, painless to create, and fun for everyone.

Works Cited

Flippity. “Quizshow.” 2014. http://flippity.net/QuizShow.asp. (Accessed November 9, 2015).

Flipquiz. “Features.” http://flipquiz.me/features (Accessed November 10, 2015).

Jeopardy Rocks. “Faq.” 2015. https://www.jeopardy.rocks/faq (Accessed November 11, 2015).