Quizlet Live is the latest feature on the Quizlet suite.  This is in addition to current learning activities which include: flashcards, test, learn, spell, as well as two games: gravity and match. In May of 2015 I posted about the attributes of Quizlet from a teacher-developer’s perspective. More recently, I have been working with teachers and students to ensure that Quizlet Live is primarily a game by identifying potential technical issues that can spoil the experience.  As the game relies heavily on mobile devices and Wi-Fi internet connection, this was a bit of a challenge.  However, we have found that with some experimenting and patience we have created a Teacher’s quick start sheet for you to use if you choose to try Quizlet Live with your students.  Feel free to download the quick start sheet from the link below. Here’s why Quizlet is a great tool for your classroom.

Fun Factor

Games, while competitive, can add a fun factor to language lessons.   I’ve run more than a dozen Quizlet Live sessions with instructors and students.  I can verify that the room livens up and students become active and attentive.  Quizlet Live should be used as a review activity.  It provides a capstone activity variation for vocabulary lessons that include other Quizlet learning events.  As Quizlet offers the inclusion of audio and images, student engagement generally increases.  Gamification in controlled and well-timed doses can increase motivation in the classroom.  Achieving this balance requires practice and experience, but it’s well worth it when it succeeds.

Quizlet or Kahoot?

Another tool, Kahoot, is often confused with Quizlet Live. They both offer gamification with a primary screen which the teacher controls.  Quizlet is primarily a vocabulary acquisition support, while Kahoot can be used as a ‘Swiss Army knife’ for many aspects of language learning.  After experiencing both tools, Quizlet Live performs seamlessly once the students have worked with the other Quizlet features.  We use Kahoot for targeted learning including grammar, reading comprehension, sequencing, and more.

Overview of a Game

The instructor logs in to their account and locates the study set. A game code is generated and appears on the board or screen at the front of the class. The students navigate to Quizlet.com/live and enter the game code. They are added to a list and wait until all of the students appear on this list.  The teacher starts the game process and assigns students randomly to teams or creates custom teams.  Custom teams requires a subscribed account.

Once the teams are assigned, students move around the room so that they can see each other’s screens and communicate with each other. Once the teacher clicks the Start Game button students must react to the game prompt and agree on which student submits an answer on their device.  This is important as each student has different choices from their peers. Winning the game depends on students cooperating to select a perfect sequence of answers.  It is more difficult than you would think, but once they realize that communication and teamwork are the key to success, they become more focused and cooperative.

 Considerations when using Quizlet Live

If you have the time, technology and energy to try Quizlet Live, the lists below provide awareness of lessons that we learned while using Quizlet Live with our students.

Easy Stuff

1. Quizlet Live is free
2. Student accounts are not required to play
3. Games can be started by the teacher with any Quizlet study set
4. Study sets can include images
5. Study sets include audio
6. Students are placed into teams or can be assigned by a teacher
7. Team names are assigned by Quizlet (animals: Tigers, Parrots, …)
8. Communication/negotiation is essential for the teams to make choices
9. The game scores are projected from the teacher’s workstation
10. Students always request a second and third game (losing team usually)

Challenges

1. Six students are required to start a Quizlet Live game
2. Each student (or pair) requires a mobile device or workstation
3. In the absence of workstations, Wi-Fi is required to run a Quizlet Live game
4. Students are normally required to move around the room to form teams
5. It can get noisy!
6. If a device gets disconnected, the team score can quickly reset to zero
7. Notifications on a mobile phone can disrupt the game
8. A projector and a teacher workstation are required
9. A sense of humour is required
10. One wrong team answer resets the team score to zero

If you try Quizlet Live and have something to add, please comment below.

Resources

Allan, John. (May, 2015). Blog Post: CREATE LEARNING OBJECTS QUICKLY WITH QUIZLET.  http://blog.teslontario.org/create-learning-objects-quickly-with-quizlet

Sullivan, Nadeen. (October, 2015). Blog Post: USE KAHOOT! TO SPICE UP YOUR LESSONS, http://blog.teslontario.org/use-kahoot-to-spice-up-your-lessons

Quizlet Live Teacher Quick Start sheet http://www.slideshare.net/mrpottz/quizlet-live-teacher-instructions

John Allan @mrpottz

Hi—I'm John Allan. I am an educator who works in the technology enhanced language learning field. I create online learning opportunities and mentor instructors on the Avenue project. I have experience teaching ESL and EFL in Canada and the Middle East. I hold an MSC in Computer Assisted Language learning, a M.Ed. in Distance Education, TESL B. Ed., a B.Ed. (OCT), and a variety of TESL relevant certifications from TESL Canada, TESL Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Education. For more articles, learning objects, projects and blog links see https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnharoldallan