With a new year and new academic term fast approaching, many educators and educational institutions are reevaluating their routines and looking ahead to a fresh start. One of the key areas many are addressing is their EdTech ecosystem, with the goal of raising the bar and focusing on evidence-based learning technology. As a solution born out of research at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Kahoot! has always been based on powerful pedagogy and thoughtful learning design. But what does independent research now—over a decade later—show about Kahoot!’s impact on learning?
Elevating student learning outcomes, engagement, and more
In the latest issue of Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, a new meta-analysis titled, “Kahoot! Game‐based digital learning platform: A comprehensive meta‐analysis” explored Kahoot!’s effect on education as a digital learning platform. The meta-analysis—conducted by Osman Özdemir, PhD, of Selçuk University in Turkey—included 43 studies, with 1,706 students in experimental groups and 1,647 students in control groups. Through analyzing this research, Kahoot! was found to enhance students’ learning outcomes, attitudes, and motivation. The positive effects of Kahoot! on academic achievement (effect size 0.772) reaffirm the results of our previous meta-analysis (effect size 0.72), which revealed that using Kahoot! on average raises academic performance on a typical test by a full letter grade.
Furthermore, the meta-analysis concluded that Kahoot! shows, “a very large positive effect on knowledge retention, with an average effect size of 1.492, suggesting that students using Kahoot[!] tend to have significantly higher knowledge retention compared with those who do not.” This improvement of knowledge retention by using Kahoot! may underscore the importance of sparking engagement in learning, as well as the effectiveness of retrieval practice as a learning strategy.
The meta-analysis also found that use of Kahoot! led to a moderate reduction in students’ anxiety. This follows earlier research—including a recent study from Jordan and a literature review—revealing that Kahoot! can benefit learners’ academic performance as well as mental health. As student mental health becomes a greater priority in schools and higher education institutions, having digital solutions that support both well-being and effective learning will be key.
Delivering evidence-based learning solutions worldwide
The research studies included in this latest meta-analysis come from 16 different countries around the world, throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North and South America. This not only shows Kahoot! as a globally loved learning solution, with over 8 million educators using the platform; it also speaks to the universal power of interactive and engaging learning, across contexts, cultures, and geographies. And with Kahoot! now localized in 20 languages, educators and learners all over the world can make learning awesome on Kahoot!, whether at school, work, home, or beyond!
Get started boosting student learning outcomes in your classroom with Kahoot!+, or sign up for Kahoot! EDU to connect your entire school, school district, or campus with Kahoot!’s evidence-based learning solutions.
