Enhancing game-based learning to enrich, optimize, and advance student education across all faculties

The Universidad de Atacama (UDA) in northern Chile is an academic institution that offers diverse programs to thousands of students annually. Today, the university uses Kahoot! EDU as part of their innovative approach to facilitate learning for over 7,000 students. 

The UDA educational model emphasizes quality, inclusion, and regional development. It focuses on comprehensive education to promote academic, personal, cultural, and ethical growth, while fostering leadership and social responsibility. The model utilizes innovative methodologies and projects to address local challenges with a global perspective.

Within this framework, the Center for Curricular Harmonization and Teaching Development at UDA is vital in curriculum design and improving teaching practices. It promotes active methodologies across all faculties and the Vallenar campus, enhancing teaching in line with the educational model and supporting the University of Atacama’s mission for relevant education that benefits the Atacama region. 

The initial challenge: student engagement during afternoon lectures

Afternoon lectures often pose a challenge for educators and students alike. At Universidad de Atacama in Chile, the struggle to keep students engaged during these sessions was recurring. Recognizing the need for an innovative approach, the university turned to Kahoot! EDU to transform their classrooms into dynamic, interactive learning spaces.

Pedro was one of the first professors at UDA to use Kahoot!  for his lectures. As the use of Kahoot! in Pedro’s class increased in popularity, other professors across UDA were curious and wanted to try it out. Shortly after, Pedro met with Fernando Herrera Gallardo, the Vice President of UDA, which led to a significant rollout and implementation of Kahoot! EDU for professors at the university. In less than six months, over 40 professors at UDA across faculties have already been using Kahoot!, benefiting the learning of more than 7,000 students at the university. 

Nursing faculty students are enhancing their discussion and critical thinking skills through the use of Kahoot! in classroom lectures

The nursing faculty at UDA introduced Kahoot! to promote reflection, collaboration, discussion, and teamwork in the classroom. Professor and VP at UDA Fernando Herrera Gallardo explained that using Kahoot! has not only enhanced his students’ learning and understanding of course content but has also encouraged them to reflect deeply on their commitment to public health and the role of nursing in caring for the population in Chile.

Fernando uses Kahoot! as a formal tool in the subject he teaches. He first introduces a topic for his students and organizes his students into different teams. Then he plays a kahoot for his class to find a winner. The winning teams and team members can earn one extra point, which can raise their grade by a full letter in their final exams. 

After each Kahoot! game played in class, Fernando also uses the live report features on the Kahoot! platform to assess his students’ learning and identify gaps in their understanding. This allows him to quickly grasp his students’ challenges and reinforce their learning on the spot.

Mining and engineering faculty professor uses Kahoot!’s AI to enhance lecture preparation and boost student engagement in afternoon classes

Professor Nelson Díaz at UDA continuously innovates his engineering instruction by incorporating Kahoot!’s AI into his lectures. Before each class, he provides his students with PDFs and papers to read, as they will be tested on this material in the following lesson. In addition, professor Nelson bases his exams on the kahoots he presents in class so that students know the concepts and knowledge they need to reinforce ahead of the final exams.

Professor Nelson considers Kahoot! a recharge of energy for his students. Often, his students belong to the afternoon classes. To energize them, he uses the different game modes in Kahoot! such as Robot Run, The Lost Pyramid, and Tallest Tower. These game modes not only energize his classroom, but he has discovered that they can also be helpful for the development of skills they can use at their workplace. 

A culture of game-based learning experiences at UDA

UDA’S integration of Kahoot! EDU is transforming traditional teaching methods, ushering in a new interactive and engaging learning era. By leveraging Kahoot!’s game-based learning experiences, tools, and AI-driven features, professors across multiple faculties have been able to successfully increase student engagement in the classroom, and find new ways to motivate students. Most importantly, they have experienced learning sticks and students developing skills beyond learning that are future-ready. 

UDA is setting a benchmark for how digital solutions can address the challenges of modern education across Latin America. This successful adoption of Kahoot! EDU highlights the power of technology to revolutionize learning and underscores UDA’s commitment to preparing its students for a dynamic and interconnected world. 

Pedro and the Atacama University team are working on a new plan to onboard more teachers into Kahoot! across the campus and the Atacama region overall. They aim to do this through consistent communication, organizing webinars and events, and customer support sessions hosted by Kahoot! experts. 

Interested in implementing Kahoot! EDU licensing across your faculty, or want to know more about individual licensing with Kahoot!+ for educators? Do you have a Kahoot! success story you’d like to share with us?  Please contact us at press@kahoot.com or on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok,  or X.