Blooket
Blooket was created by Tom Stewart and Ben Stewart, two educators driven by a desire to make learning more engaging and interactive for students. Tom Stewart, who has a background in education and game design, saw a significant gap in the market for educational tools that both educate and entertain. Together with his brother Ben, they launched Blooket in 2018. Since its inception, Blooket has grown rapidly, amassing over 10 million users worldwide. The platform has received numerous accolades for its innovative approach to education, including recognition at the EdTech Awards.
Differentiation
What sets Blooket apart from other educational platforms is its unique combination of learning and gaming. Unlike traditional quiz-based learning tools, Blooket incorporates various game modes that transform standard review sessions into exciting competitions. This gamified approach not only captures students' attention but also enhances retention and understanding by providing instant feedback and rewards.
How to Get Started
Getting started with Blooket is straightforward. Parents or educators can sign up for a free account on the Blooket website. After creating an account, you can either create your own question sets or choose from the extensive library of existing sets. Blooket also offers a Blooket Plus subscription for additional features, including detailed reports and unlimited question set creation.
How It Works
Using Blooket as a homeschooling program involves several steps:
Account Creation: Sign up for a free account on the Blooket website.
Select or Create Question Sets: Choose from a library of pre-made question sets or create custom sets tailored to your child's learning needs.
Choose a Game Mode: Select from a variety of game modes, each designed to make learning fun and interactive.
Host a Game: Use the platform to host a live game where students can join using a unique code.
Monitor Progress: Track your child's progress through the game's built-in analytics.
For homeschooling, it is recommended to use Blooket for short, daily review sessions, approximately 20-30 minutes per day. This can be increased to two or three sessions per week depending on the subject and the child’s engagement level. The platform is flexible, supporting both independent learning and parent-led instruction.
Educational Concepts Covered
Blooket covers a wide range of educational concepts, including but not limited to:
Mathematics (basic arithmetic, algebra, geometry)
Science (biology, chemistry, physics)
History (world history, US history)
Language Arts (grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension)
Geography (maps, capitals, countries)
General Knowledge (trivia, current events)
What Users Love
Users rave about Blooket’s ability to turn mundane review sessions into exciting and competitive games. The platform’s variety of game modes keeps learning fresh and engaging, preventing boredom. Many parents and educators appreciate the ease of use and the vast library of question sets available. The instant feedback and rewards system is particularly praised for motivating students to improve their performance.
What Could Be Improved
Despite its many strengths, Blooket is not without its flaws. Some users have noted that the platform can sometimes be glitchy, with occasional issues in game performance. Additionally, while the free version is robust, some users feel that the premium subscription is necessary to fully unlock the platform's potential, which may not be feasible for all homeschooling budgets. There is also feedback suggesting that while the game modes are diverse, they can sometimes distract from learning if not monitored properly.
Advice from Parents
Parents who have successfully integrated Blooket into their homeschooling routine suggest starting with shorter sessions to gauge interest and gradually increasing the duration as needed. It is also recommended to mix Blooket sessions with other hands-on learning activities to provide a well-rounded educational experience. Regularly rotating the types of games played can help maintain enthusiasm and prevent burnout. Monitoring progress and discussing game outcomes with children can reinforce learning objectives and address any areas of difficulty.
Overall Educational Value Score: 62
Blooket scores a solid 62 overall, reflecting its strengths in engagement, uniqueness, and value for money, while acknowledging areas for improvement in accommodating special needs and managing potentially addictive components. Homeschooling parents generally find it a valuable addition to their educational toolkit, especially for making learning more interactive and fun.
Positive Score Breakdown
Uniqueness (8/10): Blooket stands out for its unique combination of gamification and education. Its diverse game modes and interactive nature provide a refreshing alternative to traditional learning tools.
Engagement (9/10): Parents and children alike find Blooket highly enjoyable. The platform's competitive games and instant feedback mechanisms keep children engaged and motivated to learn.
Accuracy (8/10): The educational content on Blooket is generally accurate and reliable, though a few parents noted minor factual errors in some user-generated content.
User-Friendliness (7/10): While most users find Blooket easy to navigate, there are occasional bugs and technical glitches that can disrupt the learning experience.
Pedagogy (8/10): Blooket effectively caters to different developmental stages, using game-based learning to teach and reinforce concepts. The platform's approach is well-aligned with educational best practices.
Homeschooling (9/10): Homeschooling parents appreciate Blooket's adaptability and how it enhances their teaching efforts. The platform is particularly praised for its ability to make learning fun and interactive at home.
Learning Focus (7/10): Blooket emphasizes quality learning experiences over rote memorization or test preparation, though some parents feel it could further develop its focus on deep learning.
Personalization (8/10): The platform allows for customization of content, enabling parents to tailor learning experiences to their child's needs and interests.
Special Needs (6/10): Blooket accommodates children with special needs to some extent, but parents noted that it could offer more features to support diverse learners, particularly those with autism and ADHD.
Value (9/10): Blooket offers excellent value for its price, especially with the free basic account. The Blooket Plus subscription is also considered affordable given the additional features it provides.
Total Positive Score: 79/100
Negative Score Breakdown
Boredom (2/10): Most children find Blooket highly engaging, but a few parents noted that the novelty can wear off, leading to occasional boredom.
Addictive Components (5/10): Some parents are concerned about the platform's addictive nature, noting that children may spend excessive time on it, which can be challenging to manage.
Violence (0/10): There is no violent content on Blooket, making it a safe choice for young children.
Unhealthy Competition (3/10): While competition is a part of Blooket's appeal, some parents feel it can lead to unhealthy competition and stress among children.
Excessive Prioritization of School Standards (7/10): Blooket sometimes focuses more on gamified achievements rather than promoting deep, meaningful learning, which can detract from its educational value.
Total Negative Score: 17/50
Ideal Fit
Blooket is an ideal fit for homeschooling families with children in grades K-12 who thrive on interactive and game-based learning. It is particularly well-suited for students who need extra motivation to engage with educational content. The platform's versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of subjects, making it a valuable tool for parents looking to supplement traditional teaching methods.
Not a Fit For
Blooket may not be the best fit for families seeking a comprehensive, structured curriculum, as it is primarily a supplemental tool designed for review and reinforcement. Additionally, families with limited internet access or those who prefer offline learning resources might find it challenging to use Blooket effectively. It also may not suit children who are easily distracted by games or who do not enjoy competitive activities.
Grades
Blooket is designed for students in grades K-12, with content that can be adjusted to suit different age groups and learning levels.
Cost
Blooket offers a free basic account with access to most features. The Blooket Plus subscription costs $2.99 per month, providing additional features such as detailed progress reports, enhanced game modes, and unlimited question set creation.
Ways to Get It
Blooket can be accessed by visiting the Blooket website and signing up for an account. The platform is web-based, so there is no need to download any software, making it easily accessible from any device with internet access.
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