exam review games
Okay, so I’ve been trying to spice up my review sessions, and I stumbled upon this whole “exam review games” thing. I decided to give it a shot and, well, here’s how it went down.
First Steps: Picking a Game
I started by just brainstorming. What games do my students actually like? What could I adapt to fit my subject matter (which is history, by the way)? I didn’t want anything too complicated, something easy to grasp.
- Jeopardy! was the obvious first thought. Everyone knows it, and it’s easily adaptable to pretty much any topic.
- Quizlet Live. It is a good option.
- Kahoot! The fast-paced quizzes are great for keeping them on their toes.
The Prep Work
I picked Jeopardy because everyone * came the real work – actually creating the game. I spent a good chunk of time coming up with questions and answers, trying to cover the key concepts we’d been studying.
Game Day!
I have to make the roles clear for everyone.
When the review session rolled around, I split the class into teams. They got really into it, especially when it came to choosing categories and wagering points. There was a lot of shouting, some good-natured arguing, and a whole lot of laughter.
Did It Actually Work?
Honestly? Yeah, it did. Were they suddenly all history experts? No. But they were engaged, they were actively recalling information, and they were having fun. That’s a win in my book. They remembered way more than they would have if I’d just lectured at them for another hour.
My Takeaways
- Keep it simple. Don’t overcomplicate the rules or the questions.
- Embrace the chaos. It’s going to be noisy, and that’s okay!
- Mix it up. I’m definitely going to try other game formats in the future. Maybe some Pictionary with historical figures? We’ll see.
So, that’s my little experiment with exam review games. It’s not a magic bullet, but it’s a heck of a lot more fun than staring at a textbook.
