In response to the need to help connect in-person students with their remote classmates, teachers and students have enjoyed using Kahoot and the breakout rooms feature of Zoom.
Eighth-grader Julie Werner is learning remotely this year, while eighth-grader Supriya Chatterjee did remote learning for the first two weeks of school and is now attending in-person. Julia said the number of fellow online students fluctuates. “The number of students who are in my class varies from day to day,” she said. “In some classes, it can go from it being just me to three or four other people online with me.”
Supriya said there are a lot of differences between in-person and virtual learning but pointed to relationships with teachers as the biggest one. “I would say the biggest difference with remote and in-person learning is that being in-person is a lot easier to meet with teachers and figure out what you’re doing, and I feel it is easier to learn in school,” she said.
Enter breakout rooms and Kahoot. “Breakout rooms and Kahoot I think are the best way for online learning,” Supriya said, “because in breakout rooms you can talk in smaller groups instead of having one big class where no one really speaks that much.” She went on to say that Kahoots are a fun way to test yourself on information but also play a game.
Eighth-grade advisor and Latin teacher Samantha Cassidy also had good things to say about the two online platforms. “My students and I enjoy Kahoot as a fun and interactive way to review material,” she said. “Breakout rooms on Zoom have been great for pairing online students with their peers who are in-person. It allows for easier collaboration and communication.”
For both in-person and remote learners, students and teachers, Kahoot and Zoom breakout rooms seem to have saved the school day.
