Gamification in the classroom: beyond Kahoot!

I recently tested the app CrowdParty , which aims to be a gamification alternative to Kahoot! , a true edtech giant. CrowdParty's proposal is to help break the ice between participants in virtual and face-to-face meetings, through electronic games that invite socializing (in the world of work) and learning (in the academic environment).

These characteristics define the market for tools for interacting with the public. This assumes that you already have a presentation in progress, as tools like CrowdParty are just an accessory to communication . It is very important to highlight this feature, as it follows that the remote user will need two screens or even two devices to interact, one to follow the meeting and the other to play properly.

The classic games of this type of tool are trivia and riddles. But CrowdParty already has some variations of these games, whose content can be customized. In fact, despite having some advanced settings, The platform is still in the early stages of development , not having some basic tools, such as interface translation. That's why any direct comparison with Kahoot! it would be unfair.

In terms of price, CrowdParty is free for up to 10 players, which is compatible with other free plans on the market. Plans for 50 players start at USD 20/month, which I consider a high value:

CrowdParty is not the only alternative to Kahoot!, and there are several apps on the market that intend to exploit opportunities left by the segment leader. Or AhaSlides , for example, has a free plan with different types of questions, in addition to offering a slide tool focused on teachers. The price is competitive, costing USD 5/month for up to 50 players.

If you need a free solution for up to 25 people, the Poll Everywhere seems to be the only option. It is an option with a more sober look than the others. The GimKit , despite being a small company, focuses on corporate plans for schools, starting at USD 1,000/year/school. Still within the educational market, with the difference of being more oriented to the activity of applying tests and being more sober, there is the ClassMaker .

There is also the Quizizz , which is perhaps the most direct competitor to Kahoot!, given its huge library of templates. Despite this large collection, the types of questions available are limited. Its price is USD 19/month for the 100-player plan. Or Slido , in turn, is an option focused on the corporate market , much more than in education. It has the great advantage of a free plan with up to 100 players, but limited to three polls:

In conclusion, there are several alternatives when it comes to engaging your audience in person or virtually. Some are more corporate solutions and others are more educational, although generally the apps cater to both.

If you're looking for a free plan, the choice will depend on the size of your audience . Although it has limitations, Slido is the only one that allows up to 100 participants. Next, Poll Everywhere is also the only one to allow 25 participants in the free plan. The other apps offer free plans only for small groups, which for me would be insufficient.