Engaging Students with Factile: The Ultimate Jeopardy Game Maker

Over the years, I have noticed a decrease in student engagement in my classroom, especially in the fall and spring. Sometimes, disruptions in the learning environment occur because of school activities or testing. Finding ways to authentically and meaningfully engage students can sometimes be a challenge, especially at these and other times during the school year. For educators, finding a nice blend of traditional teaching methods with interactive technology can help foster an engaging and supportive learning environment for all students.

A few months ago, I learned about Factile, the ultimate online Jeopardy game maker! As a huge fan of Jeopardy, years ago, I designed activities for my students in the Jeopardy-style. However, it took way more time than it does now!

Factile helps teachers review different topics, assess students, and reinforce learning, and it is all done in far less time. It provides a fun, interactive way to review the material, improve content retention, and save teachers valuable time. One of the most common challenges that I hear from educators and also experience myself is finding the time to dive in! Factile makes it easy for educators to get started right away. I think it is a must-have tool for educators because it benefits student engagement and helps with retention of the content. And because of how quickly we can create, it boosts teacher efficiency.

The Power of Engagement Through Gamification

Gamification, the practice of applying game-like elements to non-game environments, has been shown to increase student motivation, participation, and content retention. Getting started with Factile was easy and fun! Educators can create and tailor the classic Jeopardy game for their classroom, making learning feel like a fun, competitive challenge between students!

I find Factile to be very useful for reviewing new material, reinforcing key concepts we are covering, or preparing students for upcoming assessments. It definitely adds excitement to the learning experience for students and teachers too! Students in my class always enjoy friendly competition as they race against the clock or buzz in to answer a question. It engages them in more active learning to reinforce their knowledge and deepen their understanding of the content.

It offers more than just Jeopardy-style games. Other options, including Multiple Choice, Memory, and Quiz Bowl game modes, offer more choices for educators in how they choose to design their review sessions. For example, a science teacher could use the Memory mode to help students memorize important terms and definitions, while a history teacher might use the Multiple Choice mode to quiz students on dates and events. As a language and technology teacher, I can use all of these modes in my classroom, and my students truly enjoy the activities and keep asking for more.

Benefits for Students: Engagement and Content Retention

The first time we played a game, students were immediately drawn in. The interactive nature of the platform boosts student engagement levels and leads to more active participation in the classroom. When students are excited about learning, they are more likely to stay involved, leading to better retention of the reviewed content.

Another benefit is that the variety of game modes meets different student interests and needs. For example:

• Seeing questions displayed on the game board, with the option to include images, videos, and even math equations, is helpful for all students.
• The game’s buzzer mode, with sound effects and music, enhances the game-playing experience and adds a little extra fun to learning.
• Buzzing and answering make more active learning possible. This gives students a chance to be a bit competitive while reinforcing their learning through movement and interaction.

You can decide whether or not to use Buzzer Mode. I will leave that up to you! Buzzer Mode allows students to compete in real-time, either individually or in teams. This feature works on various devices, from computers and tablets to smartphones. As students buzz in to answer, they become more invested in the outcome, deepening their focus on the material being reviewed.

Benefits for Teachers

While the benefits for students are clear, teachers also experience significant advantages from using Factile in their classrooms. One of the biggest benefits is time-saving. Creating a Jeopardy-style review game used to be time-consuming, but Factile makes it easy. In just a few clicks, teachers can build engaging review sessions without the need for complicated design tools or extensive prep work.

Teachers can either build their games from scratch or choose from over 2 million pre-made games covering a variety of subjects, from math and science to history and language arts. This vast library of pre-made games helps teachers find relevant content quickly and use it immediately. Teachers also have the option to customize the pre-made games, adapting them to their specific classroom needs and content.

A favorite of mine is the Question Bank feature, which enables teachers to create a bank of questions from which they can generate multiple games on different topics. Using the question bank ensures that students are asked a wide range of questions, which will improve both their recall and their ability to apply the knowledge in different contexts. Another personal favorite is the addition of AutoGen, Factile’s AI-powered tool, which further enhances this process by helping teachers quickly generate questions and answers on any topic, saving valuable time.

Factile also integrates seamlessly with platforms like Google Classroom, making it easy for teachers to assign games and flashcards directly to their students. This feature streamlines the learning process by allowing teachers to monitor student progress and assess understanding outside of the traditional classroom setting.

Tracking Student Progress and Understanding

Factile also helps teachers to track student progress. With the Leaderboard and Analytics feature, teachers can monitor how individual students or teams perform throughout the game. Teachers have real-time feedback on how students understand the material, allowing them to identify areas where additional support or review might be needed.

For example, if a group of students consistently struggles with a particular category or question type, the teacher can use this information to adjust future lessons, ensuring that the entire class is mastering the required content. With Factile, teachers can print quizzes and answer keys directly from the game, which offers more opportunities for assessment and reinforcement of the content.

Factile’s self-paced modes are also valuable for both students and teachers. In Self-Paced Multiple-choice or Interactive Choice modes, students can work through the material independently, outside of class, allowing teachers to assess understanding without needing in-class game time. This asynchronous option gives students flexibility in how they review the material, and the analytics provided by Factile offer insights into individual student progress.

Sharing games and flashcards via email or text further enhances students’ opportunities to build their skills in and out of the classroom. Teachers can easily distribute review materials and ensure all students can access the necessary resources to succeed.

At a time when student engagement and interactive learning are more important than ever, Factile offers a solution that combines the best of both worlds. With its wide array of features and customizable game modes, Factile allows teachers to create engaging and effective review sessions while saving time and improving student outcomes.

Whether you’re looking to boost classroom engagement, improve content retention, or save time on lesson planning, Factile has you covered. It’s free to use, easy to implement, and a game-changer for teachers and students alike. And it is a lot of fun!

So, if you’re ready to try something new, sign up for Factile today and see the impact it can have on your classroom!

Start creating and playing your first Factile game here: https://www.playfactile.com

Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth is a Spanish and STEAM: What’s Next in Emerging Technology Teacher at Riverview High School in Oakmont, PA. Rachelle is also an attorney with a Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law and a Master’s in Instructional Technology. Rachelle received her Doctorate in Instructional Technology, and her research focus was on AI and Professional Development. In addition to teaching, she is a full-time consultant and works with companies and organizations to provide PD, speaking, and consulting services. Contact Rachelle for your event!

Rachelle is an ISTE-certified educator and community leader who served as president of the ISTE Teacher Education Network. By EdTech Digest, she was named the EdTech Trendsetter of 2024, one of 30 K-12 IT Influencers to follow in 2021, and one of 150 Women Global EdTech Thought Leaders in 2022.

She is the author of nine books including ‘In Other Words: Quotes That Push Our Thinking,” “ Unconventional Ways to Thrive in EDU,” “The Future is Now: Looking Back to Move Ahead,” “Chart A New Course: A Guide to Teaching Essential Skills for Tomorrow’s World, “ True Story: Lessons That One Kid Taught Us,” “Things I Wish […] Knew” and her newest “How To Teach AI” is available from ISTE or on Amazon.

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Originally published at http://rdene915.com on January 28, 2025.