Quizlet- Check Out This Tech Tool
This week, we were asked to review a tech tool for our class #eci834. I chose to review an assessment tool called Quizlet. I have not used Quizlet with my students yet, but I have often heard my own children mention that they use Quizlet for studying purposes. If I see the benefits of this tool I would like to use it as an assessment tool in my final project.
What is Quizlet?
Quizlet is a study tool based mostly on flash card and quiz-style recall of facts. Students can create study sets and then test themselves. They can also browse a database of study sets created by other students, teachers, and corporate partners. Study sets include both text-based and visual study materials. The range of topics covered on Quizlet is pretty comprehensive. For each study set, Quizlet offers up several study activities, including matching and fill-in-the-blank games and timed quizzes. Adaptive learning technology, called the Learning Assistant, helps students study more effectively by creating a personalized study path to improve content mastery.
Students can browse for study materials from other users. Many teachers make and share custom study sets just for their classes. Creators such as curriculum publishers and educational institutions also offer content on Quizlet, but often charge for this content. A great features for teachers, is Quizlet Live, a team-based quiz competition that turns study sets into a collaborative classroom quiz game. A Quizlet Teacher subscription offers student progress tracking and a variety of customization tools. For students, a subscription gets them access as well to Quizlet’s Explanations library, where they can explore verified solutions to exercises in popular science, math, and language textbooks.
How Can Quizlet be Used in Classrooms?
If students need to memorize facts, Quizlet is a cool tool that removes some of the grind while adding some handy features. Teachers can ask students to use Quizlet on their own time as homework or to create their own custom flash card sets. They might also help students create flash card decks to share with the class.
Unlike traditional flash cards, Quizlet could be a great study tool for subjects with a lot of visual or auditory content. Teachers can create diagrams or add photos to data sets using their own images or some from Quizlet’s large pool of licensed Flickr photography. It is also super easy to attach a voice recording to a term or definition. I can see this feature being useful in a language classroom. For students needing instructional support, Quizlet Explanations are step-by-step tutorials pulled from textbooks that teach specific math and science concepts.
Quizlet Live is a great way to introduce new content. It requires students to collaborate with their teams to select the right answer, students can pool their collective knowledge to deduce the answers, or you can encourage them to do research as they play the game. As your students learn new information, push them to move toward higher-order thinking, using what they have learned from the flash cards to apply, analyze, question, and create.
Click on the picture above to check out this Psychology 30 Quizlet
Review
Quizlet seems easy to use and offers features that will work in classrooms and/or independent study. You can create flash cards quickly with suggested definitions and image files. As with real flash cards that you make or borrow from a friend, the quality can vary, but public content is pretty good. Students don’t need accounts to use Quizlet, but they can sign in with email or a Google account for a more complete experience. Quizlet also works on almost all devices, and it offers a variety of supports for English language learners (ELLs) and students with learning differences. For instance, you can click on a word or definition to hear it read aloud or attach voice recordings to flash cards (with a paid upgrade). Learners can also add images to definition cards or create custom diagrams with the paid upgrade.
Quizlet would be best suited for students in grades 6-12 or post-secondary students due to the independence needed to create accounts and to manage log in codes. If students use Quizlet, they will likely stay engaged for longer than with traditional flash cards. Users may enjoy competing for high scores in the timed study games against classmates in Quizlet Live. Quizlet is for memorization, so its impact as a transformative learning tool is likely limited. If you use Quizlet’s many features thoughtfully, this is a worthy, flexible site to add to your teacher tool belt, and one students might find themselves connecting with as a study tool.
The biggest complaint in the reviews I read was that Quizlet has recently started charging for some features that used to be free. Some users that used to give this tool a 5 star review, now give it poor reviews. They are frustrated that corporate is using student generated materials and charging for them.
PROS
- Easy to use
- Can make, share, and find study sets from other users
- Excellent support for languages; great for language studies
- Plenty of variety in study modes
CONS
- Price for Plus membership has increased considerably
- Many technological features restricted to Plus members
- Suitable only for rote memorization
About The Author
Hey Bev,
I tried Quizlet with my class last year during online learning. They gave mixed reviews. My EAL students or students that needed extra support seemed to like it better. They liked the audio features best. My students that excelled did not care for and found burdensome. These students already had a great set of study skills and did not want to move away form it. Thanks for the review.
I have also used Quizlet in the past and like Brianne it came with mixed reviews. I also found it frustrating that a lot of the other features are only available to the membership side. Not every student will benefit from the memorization tool. One website I have used is Blooket. My class loves it. Similar to Kahoot, you can play the timed version or a gaming version (which is a class favorite). As a class collective you have to gain so many points to end the game. As the teacher you can moderate the point value. We have used it for fun and for review. Like kahoot you can search the data bank for already made blookets or you can make your own!
Hi! Thanks for the review of Quizlet! This is something that I haven’t really heard about, but I would like to learn some more about. It might be something fun you could use as a quick review during a lesson to review some of the key concepts taught. I could also see how this would be useful for anyboody who has to write exams.
Sarah
My high school science students love it the most for the flash cards. I would like to try more aspects of the APP I think the game could also be a fun collaborative tool in class.
Hey Bev – awesome review! I also looked at Quizlet and found much of the same things as you. One pro that I came across while reading about Quizlet, was its ability to be used as a differntiation tool for the various abilities and levels that we see in our classrooms! It has many modes that students can use and select the best one that suits their learning style. Teachers also have the ability to customize study sets for different student(s).
Bret
Great post Bev! I have used Quizizz and Kahoot before… both have great strengths, but I think Quizizz is better… however that site has also increased the cost! I hear Kahoot has put larger restrictions on features available as well. This is why I like the Ed Tech classes with Alec and Katia. They focus on the benefits of open education spaces and common licenses, rather than the cash grab that we see in some of these educational tools. Hard for teachers to stay up to date with tech when the companies charge us through the roof! Thanks for a thoughtful post!
Hi Bev, I have never used quizlet in the classroom or anywhere for that matter. Can you see yourself using this tool for staff meetings?