Baamboozle - In the Classroom or Virtual Retrieval Practice

Baamboozle is a free game platform that can be used in-person or in a synchronous learning session. Baamboozle has a built-in library of thousands of games ready to play in all subjects. Also, the easy game creation tool in Baamboozle allows you to make and customize games in no time. Don't see a game that meets your needs, let students create games from the learning they have been engaged in. Allowing students the opportunity to author the games for your classes to play allows for students to share and reinforce their own learning. Students are placed on teams (options range from 2-4 teams in the free version) and compete against each other.  Baamboozle is an excellent way to get kids speaking as answers are given verbally and points awarded to the team.  There are three different modes that games can be played in. 

• Quiz Mode is straight forward question and answer and points are awarded.
• Classic Mode with power-ups
• Classic Jr Mode with simple scoring

You might be wondering what "Power-Ups" are. They are a twist that keep teams on their toes.  Power-Ups pop-up as a separate box when a question is selected. They add an additional layer of fun to the game. Power-ups allow teams to earn extra points, lose points, or other game-changers.

While Baamboozle can be integrated into any content area or grade level, the listening and speaking aspect of the game platform makes it a solid resource to use with English Language Learners. 

I found a nice tutorial created by @MattBergman14.  It walks you through creating and running a game session. Watch it below. ​

Give Baamboozle a try and change things up.  Remember how important retrieval practice is in learning, Baamboozle is a great tool to not only formatively assess where students are but also sprial content back into your learning sessions.  If you try it, let me know how it goes.