Today's tech snack can be found at the following url: https://www.blendedplay.com/
What is it and how can I use it with my students?
Blended play is a website that allows you to create fun, strategic review games for your students. Unlike other online review games that are made to be used on any Internet enabled device ( like Kahoot, Quizziz, etc), the games on Blended Play are designed to be shown on an lcd projector and shared as a whole class activity. It is similar in idea to the jeopardy games educators play with their students to review. ( Content is shown on board, students provide answers in teams.) What makes Blended Play unique is that it offers five different games for you to pick from. Each game is unique in its design and provides a different way to review information.
To begin using Blended Play, you must sign up for a free account. A free account only requires an active email account and password. Once you create an account, you can create your game questions by clicking on the “Add New” button. When you click on the “Add New” button, you type in the questions and the answers you want. ( You have to enter at least ten questions) Then you click submit to save the questions. You then pick one of the five game choices available and select load a game to load your quiz questions to that game. So you could use the exact same quiz questions for all five game options.( Great for changing it up and reaching different audiences as everyone has access to the same content.)
Disclaimer: It is important to realize that this tool is designed to be used with an lcd projector and shared with a whole class or group. As such, games cannot be shared via url and you must enter your username and password to access the games. Games created and shared with the community can be copied to your account for individual tweaking.
This is a fairly new tool and therefore needs some work for accessibility. This is an international product and as such does not have to have a VPAT( Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) filled out nor does it have to have an accessibility disclaimer on its site.
In terms of site navigation, the site can be navigated using a mouse, stylus or finger. You can enter the site using just your keyboard and can also enter your questions using just your keyboard. Playing the actual games does not work with just keyboard control-that requires using a mouse, stylus or finger. This tool can be used on any Internet enabled device without install. Quiz questions can be printed out for students who need printed copies of work.
There is no audio or captioning component, font styles are fixed as well as the color on the screen though there is good color contrast.
For a more detailed description of the accessibility features, check out how this tool fared on the scorecard.
Classroom implications
This is an excellent tool that you can use to review and reinforce classroom content. You can also have groups of students create a quiz to share with the class or with other groups. They would then take turns coming up to the LCD projector and sharing their games. It would be alot more engaging then the plain old paper study guides we are more familiar with.
Delicious, easy, free and fun! Happy Snacking!