In L&D we are sometimes hesitant to create experiences that are fun. You’ll often hear me talk about how creating slide show Jeopardy is not the same thing as effective training. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t use tools like Kahoot with adults to make learning both effective and engaging.
What is Kahoot?
Kahoot! is a game-based platform that was getting traction in K-12 education even before the pandemic. After that, it was a valuable tool to help teachers keep students engaged while providing something educational and evaluating their progress.
💡 Pro-Tip: Kahoot! is incredible for high-energy sessions, but its bright, arcade-style aesthetic that was designed for K-12 can occasionally feel a bit too casual for adults. AhaSlides
offers many of Kahoot’s features with a sleeker, more professional “adult” look . It offers interactive quiz, polling, and leaderboard mechanics with a design interface explicitly built for modern business presentations and professional seminars.
Since 2016, I’ve been experimenting with Kahoot as a tool for adult learning. I’ve used it in everything from Train-the-Trainer sessions that I’ve conducted around the world, to our team meetings, and Endurance Learning to celebrate new team members with a quiz about their lives.
Why Do Trainers Hesitate to Use Kahoot! with Adults?
If you’ve been reluctant to use a tool like Kahoot! in a professional training session, you’re not alone. Many experienced L&D professionals have shared these concerns with me. The platform’s bright colors, playful music, and high-speed competitive format can feel like it’s designed for a high school classroom, not a corporate boardroom.
They’re not wrong! It was designed for K-12!
Common objections we hear include:
- It’s Perceived as ‘Childish’ or ‘Gimmicky’: The biggest hurdle is the look and feel. It’s easy to worry that using it will make the training feel less serious and undermine the credibility of the content (and the facilitator).
- The ‘Game Show’ Atmosphere is Distracting: The fast-paced music can be an energizer for some, but for others, it’s a source of anxiety or annoyance. It can feel unprofessional in a serious business setting.
- It Prioritizes Speed Over Thought: Because the scoring system rewards both accuracy and speed, many trainers worry it encourages guessing rather than thoughtful, critical reflection.
- It Only Tests Rote Memorization: A common (and fair) criticism is that Kahoot! is just a tool for simple trivia. How can it possibly be used to assess complex skills or nuanced scenarios?
- Technology and Logistics Hurdles: Relying on everyone’s personal phone or spotty conference Wi-Fi can feel like a recipe for disaster.
These are all valid concerns. A poorly designed game can derail a session. But when used intentionally, Kahoot! is a powerful tool that is grounded in solid learning science.
The Research: Why Game-Based Learning is So Effective
The hesitation is understandable, but the effectiveness of platforms like Kahoot! isn’t just a feeling; it’s grounded in decades of learning science. When used correctly, it’s not a “gimmick”—it’s a vehicle for proven pedagogical principles.
To learn more about how to incorporate gamification into your training sessions (using Kahoot! or AhaSlides) check out the amazing book by Karl Kapp, The Gamification of Learning and Development (on Amazon or Bookshop.org).
The research points to two primary reasons why this format works so well:
1. Kahoot! Can be a Powerful Formative Assessment Tool
In learning design, we talk about formative assessment: the process of checking for understanding during the learning process, not just at the end.
- For the Learner: Kahoot! provides immediate, non-punitive feedback. When a learner gets a question wrong, they find out instantly, rather than weeks later on a final exam. This instant feedback loop is critical for correcting misconceptions in real-time.
- For the Facilitator: It’s an invaluable data-gathering tool. A quick Kahoot! poll or quiz gives you a real-time “pulse check” on the room. If 80% of your audience gets a key question wrong, you know you need to stop and reteach that concept before moving on.
2. Kahoot! Reinforces Learning Through Active Recall
This is the most important pedagogical reason. Active recall (also called retrieval practice) is the process of actively retrieving information from your memory.
Research consistently shows that retrieval practice is far more effective for building long-term memory than passive review.
- Passive Review (Low Effort): Reading a slide, watching a video, or highlighting a handout.
- Active Recall (High Effort): Forcing your brain to pull an answer to a question.
A Kahoot! question forces learners to stop, think, and retrieve the information. This act of retrieval, combined with the immediate feedback, is what moves information from short-term to long-term memory.
A 2020 literature review by Wang & Tahir, which analyzed 93 studies on Kahoot!, confirmed its positive effects on learning performance, classroom dynamics, and student motivation.
5 Compelling Reasons to Use Kahoot! with Adult Learners
1. Kahoot! Fosters Healthy Competition and Motivation
For many adult learners, a little friendly competition can be a powerful motivator. Kahoot!’s scoring system is particularly effective because it rewards both accuracy and speed. This creates a dynamic where even if multiple participants answer correctly, the quickest thinker gets more points. This nuanced scoring keeps the energy high and encourages learners to stay focused and actively participate. The simple act of putting points on the board transformed a passive review into an active challenge.
“Contests among individuals in a team or company can be a good way to help employees key in on their core strengths.” – Engage for Success
2. Kahoot! Provides Much-Needed Variety and Novelty
Let’s face it, full-day or even multi-day training sessions can become monotonous. Breaking up lectures and traditional activities with something unexpected is crucial for maintaining learner engagement. Kahoot! is the perfect pattern interrupt.
Our latest edition of the Endurance Learning Activity Cookbook is full of activities that are both engaging and effective, including our 17×17 Lightning Talk.
Its colorful interface, upbeat (and optional!) music, and real-time leaderboard provide a completely different sensory experience from a slide presentation. By introducing this element of novelty, you can recapture attention and re-energize the room, especially during the post-lunch slump.
Novel games are proven to have an impact on mental agility. According to Reframe, “Mental agility is a cornerstone of a responsive and robust cognitive framework. As our surroundings become more dynamic and unpredictable, this ability to swiftly adjust, learn, and grow becomes even more paramount. By investing in our mental agility, we’re ensuring our brain is ready to face any challenge!”
3. The Format is Familiar and Highly Intuitive
While Kahoot! is a modern digital tool, its format feels instantly familiar. The multiple-choice question style, the countdown timer, and the race to the top of the leaderboard are reminiscent of popular TV game shows like “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”. This familiarity is a significant advantage when working with adult learners who may have varying levels of technological comfort. The user interface is simple: a question appears on the main screen, and participants use their phones or laptops to select the corresponding color and shape for their answer. In my experience testing the tool with diverse groups, even the most tech-averse participants get the hang of it after just one or two questions.
4. It’s Accessible Across All Devices
One of the logistical challenges in modern training is not knowing what devices your audience will have. Will they have company-issued laptops? Are they comfortable using their personal smartphones? With Kahoot!, it doesn’t matter. The platform works seamlessly on any device with an internet browser, from a phone to a tablet to a laptop. This flexibility removes a significant barrier to entry and ensures that everyone can participate. For a recent hybrid training, we had participants in the room on their phones and remote participants on their laptops, all competing in the same game without a single technical issue.
5. Kahoot! Reinforces Learning Through Active Recall
This is perhaps the most powerful pedagogical reason to use Kahoot! with adult learners. The platform is a fantastic tool for practicing active recall, which is the process of actively retrieving information from memory. This is a much more effective way to strengthen long-term memory than passive review (such as re-reading notes).
“Active recall is instrumental in transforming memory from short-term to long-term. It activates the ‘testing effect,’ aiding the brain in moving information from short-term to long-term memory.” – TutorLyft
Each Kahoot! question forces learners to pull information from their brains, and the immediate feedback of a right or wrong answer solidifies the knowledge. Structuring a review session as a Kahoot! game transforms a typically low-energy activity into a dynamic and memorable learning experience.
Best Practices for Using Kahoot! with Adults
- Turn Off the Music: The default Kahoot! music can be a bit much for a professional setting. You can easily turn it off in the game options.
- Use Nicknames: Encourage participants to use a professional (or at least appropriate) nickname.
- Keep it Brief: A 5-10 question Kahoot! game is the perfect length to keep energy high without taking up too much time.
- Focus on Key Takeaways: Use Kahoot! to review the most critical learning objectives from your session.
By thoughtfully incorporating Kahoot! into your training design, you can create a more engaging, memorable, and effective learning experience for your adult audience.
