No more boring revision sessions: Zoi Tatsioka employs interactive games

Revision sessions can be tedious for both students and lecturers. One way to make them more entertaining and interactive is through games. Games promote active engagement and collaboration, they enhance communication skills and have a clear focus and objective. For my revision sessions I have been using two different games, not only because my classes often address the same audience, but also because these games meet the needs of different types of units.

The first game, Who wants to be a millionaire?, is a PowerPoint presentation consisting of 15 multiple choice questions, which are followed by four possible answers. Students can work either in groups or individually. Usually at the end of the game the student/group with the highest number of correct answers wins a small prize. This game is ideal for practical as well as theoretical modules with an emphasis on details.

The second game is Jeopardy. Lecturers can create their own games online which are then saved on the platform. Students can be divided into up to four groups and they can choose among six categories. The questions are open-ended, so students have to provide the answer they deem to be correct. At the end of the game there is bonus question which gives students the opportunity to wager some or all of their points. This is the most entertaining part of the game as students negotiate and often argue over the amount they want to bet! Jeopardy is ideal for theoretical modules, especially for testing knowledge of key terms and definitions.

Revision (or repetition) may be the mother of learning and thus an essential part of all units, but it does not have to be boring. Games are an easy and effective way to engage students and achieve the session’s learning objectives. A trial will convince you. Be careful though, you might get addicted!

Zoi Tatsioka

Lecturer, English Studies Department