There are an increasing number of educational games being created. One of the best lists I have ccome across is from Zaidlearn and if you click on the link you will find over 75 games across a range of subjects. The sites I have featured on this page are concerned primarily with creating games and quizzes. I find them particularly good for teaching key ideas and vocabulary and I have used them on my own website to encourage students to learn the keywords of the various topics they study. They can also be a useful plenary activity or an entertaining way to revise.

1. Quia - This is a paid site but the annual subscription is relatively smalI for what you get. I have been using it for years to create activities and quizzes but it can also be used as a classroom management system where resources can be uploaded and student performance monitored and for creating student surveys. You can create word games such as Hangman or battleships or use it to create an internet scavenger hunt. Visit the site and see the 16 different activities you can create. There is also a specialist maths section which I haven't used but if it is as good as the rest of the site it will well be worth a visit. Click Here to visit an activity I have created on the furniture in a synagogue.

2. MyStudiyo - This is a new site on me but has a very professional looking finish. The quizzes can be used on the website or hosted on your own site. There is a space for comments, a high score scoreboard and within the game you can add a text response to add to the learning. My only concern for educaitonal use is that the site does advertise other quizzes created by other users on each quiz you create when hosted on the Mystudiyo site. While I didn't come across anything too inappropriate it would be worth keeping an eye on how the site develops and the type of quizzes that are created. This is an example quiz on the environment.



3. ESL Video - This simple tool allows you to turn any piece of video into a quiz. You could create quizzes for students or get students to create a quiz to show their understanding of a topic. For example, use a video of environmental problems and ask questions around it. The questions appear in a list rather than as the video progresses which may work better. Most quizzes only seem to have 4 or 5 questions and I don't know how practical it would be to include more than this. There is also the potential to add notes for the viewer. Try the simple example below to get an idea of what it can do.



4. Classtools - This site allows you to create flashbased games but it also has templates for thinking diagrams such as Fishbone or Venn. The finished games can then be hosted on your own website. This is an editable history example below. Simple but quite effective.



5. Content Generator - Your pupils will like these games. There are one or two free games but most have to be bought as part of a package. Individual packages cost from £25-£65, school packages cost from £100-£300. Click Here to play a walk the plank game based on Martin Luther King.

6. Scratch - This is a downloadable tool rather than web based but worthy of inclusion. In essence it allows you to create games via a drag and drop menu. The games can then be hosted on the web.

7. Purpose Games - This site allows you to create Multiple choice and quiz games. A lot of geography games based around maps but can be used for a variety of games.

8. Exam Professor - I really like the look of this site. It creates a good looking quiz that also has a review function after it has been scored. The free version only allows for one quiz to be created but it does look like the sort of tool that may be worth investing in. With a monthly charge you could simply purchase the licence for the time that you would be using it. Alternatively, individual students could perhaps create their own quizzes. Exams can be embedded in other sites. Click here for a simple example based on animals.

9. Cramberry - This tool allows you to create a simple set of revision cards. The cards are text based and at present no option for colour or graphics to be added

10. Flashcards - As the name suggests this is another Flashcard site. The difference here is that once you have your data on the site you can use it in a a variety of games in addition to the Flashcards. There are better looking sites but this one gives a bit more variety than many sites.

11. Quizlet - This is a good looking Flashcard tool with a number of interesting additional features. Initially you have the option to familiarise, learn or test the Keywords, you then have a number of games that can be played which insist on the correct answer being given before proceeding. They are curently testing a new feature using voice recogintion which could be useful for language teachers especially. You can also include images on the cards.

12. Knowtes - This is an excellent tool which could be used in many different ways. In essence you create revision cards for topics you have studied. These cards can then be viewed, commented upon and used to test you. You can rate how well you know a particular card to control how often it appears in the test. You can create a double sided card with a question and answer which flips over. Completed 'Decks' can then be shared with others or copyrighted. Click Here to visit a quick example.



13. Brainflips - Good looking Flashcard maker including a testing function.

14. Arcademic Skill Builders - This is a suite of free games which mostly feature maths and languages. Students can play alone or against other students in an online environment. For example, in a racing game the speed of your car is controlled by correct answers to addition and subtraction questions.