Game-based learning has shifted from a novelty to a necessity in many classrooms. Students crave interaction, immediate feedback, and a break from traditional lectures. While platforms like Kahoot! and Quizizz paved the way, a newer contender has captured the attention of educators worldwide: Gimkit.
Unlike standard quiz games where students simply answer questions for points, Gimkit introduces a layer of strategy and economy. Students earn virtual currency for correct answers, which they can then reinvest to purchase upgrades and power-ups. This unique twist keeps engagement high, even for students who might struggle with the content initially.
If you are looking to revitalize your review sessions or introduce a new way to assess understanding, this guide is for you. We will walk you through everything you need to know to get started with Gimkit, from creating your first account to analyzing student data after the game ends.
What Is Gimkit and Why Should You Use It?
Gimkit is a live learning game show created by a high school student who felt classroom games could be more engaging. It operates on a “freemium” model, meaning basic features are free, while advanced features require a paid subscription (Gimkit Pro).
The core mechanic revolves around earning money. When a student answers a question correctly, they earn cash. If they answer incorrectly, they lose some. However, the game doesn’t end there. Students can visit the “Shop” during the game to buy:
- Multiplier: Increases the cash earned per question.
- Streak Bonus: Awards extra cash for consecutive correct answers.
- Insurance: Minimizes the penalty for incorrect answers.
- Power-ups: Special items that can freeze opponents, blur their screens, or gift them cash.
The Educational Benefits
Why choose Gimkit over other platforms?
- High Repetition: Questions repeat frequently, ensuring students see the material multiple times. This repetition is key for retention.
- Strategic Thinking: Students must decide when to save and when to spend. It teaches basic resource management alongside the core subject matter.
- Self-Paced: Unlike games where the whole class waits for a timer to expire, students move through questions at their own speed.
- Engagement for All Levels: Because upgrades allow for exponential growth, even a student who starts slowly can catch up with a smart strategy, keeping everyone motivated until the final second.
Step 1: Setting Up Your Account
Getting into the ecosystem is straightforward. Gimkit offers seamless integration with Google, which is a lifesaver for educators already using Google Classroom.
Creating a New Account
- Navigate to the Gimkit homepage.
- Click the “Sign Up” button, usually located in the top right corner.
- Choose your signup method. Using your Google email is highly recommended for ease of access later.
- Select “Educator” when asked for your role. This unlocks the dashboard features necessary for hosting games.
- Select your country and grade level if prompted.
Once you are in, you will see your main dashboard. This is your command center where you can manage your “Kits” (question sets), view classes, and check assignments.
Step 2: Creating Your First Kit
In Gimkit, a quiz is called a “Kit.” You have several options for creating content: building from scratch, importing from other platforms, or using the Question Bank.
Option A: Building from Scratch
This gives you total control but takes the most time.
- Click “New Kit” on your dashboard.
- Name your Kit (e.g., “History Unit 4 Review”).
- Select a language and a subject area.
- Choose a cover photo. Gimkit integrates with Unsplash, so you can search for high-quality images directly within the creator.
- Click “Add Question.” Type your question and four potential answers. Mark the correct one.
- Repeat until your set is complete.
Option B: Using Flashcard Import
If you have sets on Quizlet or a simple spreadsheet, this is the fastest method.
- Select “Import from Flashcards” when creating a new Kit.
- You can copy and paste terms and definitions directly. Gimkit will automatically generate multiple-choice questions based on your input.
- For Quizlet, you can export your set as text and paste it here.
Option C: The Question Bank
Don’t reinvent the wheel if you don’t have to.
- Click “Add from Question Bank” inside the Kit editor.
- Search for a topic (e.g., “Cell Biology”).
- Browse questions created by other teachers.
- Click the “+” button to add any specific question to your Kit instantly.
Pro Tip: Aim for at least 20-30 questions. Since questions repeat in Gimkit, having a larger pool keeps the game fresh for longer sessions.
Step 3: Hosting a Live Game
Once your Kit is ready, it’s time to play. This is where the magic happens.
- Click on the Kit you want to play.
- Select the “Play Live” button.
- Choose a Game Mode: This is crucial. Gimkit offers various modes:
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- Classic: The standard competitive mode. Students compete individually for the most money.
- Team Mode: Students work together in groups. Their collective cash determines their rank.
- The Floor is Lava: A cooperative mode where the class must work together to keep the “money tower” above the rising lava.
- Trust No One: An “Among Us” style social deduction game where students must identify the impostors while answering questions.
- Tag: Students compete on teams to “tag” opponents by answering questions to earn energy.
- Configure Game Options:
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- Goal: Set the game to end after a specific time limit (e.g., 10 minutes) or when a player reaches a cash goal (e.g., $1,000,000). Time limits are generally easier to manage for class schedules.
- Starting Cash: Give students a head start if you want the game to move faster.
- Handicap: Allows you to give students who are trailing a slight boost, preventing discouragement.
- Answer Check: Allows students to see the correct answer after they make a mistake. Always keep this ON for learning purposes.
- Click “Continue” to generate the game code.
Joining the Game
Project your screen so students can see the code.
- Students go to
gimkit.com/join. - They enter the game code.
- They type in their name. (You can toggle a setting that only allows appropriate nicknames if you are worried about mischief).
- Once everyone is in the lobby, press “Start Game.”
Step 4: Managing the Gameplay
As the game runs, your screen becomes a leaderboard. You will see students’ balances fluctuating in real-time. This dynamic leaderboard creates excitement in the room.
If the volume gets too loud or things get out of hand, you have admin controls. You can remove a player if necessary, or toggle the music volume directly from the host screen.
Crucially, you can also view a “Report” during the game. This shows you which questions the class is struggling with most right now. If 80% of the class misses question #5, you can pause the game, do a quick mini-lesson to correct the misconception, and then resume play. This “interruption” is a powerful teaching moment.
Step 5: Analyzing Results and Data
The game ends when the timer hits zero or the cash goal is met. The podium displays the winners, which is always a fun moment for the students. However, for the teacher, the real value lies in the post-game data.
The Student Report
Gimkit generates a detailed report immediately after the game. You can access this from your dashboard under “Reports.”
- General Overview: See the class average accuracy. A score of 85% or higher generally indicates mastery, while lower scores suggest reteaching is needed.
- Question Breakdown: Look at the performance for each specific question. This allows you to identify gaps in knowledge. If everyone missed the question about “mitochondria,” you know exactly what to cover tomorrow.
- Individual Performance: Click on a student’s name to see exactly how they performed. You can see how many questions they answered, their accuracy percentage, and which specific questions they missed. This is invaluable for parent-teacher conferences or intervention planning.
You can download these reports as a PDF or CSV file for your grade book records.
Tips for Maximizing Gimkit in the Classroom
To get the most out of this platform, consider these advanced strategies:
1. Homework Assignments
Gimkit isn’t just for live games. You can assign a Kit as homework. Students play asynchronously until they reach a target cash goal. This is a great alternative to worksheets because it maintains the fun, “upgrade” mechanic even when playing alone.
2. Student-Created Kits
Flip the classroom by having students create their own Kits. This forces them to engage deeply with the material to formulate good questions and plausible wrong answers (distractors). You can then play the best student-created Kits as a class review.
3. Use “KitCollab”
KitCollab is a built-in feature where the class builds a Kit together in real-time.
- You start a KitCollab mode.
- Students submit a question from their devices.
- You approve or reject questions on your screen.
- Once you have enough approved questions, you instantly play the game using the set the class just built. This builds immense ownership over the learning process.
4. Rotate Game Modes
Variety prevents burnout. While Classic mode is great, modes like “Trust No One” or “Draw That” utilize different cognitive skills and social dynamics. Use “The Floor is Lava” when you want to build community and collaboration rather than competition.
Conclusion
Gimkit has evolved into a robust ecosystem that supports diverse learning styles and classroom dynamics. By combining the addictive loops of modern video games with rigorous educational content, it tricks students into doing the hard work of learning.
Getting started requires only a few minutes, but the payoff in student engagement can be transformative. Whether you are using it for a quick five-minute warm-up or a comprehensive unit review, Gimkit offers a flexible, data-rich environment that teachers and students alike can enjoy.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Create your free educator account today.
- Search the “Discover” library for a pre-made Kit relevant to your current curriculum.
- Host a low-stakes 10-minute game on Friday to introduce the platform to your students.
- Review the data report afterwards to see just how much insight you can gain from a simple game.
Meta Title: How to Get Started with Gimkit: A Step-by-Step Guide
Meta Description: Learn how to use Gimkit for classroom engagement. This guide covers signing up, creating kits, hosting live games, and analyzing student data.
Please visit the official site for more info.
