Literature Review: The Effectiveness of Kahoot! in Enhancing Student Participation and Learning Outcomes in Higher Education

Dian Atmasani; Sutarsi Suhaeb

doi:10.63922/ijevss.v5i02.3688

Dian Atmasani Universitas Negeri Makassar, Indonesia
Sutarsi Suhaeb Universitas Negeri Makassar, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63922/ijevss.v5i02.3688

Keywords: Kahoot!, gamification, student participation, learning outcomes, interactive learning

Abstract

The rapid advancement of digital technology has fundamentally transformed teaching and learning practices in higher education. Lecturers are increasingly expected to adopt innovative and interactive instructional media to sustain student engagement throughout every class session. Kahoot!, a game-based learning platform, has emerged as one of the most widely used tools across educational levels, including universities. This article systematically examines the effectiveness of Kahoot! in enhancing student participation and learning outcomes through a narrative-analytical literature review approach. More than 20 articles from reputable national and international journals published between 2020 and 2025 were analyzed to synthesize key research findings. Results consistently indicate that Kahoot! significantly enhances learning motivation, active engagement, concentration, classroom interaction, and academic achievement. The platform also fosters an enjoyable learning atmosphere and has been shown to reduce evaluation-related anxiety among students. However, certain challenges including limited internet access, time pressure during quizzes, and excessively intense competition require careful attention to minimize potential adverse effects. Overall, Kahoot! proves to be an effective gamification-based instructional medium that meaningfully supports active learning in higher education.

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