How Kahoot! Is Using AI and Gamification to Reignite Student Engagement

[00:00:00] - [Speaker 0]
Your agents aren't producing accurate answers because they don't have a complete semantic understanding of your data, and Denodo is solving this and solving it through semantic consistency. Through semantic consistency, your agents can start making accurate predictions in real time. So see what else Denodo can do by visiting denodo.com to learn more. But now let me introduce you to today's guest. What if the biggest challenge in learning and education today isn't about access to information, but keeping people engaged, engaged long enough to learn from it.

[00:00:45] - [Speaker 0]
Whether you are a teacher trying to hold the attention of a classroom full of students, a university lecturer looking to create more interactive learning experiences, or a corporate trainer or learning and development professional that's trying to help employees develop new skills. Engagement has become one of the defining challenges of education and workplace learning. Well, today, John Neil, growth director for Kahoot UK and Ireland is gonna be joining me on the podcast. And before joining Kahoot, he spent two decades as a teacher and a school leader, giving him a front row seat to the changing relationship between technology, learning, and student engagement. So in today's conversation, I wanna explore how game based learning has evolved far beyond quizzes and leaderboards and understand why platforms like Kahoot are finding a new relevance in classrooms, lecture halls, and boardrooms alike.

[00:01:53] - [Speaker 0]
So John will share how AI is beginning to reshape lesson planning, personalize learning experiences, and help educators identify learning gaps earlier than ever before. And we will also discuss the realities facing teachers today from workload pressures and burnout to building confidence with emerging technologies. And along the way, my guest will also explain why technology should never be viewed as the answer on its own, but rather as a tool that helps educators create more inclusive, collaborative, and meaningful learning experiences. And with Kahoot now used by millions of educators worldwide, adopted across 97% of Fortune 500 companies. I think this conversation offers a fascinating look at how learning is continuing to evolve in an age shaped by AI, digital distraction, noise, and changing expectations.

[00:02:52] - [Speaker 0]
So how can educators, trainers, and organizations all create learning experiences that people genuinely want to participate in? Hopefully, we'll get a few answers today. But enough for me. Let me introduce you to my guest right now. So thank you for joining me on the podcast today.

[00:03:12] - [Speaker 0]
For everyone listening, can you tell them a little about who you are and what you do?

[00:03:16] - [Speaker 1]
Sure. Thank you, Neil. I'm John. I'm the growth director director for Kahoot in The UK and Ireland. And my role before moving into education technology, I was a proud teacher and school leader of best part of twenty years, taught across a variety of disciplines ranging from PE through to economics.

[00:03:36] - [Speaker 1]
And then 2021, after really leaning more into how technology could both improve my own practice and I think support the work, the awesome work that my colleagues were doing, I really focused on how ed tech could transform learning for both the student, but also for my colleagues and how they were delivering. And then 2021, I joined an ed tech startup, which was a fantastic experience, really immersed in every aspect of the business. And then I've worked my way through EdTech over the years and was really proud to be joining the team at Kahoot at the end of twenty twenty five. And my role at Kahoot actually spans both education and the enterprise sectors. So it's been a great and rewarding challenge for me so far six months in.

[00:04:22] - [Speaker 0]
And there's so much to unpack from your origin story there. I mean, more than a decade in the classroom before moving into ed tech or education technology, I've got to ask, how did those years as a teacher shape the way you maybe think about digital learning tools today, and and what problems were you always hoping technology could actually solve when when you made that transition? It feels like it's a big story there.

[00:04:45] - [Speaker 1]
Yeah. I think my time in the classroom as a school leader certainly helped to shape quite a lot about how I view technology today. I think first and foremost, Neil, teachers are fantastic professionals entering the classroom because we want to make a difference to help young people discover their passions. And then technology for me has never been the answer in itself, but rather I think the opportunity to incorporate it as part of a professional toolkit. And from my own perspectives, one of my earliest experiences of leveraging technology to make a genuine difference in my class was as a PE teacher because a real challenge is getting around to all learners and making sure that they're having the access that they need coming from where they are to be taking progress and really taking something out of the lesson that is more than just going through the motions, but a but a true period of of enjoyment.

[00:05:44] - [Speaker 1]
And one of the things that we were able to do, and I remember a colleague and I, was to be using very simply, it was in the early days of the iPad, but just using that technology, putting it in the hands of the learners, and for them to be able capture what they and their peers were doing and then being able to give that rich feedback that they were not only talking about but they could actually see and to share the to share that visible side that perhaps hadn't been there before. And along the way and as my kind of journey in edtech has progressed, one of the really key things is to make sure that technology and digital learning is about purpose because never if you present technology as being used or there's a teacher who's a little bit skeptical or someone in the workplace about technology being being introduced for its own sake, then I think what becomes there is you're probably questioning whether there are genuine barriers being removed. And I think that's the key thing is how we can use technology and the millions of platforms and opportunities out there currently to provide all learners with equal access to learning, to build their confidence, and also as a part of that, to have that feedback that that comes to them straight away and in a way that is easily understood and received.

[00:07:03] - [Speaker 1]
And really importantly, and I think critically for the classroom is that technology isn't looking ever to replace the teacher, but rather to complement and to enhance and really to amplify what they are so brilliant at, which is the teaching.

[00:07:19] - [Speaker 0]
And Kahoot, of course, has become a familiar name in classrooms across The UK, but you're now focused on expanding this presence even further. So what does growth look like across The UK and indeed Ireland? What's that look like in practical terms? And and which education sectors maybe such as k 12 and higher education or workplace learning, where are you seeing the the strongest demand for game based learning?

[00:07:44] - [Speaker 1]
So I think that that's a really, really wonderful point. And certainly Kahoot is a tool that I've been aware of for more than a decade now, both in my own use in the classroom and then over the years in the various different roles that I've had. And we definitely already have a significant community of teachers in The UK and Ireland as you say that are not only familiar with Kahoot but are using the platform. And over the last twelve months, we've had in the region of 300,000 teachers that have been using Kahoot. So visiting our platform as teachers that are UK and Ireland based.

[00:08:19] - [Speaker 1]
And I think really importantly for me with the education lens is that growth isn't just about trying to grow that user base. In fact, I think super important to be thinking about growing the impact that we're able to have. Many people very understandably view Kahoot as the live classroom quiz that they've perhaps seen or they've participated in themselves. And that is still a a key part of our offering in terms of maybe a beginning or end of a lesson opportunity for engagement. But we now have a much broader suite of resources across our platform that can help teachers to really create interactive content and deliver learning that is supporting both independent study but also opportunities for collaboration.

[00:09:08] - [Speaker 1]
And what I hope in my role, Neil, is to be able to capture those teachers and their understanding and their excitement about how Kahoot is being used and then giving them the tools to be able to amplify that across their own communities and ultimately how that will grow beyond individual schools and trusts and then to scale that up in the education space. So as we think about K-twelve, you know that we already have a really solid footprint there. But we're also seeing many exciting opportunities extending beyond even further education and into higher education, workplace learning and also for public sector skills development. The really important thread I think is that facilitators, the deliverers of learning are really seeking ways that they want whoever is in front of them that is hungry for this learning opportunity to be able to access the content in a way that allows them to participate in a way that suits them best, that is inclusive therefore. And that from the teacher's perspective or the facilitator, perhaps an l and d professional, is making sure that it's measurable.

[00:10:17] - [Speaker 1]
So I think for Kahoot, the the goal isn't only about reach and growing those number of users, but it's about trying to make that impact deeper and more meaningful and I think more understood across the with the evolution of our platform.

[00:10:34] - [Speaker 0]
And I have spoken with many teachers who say student engagement has become harder and harder to maintain, have the same conversations with facilitators and learning and development professionals having the same problem in the corporate world, and it's often that distractions or digital distractions, digital noise that are often blamed. So from your perspective, why has engagement become such a challenge, and how do you see gamification help maybe reigniting that curiosity, participation, and collaboration, whether it be in a classroom or in a corporate meeting room?

[00:11:07] - [Speaker 1]
Yeah. I think that I think learning, I think that the digital landscape has certainly changed over the past twenty years as I reflect upon my own time as a professional in this space. When I when I first came in, social media wasn't really a factor. We're we're in their their more formative years and there were no iPads. I think what we've seen and you know that there's lots about this, Neil, is that there are lots of opportunities for students to be outside of the classroom, to be engaged with an instant hook that there is something that is just drawing them in and then it keeps them there.

[00:11:45] - [Speaker 1]
And what I don't think is that we should be turning every classroom into, you know, into a TikTok platform but a real physical sense. But I think it's more about trying to understand the world that learners are growing up in. And one of the ways that we're able to I think to call upon that and to really look to laser in on that opportunity is using gamification in a way that has that hook. You have the excitement of I am participating. You are able to compete with your peers on a platform like Kahoot, but you can turn off the competitive side as well.

[00:12:22] - [Speaker 1]
But it's that sense of I'm learning without necessarily knowing or being aware that learning is the focus of what I'm doing. And I think that there is a difference between engagement and then entertainment. We are looking for the engagement part of Kahoot and the gamification side of things to be a vehicle through which learners of all ages and in all all places, be they classroom or in the workplace, are able to be taken on a learning path that they feel that they are compelled to be involved in from the the start of that to the end. But it's just that the engagement isn't a be all and end all, but it's something that takes them along that that path.

[00:13:08] - [Speaker 0]
And we will have some people listening that when they hear the word gamification, they'll automatically think of points and leaderboards. But are you able to share a real example of a teacher that's using Kahoot just to maybe change the dynamics of a lesson or bring quieter students into the conversation? Because I think it's so much more than points and leader leaderboards. It'd be great to bring it to life with some very real world examples. Are you able to share anything there?

[00:13:35] - [Speaker 1]
Yes. Yeah. I'd I'd be delighted to, Neil. And I think that that's such an important piece as well is that learning that not all learners are the same. Yeah.

[00:13:41] - [Speaker 1]
And one example would be is, as I think back to my own days in the classroom is that if you were to ask a question and ask for hands up, the chances are you would get three or four hands up but the chances are also that it may well be the same three or four hands that are going up. And I had a wonderful conversation with a colleague that has recently gone site wide with Kahoot across their school, so they're a secondary school teacher. And they hadn't realized that we now offer something called accuracy mode. So what that does is it takes the emphasis away from fastest answer gets the most points and it's more about the student answering at their own pace and really taking the time that they need to get the answer right. There are also ways that we can facilitate a team and a collaboration piece to a Kahoot if you're participating through that.

[00:14:35] - [Speaker 1]
And there is there is a wonderful feature that we have which is called Kahootopia. And with that, a teacher can create a class and it's a shared island and it's a shared island for the class. As the learners participate and they complete activities, they are contributing collectively into helping that island grow. And the emphasis therefore becomes less about did I win and where did I place on the leaderboard and more to what did we achieve together. And that's why using tools like Kahoot, gamification is really much more about sorry, is about much more than points of leaderboards, think think that you said.

[00:15:17] - [Speaker 1]
But it should be about a way of being able to enhance the individual journey but also to provide opportunities for collaborative and collective progress because not everyone wants necessarily be the fastest person in the room, but they all do deserve a meaningful way to be able to contribute.

[00:15:34] - [Speaker 0]
100% with you. And we both grew up at a time where there was almost a one size fits all approach to education. And since then, thankfully, we now recognize that there are many, many different learning styles. And in 2026, we now throw AI into the mix. That's entering the classroom in a big way too.

[00:15:52] - [Speaker 0]
So I'm curious. How are you seeing teachers use AI to plan lessons, personalize learning experiences, and identify where students might be struggling before those gaps become long term problems. Again, it feels like a big opportunity here.

[00:16:07] - [Speaker 1]
Yeah. And I think that that's such an important question, particularly the way that you framed the question there, Neil, because when AI first exploded onto the scene in education, one of the really common examples was create a lesson plan about x, y or zed and using this tool. Then that was almost the kind of be all, end all of people's experience with AI. But as you say, it's probably not really even scratching the surface of the opportunity for AI in education. I think that one of the key ways is to be able to use AI to be able to provide learners with a more bespoke learning path.

[00:16:49] - [Speaker 1]
Using AI, for example, one of the things that we do at Kahoot is I know as I think back to not only teachers that I've worked with at the schools I've been privileged to be a part of, but also the teachers that I'm working with currently is many hours have gone into creating many many resources, be they PowerPoints or Word documents or a Google Form or whatever it might be. And one of the things that we're able to do in a really purposeful way to be able to support teachers both with developing a comfortability with using AI, but also feeling like the resources that they've worked so hard on haven't gone to waste is we offer something called a slide sync. So what that does is doesn't matter the presentation tool that you are using, We can synchronize it with one of our features which extends beyond the idea of Kahoot just being for quizzing. So we have presentations incorporated into the platform now. You can live sync your, for example, PowerPoint presentation.

[00:17:50] - [Speaker 1]
You can then bring that in. Any changes that you make to that PowerPoint are then automatically reflected into the Kahoot presentation. But the the part that AI plays, and this is where it gets really exciting for me and you can sense as I think back to those days as a school leader, the the really powerful piece here is is that what teaching colleagues are able to do is that they can, at the tap of a button, they can use AI that will then scan this deck and it will suggest questions and other opportunities for engagement that will then be inserted at the appropriate opportunities in that slide deck. So when it comes to sharing that presentation, it's a massive departure from the sage on the stage style with the teacher, with the facilitator standing in the front of the lecture theater or whatever the space might be, and it becomes and it becomes a much more participatory experience for everyone. I think particularly in The UK and the conversations that we've had with colleagues in Ireland too, that's definitely been a really big win because there are this there is a real pride that teachers take in the work that they have produced and being able to use those in a way that breathes some new life into what they already have has been a really nice opportunity for us to be sharing with with that teaching community here.

[00:19:13] - [Speaker 0]
And on behalf of teachers listening everywhere in the world, one topic that keeps coming up in the industry is workload pressure and even burnout. So where do tools like gamified learning platforms and AI support, where are these things actually saving time or improving classroom dynamics in ways that that teachers can feel day to day? Because again, it's not about replacing them. It's about offering so much needed help here too. Right?

[00:19:38] - [Speaker 1]
Yeah. And you know what's really important about that is you are spot on in that that is that those are topics that do come up a lot. And I think it's regardless of the platform, be it social media, it physical newspaper, those are topics that you do see come up a lot. But I think the reason that they come come up a lot is that they are very real issues, and they don't seem tied to any one country or to any one particular stage of teaching or age of student. And I think what's kind of really critical here is that, you know, that part of that shift and part of that shift in being able to support the leaders, support their teaching communities is to and it comes back to that providing tools that are actually targeting and able to address particular problems and barriers that those learning communities are facing.

[00:20:31] - [Speaker 1]
It's very unlikely that there's gonna be exactly the same the same situation from one particular school to the next. But what we can definitely say is and using some of the some of the stories that we are that we already have, for example, from schools over here in in The UK that are really starting to understand more about what Kahoot as a platform is in 2026 is how whether it's through AI, whether it's through one of our new features, whether it's so I mentioned the accuracy mode. We've got different game modes. That there are ways in which we can help teachers to make learning more enjoyable for the students that they are working with. And at the same time, and I can sort of say this with my teacher hat on is that that you also get that sense of satisfaction when you know that those learners that you are with are genuinely excited to be in the class with you and having that shared positive learning experience.

[00:21:30] - [Speaker 1]
And that's where tech is able to take it away from a situation that is dominated by those three or four very enthusiastic learners that are always willing to chip in and make it much more about all of the class and learning together as that community. And along the way, it then becomes much more about just the academics, but how they're learning to develop social skills and other really important life skills that extend way beyond their time in k 12 education.

[00:22:02] - [Speaker 0]
And although we are living in a world where AI and technology dominates just about every area of our lives now, most teachers don't enter a career in teaching to be technologists, and we have many teachers out there with twenty, thirty years experience that have very little interest in technology or very little experience maybe. So you've spoken about the importance of building digital confidence among educators, which I think is so important. So what role does professional development play in in maybe helping teachers feel more comfortable experimenting with new tools rather than feeling just overwhelmed by them?

[00:22:38] - [Speaker 1]
Yeah. And that is something that I'm really passionate about. Because as you say, teachers don't come into the profession on the hulk because they're excited about using technology. They come into education because they're excited about that process and that as I said, the sense of the the thrill that you get from taking young people to to places of learning that they didn't think that they could get to. So being able to do that is great.

[00:23:05] - [Speaker 1]
But what you cannot do as a school leader is to lead with, for example, and with the very best of intentions, you might have a new tool or a new piece of technology. And if you just give it to the teachers and say, this is what we've got, this is what we've spent, and this is what we're gonna be using, you're gonna almost lose everyone straight away. You might get a couple of diehard techies keen on diving into the platform, but it's that piece about the confidence. I'd even go a step beyond that and say that fluency with tools is is so important as part of your teacher toolkit. And I don't think that as part of the teacher toolkit that you should be limited or we should limit teachers to only digital tools, but rather how the digital tools fit into a broader package of tools that they can call upon with a fluency, a certainty and a confidence that they know that they are going to be able to use the right tool at the right time for the right class.

[00:24:06] - [Speaker 1]
And that's where the professional development piece comes in. And if you, for example, were to show 25 tools to any teacher in a day or in a session, there's a good chance that they might be a little bit impressed by one or two things, but probably not adapt any into their practice. I think it's always great to share those wins from a tool, from a platform that could be very micro. But if you know your teacher community well enough, then you know as a professional development facilitator, as a senior leader, you know that there are certain things and certain wins and certain hurdles that they're looking to overcome. But if you can address that, then the tool is the secondary part of that.

[00:24:54] - [Speaker 1]
But it's a way to really get people excited about things. So I think it's much less about features and it's more about how you can demonstrate it the ease with which these problems can be addressed and then how they can be brought straight away into practice. I think that it's about that fluency piece and then having the that judgment to have the right approach for the right occasion.

[00:25:20] - [Speaker 0]
And if I was to pull out a virtual crystal ball and ask you to look into the future in maybe five years time, which again is an insane question to ask considering just how much change we've seen in our lives over the last five years, but how do you see classroom engagement of continuing to evolve, and what role do you see game based learning and AI supported insights playing in preparing students for a future that that is constantly changing where they gonna need to continuously adapt to different situations. How do you see all where do you see all this heading?

[00:25:52] - [Speaker 1]
I think probably begin just to say that, you know, the rate of change over the past two or three months, I think if I were to say that I could give you a confident answer as to how things would change over the next five years, I I either be lying or be a guaranteed billionaire, I think, Neil. But what what I would feel absolutely confident about is that the learner must stay at the center of learning. And I think it is of paramount importance for us, as there is this increasing amount of technology of AI that is coming into everyday life, is that we present them with opportunities to be able to collaborate, to grow, to be curious, to understand that what they are doing is part of something bigger than just that singular activity that they may be involved with at any particular time. One of the elements of this critical is for expert educators to be able to help guide that process and to keep putting that human context at the center of what is happening. From my perspective, I think that game based learning, particularly as we consider it now in 2026 with a much broader perspective, I think game based learning will continue to make participation more active, more visible and then also really importantly to pull into that social piece as well.

[00:27:18] - [Speaker 1]
The AI the AI supported insights, I'm sure will only serve to further enhance teachers recognizing patterns of learners and also potential areas for weakness for them to be addressing. And I think to be able to respond more quickly and more adeptly to what's to what's happening with their classes. One thing that I'm really excited about is and we see lots of content creation. You know, that's very much a theme on social media. But one of the things with my educator hat on which really excites me is the opportunity for young people to to become creators of learning experiences and learning content rather than just simply consuming what others are putting out there.

[00:28:03] - [Speaker 1]
It's probably even as we do do enjoy this time of ever evolving technology and AI is to not just always assume, in fact very dangerous to assume that more technology will lead to better learning And it probably would speak back to that part of having that fluency and to know that there will doubtless be a part for gamified learning, for AI, for tech tools to be playing. And it's just using those in a way that can be capturing and retaining the engagement of our learners in that five or ten year down the line tech landscape that they are living in, but being able to really have it underpinned by that community by that community sense of learning and a way that they feel that they feel that they feel that they're empowered to be really taking I think more of a lead into how they are learning. And I think that we'll probably see that learning paths are very different certainly in five years to how they were five five years ago now. And the exciting part of that is that we will have an increased amount of student accessibility, of student led of student agency, of confidence.

[00:29:24] - [Speaker 1]
And the most exciting piece for that of all is, yes, they will develop a evolved passion for learning, but they will leave those schools however they might look in in a few years' time. And I think in a much better place to be confident about how they can make a positive impact into life outside of k 12 education.

[00:29:46] - [Speaker 0]
And I think that is a powerful and thought provoking moment to end on. But before I do let you go, for anyone listening wanting to find out more information about Kahoot and anything we talked about today, connect with you or your team, etcetera, where would you like me to point everyone?

[00:30:01] - [Speaker 1]
Yeah. That would be absolutely great. I am quite active on LinkedIn. So if you just search for John Neil and Kahoot, I should be hopefully very easy to find. And if you'd like to keep tabs on all things Kahoot across social media, we are at Kahoot.

[00:30:16] - [Speaker 1]
That's Kahoot with a k. And of course, if you want to find out more or maybe to speak to particular members from the team, you can go to kahoot.com. And we also have some wonderful up to date resources both there and on our YouTube channel that will help any listener find out a little bit more about exactly what we offer today.

[00:30:35] - [Speaker 0]
And not only are you an active LinkedIn user, probably far too humble to mention this, but you're also recognized that one of The UK's leading EdTech experts. I think you've been named in The UK EdTech 53 times and an award winner, and your passion for teaching really shines through today. And just hearing about how teachers can better use gamification tech and AI to reengage students is such a big topic right now. So I would encourage anybody listening in the industry, let me know your thoughts. Please get in touch.

[00:31:05] - [Speaker 0]
I'll include the links to everything so you can reach out to Kahoot. But, John, just thank you for bringing this topic to life today.

[00:31:12] - [Speaker 1]
Thank you ever so much, Neil, and really looking forward to hearing from anyone about thoughts that they might have and how we can really take learning forward together. Thank you.

[00:31:20] - [Speaker 0]
So what does the future of learning look like when AI, gamification, and human creativity all come together. I think John reminded us today that technology itself is only one part of the story. The real opportunity lies in creating learning experiences that are inclusive, collaborative, engaging, and built around the needs of the learner. And whether this is a classroom, a a lecture hall, or workplace training session, I I think the goals all remain the same, helping individuals grow, develop confidence, and reach their true potential. And I particularly enjoyed hearing John's perspective as a former teacher because I think his experience is what provides a valuable reminder that successful technology adoption starts with people, not platforms.

[00:32:10] - [Speaker 0]
So from AI powered lesson support to new ways of encouraging participation from every single learner in the room, not just throwing a lot out there and hoping some of it sticks. I think there's so many ideas here for educators and business leaders alike. And if today's conversation sparked any thoughts about the future of learning, educational technology, or how engagement is changing in your organization, I wanna hear from you. So, yes, you can learn more about Kahoot at kahoot.com. I'll include the links to connect with John and the team in the show notes.

[00:32:44] - [Speaker 0]
But please pop over to techtalksnetwork.com. Let me know your thoughts, your experiences, and if you've got a story to share, please let me know. Let me know what you what role you think AI and game based learning could play in shaping the next generation of education and workplace learning, or maybe you think it doesn't. Whichever side of the fence you are, I wanna hear all opinions on this. But I have stayed a little bit too long and taken up far too much of your time today, so I will return again tomorrow.

[00:33:14] - [Speaker 0]
Hopefully, I will get speak with you all again then. Bye for now.