From Passive Testing to Active Learning, Reviewing Wordwall in ELT Classrooms by Lulu

 

In today’s digital era, technology plays an essential role in supporting language learning, especially in the area of assessment. Wordwall is a web-based application that I classify as part of Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL). In my opinion, this platform demonstrates a strong connection to student learning because its purpose directly supports learning objectives, particularly in practicing vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension skills. The activities are well aligned with classroom goals, making it highly relevant for English language teaching.

In terms of feedback, I think Wordwall provides immediate and clear feedback to students. After completing an activity, students can instantly see whether their answers are correct or incorrect. Although the feedback is not always highly specific or explanatory, it is still sufficient to help students identify mistakes and improve their understanding.

From my perspective, Wordwall mainly supports lower to middle-order thinking skills. It facilitates tasks that focus on remembering, understanding, and sometimes applying knowledge. However, I believe it is limited in promoting higher-order thinking skills such as evaluating and creating, which means its use for deeper critical thinking activities is still restricted. In terms of ease of use, I find that students can open and operate Wordwall independently without difficulty. The interface is simple, intuitive, and user-friendly, allowing both teachers and students to use it without requiring continuous guidance. This makes the platform very practical and efficient for classroom use.

I also think that Wordwall is highly engaging. Its gamified features, interactive design, and scoring system can significantly motivate students to participate actively. Many students perceive it as an enjoyable activity rather than traditional schoolwork, which increases their engagement in the learning process.

How to Use Wordwall

So, Here are the basic steps to use Wordwall:

1. Create an Account. First, go to the Wordwall website and sign up for an account using your email address or Google account. If you already have an account, simply log in.

2. Create a New Activity. After logging in, click on the “Create Activity” button. Then, choose a template such as quiz, matching pairs, word search, or random wheel depending on your learning objective. 

3. Add Content. Next, enter your questions, answers, or learning materials into the template. You can customize the content based on the topic you are teaching, such as vocabulary, grammar, or reading comprehension.

4. Customize the Activity. You can adjust settings such as time limits, difficulty level, and themes. Wordwall also allows you to switch between different game formats using the same content.

5. Save and Publish. Once you finish creating the activity, click “Done” to save it. Your activity will be ready to use and can be accessed online. 

6. Share with Students. You can share the activity by copying the link and sending it to your students. They can open it on their devices without needing to install any application. 

7. Monitor Student Performance. Wordwall provides basic results and scores so you can see how well students perform. However, detailed tracking features may require a paid subscription.

You also can watch this video for more:https://youtu.be/q9uX0rftzfM

For sharing, I notice that Wordwall allows student performance and results to be accessed, but the sharing options are somewhat limited, especially in the free version. While teachers can distribute links and view basic results, more advanced performance tracking and sharing features require a paid subscription.

In terms of accessibility and cost, Wordwall is accessible across multiple platforms, including smartphones, tablets, and computers via a web browser. However, not all features are available free of charge, so users need to upgrade to a premium version to access full functionality. The impact of Wordwall on English Language Teaching (ELT), in my opinion, is generally positive. It helps create a more interactive and student-centered learning environment, increases student motivation, and supports formative assessment. Teachers can also evaluate student understanding more efficiently through instant results.

In terms of advantages, I think Wordwall is easy to use, highly interactive, and engaging for students. It also provides immediate feedback and offers a variety of activity formats that can be adapted to different learning objectives. However, there are some limitations or weaknesses. The free version has restricted features, which may limit teachers in creating more varied activities. In addition, the platform depends heavily on internet access, and it does not strongly support higher-order thinking skills. It is also less suitable for developing productive skills.

For enhancing language skills, I believe Wordwall is most effective for vocabulary, grammar, and basic reading skills. It can also support listening activities if audio is included. However, it is less effective for speaking and writing skills because the activity formats are limited and do not allow much open-ended response. So, Do you interested to try this website?

Just share about you experince for using this apps or more in below!