How do I sign up for Gimkit.com? [2024]
How do I sign up for Gimkit.com? Gimkit is an online multiplayer live game platform often used by teachers and students for educational purposes. Signing up for Gimkit is easy and only takes a few minutes. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to sign up for a Gimkit account:
Step 1: Go to the Gimkit Website
The first step is to go to the Gimkit website. You can access it by typing www.gimkit.com into your web browser’s address bar and hitting enter. The homepage will load.
At the top right of the homepage, you will see two buttons – “Login” and “Sign Up.” Since you do not have an account yet, click on the blue “Sign Up” button.
Step 2: Select Account Type
After clicking Sign Up, you will be taken to the account type selection page. Here, you need to choose what type of Gimkit account you want to create. There are 3 options:
Teacher account
Select this if you are a teacher and want to use Gimkit Join to create quizzes and games for your students. Teacher accounts have access to additional features like class management tools.
Student account
Pick this option if you want to use Gimkit as a student to join games created by your teacher.
Personal account
Choose this account type if you just want to use Gimkit for fun with friends and family. Personal accounts allow you to create quizzes and games but do not include the full classroom management features.
Decide which option fits your needs and click the corresponding button. For this tutorial, let’s select the “Teacher” account type.
Step 3: Enter Your Email
After selecting your account type, you will be taken to the email entry page. Here, you simply need to enter the email address you want to associate with your new Gimkit teacher account.
A few things to note about the email address:
- It must be a valid email that you have access to. Gimkit will send a verification link to this email to activate your account.
- Use an email you check frequently and will remember. This email will be used for logging into your Gimkit account going forward.
- The email does not need to be a work/school email. Personal emails are fine.
Once you have entered your preferred email address, click the blue “Continue” button.
Step 4: Check Your Email for a Verification Link
After entering your email, Gimkit will send a verification email to that address. Go check your email inbox for a message from Gimkit.
The email will have a subject line like “Please verify your Gimkit email.” Open the email and look for the verification link inside.
The link will look something like http://www.gimkit.com/verify-email/8sd7af6d87dsf86
Copy the entire URL and paste it into your browser’s address bar. Hit enter to open the verification page. Clicking this link proves you have access to the email address entered.
Step 5: Create a Password
After clicking the verification link, you will be redirected back to the Gimkit website. Specifically, you will be taken to the password creation page.
Here, you need to enter the password you want to use for your Gimkit account. Your password must:
- Be at least 8 characters long
- Contain at least one uppercase letter
- Contain at least one number
The page will display the password requirements and tell you if your chosen password is strong enough as you type it.
Once you have entered your password, confirm it by typing it again in the “Confirm Password” field below. Then click the Continue button.
At this point, your account will be created!
Step 6: Fill Out Your Profile
After creating your password, you will be taken to your profile page. Here, you can fill out information about yourself that will be visible on your public profile.
Fill out your profile fully by entering:
- First and last name
- Profile picture
- City
- State
- Country
- School (if applicable)
- Bio
The only required field is your full name. The rest is optional but recommended. A complete profile makes your account look more legitimate.
Once you’ve filled everything out, click Save at the bottom of the page.
Step 7: Verify Your Account Via Text (Optional)
On the profile page, you’ll notice an option to “Verify your account via text.” This is an optional extra step where Gimkit texts a code to your phone that you then enter on the website to verify your account.
Doing this links your phone number to your account as an added layer of security. It’s not required, but highly recommended for protecting your account.
To verify via text:
- Enter your phone number on the profile page verification section.
- Check that you can receive texts at that number.
- Click “Text me a code.” Gimkit will text you a 6 digit verification code.
- Enter the 6 digit code Gimkit texted you and click Verify.
And that’s it! Your phone number will now be linked and your account fully verified.
Step 8: Explore Your Gimkit Teacher Account
Congratulations, you have now successfully signed up for a teacher account on Gimkit!
Your account is activated, profile complete, and you are ready to start using Gimkit’s features.
Here are some things you can do in your new Gimkit teacher account:
- Browse tutorial videos explaining how to create your first game.
- Check out sample games and quizzes made by other teachers.
- Customize your account settings like password and email.
- Set up your first class and add students to it.
- Start building your first interactive game or quiz!
The teacher dashboard will guide you through next steps as you get familiar with everything Gimkit has to offer.
And that concludes this step-by-step tutorial on signing up for Gimkit as a teacher. You now have a powerful game-based learning platform ready to engage your students!
Getting Started with Your Gimkit Teacher Account
Now that you’ve signed up for your free Gimkit teacher account, it’s time to get started using this powerful game-based learning platform!
As a teacher, your Gimkit account unlocks a suite of tools to create interactive quizzes, manage classes, track student progress, and more. Here are some tips to begin exploring everything Gimkit has to offer:
Take the Gimkit Tour
After logging into your new teacher account, start by taking Gimkit’s interactive tour. This will guide you through core features like creating kits, managing classes, viewing reports, and using content libraries.
The tour provides a risk-free environment to try building your first kit and see how student gaming works. It only takes about 5 minutes to complete the full tour and will prepare you to use Gimkit confidently in your classroom.
Customize Your Account Settings
Under your account settings, take some time to:
- Add profile details like school, grade level, and education details. This helps the Gimkit team provide relevant content recommendations.
- Upload a profile and cover photo to give your account a personal touch.
- Set notification preferences for email and browser notifications when your students complete kits.
- Update your password and security settings.
- Connect any additional integrations like Google Classroom for easy roster management.
Customizing these settings from the start will save you time as you begin actively using Gimkit with your classes.
Build Your First Kit
The best way to learn Gimkit is to dive in and build your first kit! Kits are the quizzes and games you create for students to play.
Start by creating a simple 5 question multiple choice kit on a current topic you’re covering in class. Gimkit’s kit builder is incredibly intuitive with drag-and-drop functionality.
Some tips for your first kit:
- Use Gimkit’s existing content libraries to quickly add pre-made questions.
- Include different question types like open response and true/false in addition to multiple choice.
- Add relevant images and diagrams to make questions more visual.
- Change the theme, game length, and winning conditions to see how it impacts gameplay.
Don’t worry about perfection on your first kit. Treat it as a learning experience to get comfortable with the platform. You can publish kits and revise them later on.
Preview as a Student
Before publishing your kit, be sure to preview how it will play from the student perspective.
Click the “Preview as Student” button to see the student game interface. This allows you to:
- Test the question wording and difficulty level.
- Ensure any images and media display properly.
- Double check the game settings like length and theme.
- Play through the entire game as a student would experience it.
Previewing kits is an important step to catch any errors or refinements needed before releasing to your class.
Create Your First Class
Gimkit allows you to create virtual classes to organize your students and track their progress.
In your teacher account, create your first class by:
- Naming it (e.g. Period 1 Algebra)
- Adding a subject like Math, Science, etc.
- Inputting the grade level of students.
Once added, you will get a unique class code that students use to enroll in the class. Distribute this to students so they can join.
Later, you can add specific students to the roster manually or sync enrolment lists from Google Classroom or Clever.
Release Your Kit to a Class
When your first kit is ready for students, simply add it to your new class by:
- Going to the “Classes” section of your teacher account.
- Clicking on your newly created class.
- Selecting the “Assignments” tab.
- Clicking the “+ New assignment” button.
- Choosing your kit and adding assignment details like due dates.
Once assigned to the class, enrolled students will see the kit appear in their student account and be able to play!
Analyze the Results
After students have completed your first kit, explore the results within your teacher account. Navigate to the “Reports” section to:
- See overall class performance on the kit like average score and accuracy.
- View individual student scores and accuracy rates.
- Check the response rate to see how many students have played.
- Identify which specific questions students struggled with the most based on percentage correct.
Use these performance insights to shape your future instruction and target areas that need additional focus. The reporting features make reviewing student learning a breeze!
Explore Public Kits
An easy way to see more examples of great Gimkit kits is to play ones created by other teachers in the Gimkit community.
Browse the extensive library of public kits covering almost any subject by:
- Clicking “Play” on the Gimkit home screen.
- Selecting a subject then using filters like rating, difficulty, etc.
- Previewing the kits before playing to evaluate quality.
You can get inspiration and reusable content by duplicating public kits into your own account as a starting point for customization.
Best Practices for Using Gimkit Effectively
As you get up and running with your Gimkit teacher account, keep these best practices in mind:
Use Game Time Strategically
Integrate Gimkit games strategically into your existing curriculum at key points. For example:
- At the very start of a unit to assess prior knowledge.
- After teaching a specific concept to reinforce and review understanding.
- Before a test as a low-stakes knowledge check.
- As a fun Friday wrap-up activity.
Align gameplay tightly with your current objectives to maximize impact.
Customize Kits for Each Class
To ensure full relevance, build customized kits for each specific class you teach rather than reusing the same kit universally.
Tailor kits to reflect:
- The learning level of that group based on ability.
- The pace those students are moving through the curriculum.
- Examples and topics that resonate best with that class.
Put in the extra effort to personalize kits, and students will be more engaged.
Use Pre and Post Assessments
Take advantage of Gimkit’s ability to assess students both before and after a learning period:
- Give the same kit as a pre-test at the start of a unit to surface prior knowledge.
- Give it again as a post-test after teaching the unit to quantify learning gains.
Compare the pre and post results to clearly demonstrate the value you are adding instructionally.
Monitor Student Performance
On an ongoing basis, check the performance reports for each kit to identify student strengths and gaps.
Provide targeted support to students who show ongoing struggles with certain concepts. Use top performers as peer tutors.
Incentivize Usage
To encourage active participation, consider awarding nominal extra credit or rewards to students for completing kits by the due date or achieving certain scores or improvement levels.
Incentives give students an added nudge to take Gimkit practice seriously and engage more actively. They can even boost healthy competition!
Promote Collaboration
Occasionally have students play Gimkit kits together in small teams. This allows them to discuss questions, learn from peers, and build camaraderie through friendly competition against other teams.
Collaborative gameplay keeps things fun while also enabling peer teaching opportunities.
Following tips like these will ensure you integrate Gimkit effectively to enhance instructional outcomes in your classroom.
Expanding Beyond Basics Kits
Once you become familiar with building basic quiz-style Gimkit kits, consider exploring some of the more advanced kit creation features:
Multi-Round Kits
Rather than a single linear quiz, you can create kits with multiple rounds that progress in sequential order. Use rounds to:
- Gradually increase difficulty round-by-round.
- Change the question type or theme each round.
- Address different subtopics in each unique round.
Multi-round kits provide variety and allow you to reinforce key concepts.
Live Competition Kits
In live competition kits, students race to answer questions correctly before their classmates. It enables exciting head-to-head battles suitable even for remote learning via video chat.
Tournament Kits
Tournament style kits split students into small groups that compete in a bracket-style competition. Winners advance while other teams are eliminated round-by-round like March Madness.
Team Kits
In a team kit, students work together in small groups collaboratively toward a shared score. This fosters peer learning and cooperation.
Science Simulation Kits
These kits go beyond standard questions by incorporating interactive scientific simulations students can manipulate and observe. It’s perfect for physics, chemistry, and biology.
By leveraging kit features like these, you can create diverse and multifaceted learning experiences far beyond traditional quizzes.
Managing Student Accounts and Rosters
While students do not need Gimkit accounts to play teacher-created kits, managing individual student accounts unlocks additional functionality:
Student Tracking
With student accounts, you can view individual progress monitoring data to gauge mastery of skills over time. Student analytics are far richer.
Offline Playback
Only with accounts can students review kits and replay games when offline rather than just live during class time. This enables additional study time.
Student Avatars
Accounts let students create fun personalized avatars to represent themselves during gameplay and chat. They help express student individuality.
Game Bookmarks
Students can bookmark their favorite kits into their account for quick access later. This helps them easily find the games they enjoy most.
There are two primary ways teachers can create student accounts:
1. Student Self Sign-Up
Provide the Gimkit sign up link to students and have them self-enroll with a class code. Students will create their own usernames and passwords.
2. Roster Sync
Bulk upload your existing class enrollment lists into Gimkit to auto-create accounts. You maintain control over student usernames/passwords.
For the strongest reporting and tracking, managed student accounts are recommended. But the flexibility is there to decide what works best for your classroom and students.
Communicating with Students and Parents
As your class starts actively using Gimkit, it’s important to communicate proactively with both students and parents to set expectations and highlight value:
Set Clear Expectations
- Explain how you plan to integrate Gimkit into your instructional routine.
- Provide usage expectations like required kits to complete each week or month.
- Share your gameplay plan like having students complete kits during the last 15 minutes of Wed/Fri class.
Highlight Learning Benefits
- Show parents sample kits to demonstrate how Gimkit reinforces concepts through engagement.
- Share research on how game-based learning improves outcomes.
- Note how Gimkit’s competitive elements cater to today’s digitally-driven students.
Foster Enthusiasm
- Pique student interest by holding a brief class contest using a fun Gimkit tournament kit.
- Let students know high-performers on certain kits will be recognized.
- Consider Gimkit “power hours” where you provide device access for gameplay during slow periods.
Proactive outreach boosts buy-in while setting the stage for effective ongoing use of Gimkit in your classroom.
Finding Additional Gimkit Support Resources
As you being leveraging Gimkit, tap into these valuable support resources for ongoing assistance:
Gimkit Help Center
This online knowledge base provides step-by-step tutorials, how-to articles, guides, and troubleshooting advice for all Gimkit features. Search for instant answers 24/7.
Gimkit Teacher Community Facebook Group
Join Gimkit’s highly active Facebook group to connect with thousands of other teachers. Share best practices, resources, ask questions, and stay inspired!
Gimkit Blog
Read Gimkit’s education blog for the latest product updates, curriculum tips, edtech integration ideas, and success stories from teachers using Gimkit in innovative ways.
Gimkit YouTube Channel
Find an entire library of video tutorials walking through how to use key Gimkit features like kit building, class management, assessments, gameplay interfaces, and more.
Live Chat Support
Chat instantly with Gimkit’s support team during business hours if you ever get stuck or have questions while using the platform. Just click “Get Help” from your account.
Rely on resources like these to optimize your usage of Gimkit as you continue exploring its many capabilities!
Final Thoughts
The process of signing up for Gimkit and getting started as a teacher is quick, intuitive, and sets you up for ongoing success leveraging this powerful game-based learning platform.
Within your free teacher account, you have access to incredible tools to engage students, enhance instruction, surface learning gaps, and make reviewing material fun.
By following the tips in this guide, you’ll be equipped to unlock Gimkit’s full potential as you integrate it into your classroom. Soon, it will become a favorite of both your students and you!
FAQs
Is there a fee or subscription cost to use Gimkit?
No, Gimkit is 100% free for teachers and students. There are no hidden fees or required subscriptions. You can use all of Gimkit’s core features for free forever.
How do students log into my Gimkit games?
When you create a game as the teacher, you generate a unique game code. Share this game code with your students and they can enter it on the Gimkit website to join your game. No student accounts required!
What if I forget my Gimkit password?
You can reset your password by clicking “Forgot password” on the Gimkit login page and entering your account email address. You will receive an email with a password reset link to create a new password.
Can I change my account email address later?
Yes, you can change the email associated with your Gimkit account at any time from your account settings page once logged in.
Does Gimkit comply with education privacy laws like COPPA and FERPA?
Yes, Gimkit upholds all state and federal education privacy laws. Student data is kept private and is never sold or shared for marketing or advertising.
What internet browsers work best with Gimkit?
Gimkit is optimized to work on all modern browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc. For best performance, make sure you’re running the latest version of your preferred browser.