Stu's Quiz Boxes!

Stu’s Quiz Boxes (for Windows) might remind people of the TV gameshow, Jeopardy!, but it’s not that, it’s much better than that. You can use it to make an exciting, interactive and educational computer-based gameshow available to everybody. It can be used in so many different situations – in schools and colleges, at conferences and parties. But the main use is expected to be in classrooms, that’s why Quiz Boxes is all about POINTS, not DOLLARS. There is no link to gambling like there is with that other game.

As Interactive Whiteboards (IWBs) and data projectors become more widely used in schools, there is a need for motivating, interactive and educational software to complement them. Many of the IWB titles available involve working with one student while everybody else looks on. That’s where Stu’s Quiz Boxes is different. Firstly it’s all about teamwork – Quiz Boxes can be played by up to 6 teams!

So, once you’ve split your class up into the desired number of teams, it’s time to select a Quiz Boxes quiz to play. This is where real interactivity starts and why this Quiz Boxes website is so important. With Stu’s Quiz Boxes, you can quickly and very easily create your own quiz files. Now I’m hoping that everybody that creates a Quiz Boxes quiz file will be happy to share it – making this site grow into a huge repository of quizzes covering every subject under the Sun and beyond.

Actually, I’d better clarify this. Many people think that Stu’s Quiz Boxes is available for free. Technically, yes, you can download it for free. But if you use it, there is a cost. You MUST produce a good-quality Quiz Boxes question file on any subject and share it by emailing it to me for inclusion at this site.  Click on the Quizzes page for more information about this. So, here’s what the game board looks like:

This is completely unlike any program I’ve ever written – not a single command button in sight. What’s more, the game is totally skinnable! You can create your own background images and button images if you are so inclined.  Furthermore, you can also make it a multimedia quiz by adding your own MP3 files to each question if you want.

So imagine this game board filling an IWB. The teacher or a student is the M.C. or host. Split the class into 3, 4, 5 or 6 teams and select a point-value in a category to see the question panel:

 

Keep score automatically by pressing [tick] or [cross] against each team as they answer the questions. Play on through the board to reveal hidden “SUPER Quiz Box” where the team in control can risk any or all of their score on the outcome of the next question.

You can include MP3 audio in any or all question panels and select when they play by clicking the CD icon on the screen.  You can also include a JPEG image in any or all question panels just like this one:

 

Then it’s through to the showdown – The Quiz Boxes Breaker. Stu’s Quiz Breaker is a full-featured, exciting, motivating and customizable quiz show toolbox, all in one program. There’s pretty much nothing else like it – especially not at this price! (free) 

Now here’s the real power of Stu’s Quiz Boxes – The Question Editor:

With the Question Editor, Teachers can create question files. Students can create question files. One class can create a question file for another class to use. Build question files that cover every Key Learning Area and topic. Make the creation of question files a whole class activity! Every student can contribute questions individually, or groups can contribute a whole category of questions. Use the games for topic review. Use the games as a reward. Share your question files via the Stu’s Quiz Boxes website. Download shared question files from the Stu’s Quiz Boxes website. It’s a great group activity that can be used over and over throughout each year.

Then think about some extension activities for your students, like creating your own skins for your Quiz Boxes game:

With the Quiz Boxes Skin Builder, you just need to supply three photo files, cropped to specific sizes and named appropriately. The Skin Builder will automatically cut your foreground photo up into boxes and number them, ready to play! Make a skin to relate to YOUR quiz, and teach your students to do basic photo editing at the same time.

Find out more by clicking through the above menu links. If you have any comments or questions first check the FAQ page and if you still don’t have your answer, just ask  your question below.