You probably made or purchased some digital resources in order to meet the needs of your students during distance learning.  Not only are digital activities going to make your life easier, but they are also going to help save trees.   

DIFFERENT TYPES OF DIGITAL ACTIVITIES

INTERACTIVE PDF ACTIVITIES

Here are some of the key takeaways with interactive PDFs:

• No Internet is needed to play interactive PDFs (other than to download the PDF initially).
• Compatible on the computer, tablet, smart board, and phone.
• Great for use on a touch screen device for students that have fine motor difficulties with using a computer mouse.
• You only need a free PDF reader installed to your device (most already have one installed) like Adobe Reader.
• After selecting an answer, it gives immediate positive reinforcement for correct answers, redirection for incorrect answers.
• PDFS can be uploaded to online platforms like Google Classroom™ or Microsoft Teams™, Seesaw…etc. as an interactive assignment. (After uploading to the online platform, the student can play interactively directly on the platform, or download to their desktop).

Browse Digital Interactive PDFs HERE.

BOOM CARD ACTIVITIES

• Internet needed to play Boom Cards.
• Compatible with computer, tablets, smart boards, phone.
• After selecting an answer, it gives immediate positive reinforcement for correct answers, and redirection for incorrect answers with the option of “correct” or “incorrect” sound also.
• If you have a touch screen device, this is a great option for students that have fine motor difficulties with using a computer mouse.
• Questions will shuffle each time you play (so they are not in the same order every time)
• Fastplay option: A shortcut for students to play right away.  Student accounts/login NOT required (but does not generate a report)
• Hyperplay option: Prompts students to sign in (generates report)
• Fastplay and Hyperplay options can be posted as an assignment on online platforms like Google Classroom™ or Microsoft Teams™, Seesaw…etc.
• Has the option for custom play settings and hiding cards/questions if you want to reduce the number assigned.

Browse BOOM CARDS here.

GOOGLE SLIDES OR POWERPOINT  ACTIVITIES

• These are typically typing or drag-and-drop activities.
• No Internet is needed for PowerPoint (other than to download the file initially)
• Google Slides requires the internet, but you can turn on the option to make it available offline in the settings.
• If you have a touch screen device, this is a great option for students that have fine motor difficulties with using a computer mouse.
• You can make a copy for each student (especially if you customize it to fit a students’ specific need)
• The Google Slides version can be uploaded to online platforms like Google Classroom™  as an assignment.
• If you are using Microsoft Teams™, Seesaw…etc. , you can upload a link to the Google Slides activity (that is saved onto your Google Drive), or easily convert it to PowerPoint.

Browse Google Slides activities HERE.

GOOGLE FORMS ACTIVITIES

• Google Forms can consist of worksheets, surveys, and quizzes.
• Editable (you can rearrange, delete, or add questions or the way answers are formatted.
• It can be visual (if images are inserted for questions/answers).
• Student Collects responses
• If you have a touch screen device, this is a great option for students that have fine motor difficulties with using a computer mouse.
• You can make a copy for each student (especially if you customize it to fit a student’s specific need)
• It can be uploaded to online platforms like Google Classroom™ as an assignment.  If you are using Microsoft Teams™, Seesaw…etc. , you can upload a link to the quiz (that is saved onto your Google Drive).

Browse Google Forms activities HERE.

IDEAS FOR USING DIGITAL ACTIVITIES IN THE CLASSROOM

SMALL/LARGE GROUP LESSON

Here are some ways to use digital activities during a group lesson:

• Take turns having students come up to the smartboard to answer a question.  This is a great way to get students up and moving.
• They can use the touch screen to select an answer and get immediate positive reinforcement for correct answers or redirection for incorrect answers.
• Students can get additional praise from the teacher and staff after they finish their turn.
• Also gives students an opportunity to practice turn-taking, social skills, and even taking a small “break” while other students are going up and answering a question.
• It doesn’t feel like an overwhelming amount of work for each student, and they are still learning by watching their classmates answer correct or incorrect answers.
• If you want to get the whole class actively participating in answering each question, each student can have a small whiteboard on their desk.
• This type of activity also works great in a small group setting with an iPad/Tablet.

CENTERS

Set up a few stations or tables that each have a tablet or computer with a designated activity to complete. After a certain amount of time (eg. 15 minutes) have students rotate to the next station.  You can have a staff to assist at each center, or maybe they only need to follow along with a particular student.  Each center can be just 1 student rotating, or you can have a small group at each center.  Every center doesn’t need to be digital either, maybe just one of the centers is a digital activity.

INDEPENDENT WORK STATION

Independent workstations are typically known for completing task boxes, but why not incorporate digital activities into this!  You can set up a computer station, or have an iPad/tablet available in a task box (if that is what your students are used to with your system).  Don’t forget to use visuals on which activity to complete, and limit the number of activities to 2-5 to complete during an allowed time.

MORNING MEETING

I typically use Google Slides presentation for students to either come up and point to the answers for today’s date, how they are feeling, what they did over the weekend…etc.  If you want to get even fancier and track responses, have students answer on their iPad/Tablets with the same activity.  Check out this blog for more ideas on setting up your morning routine.

INFORMAL ASSESSMENT

All of the digital activities are great for informal assessment in a variety of ways!   I also love using Google Forms to send surveys to the parents to help collect their responses as well!

The great thing about digital activities, is they provide the opportunity to practice skills in an engaging way, they promote independence, and you have the opportunity to collect data which means less work for you in the long run!

Thanks for reading!