Flashcard Factory

Flashcard Factory

Make Flashcards For With Your Students

@LisaBerghoff/@MrKimDHS

As we learn more and more about cognitive processing styles and the ways to differentiate in order to offer options for all learners, it is important to remember to include students on the creation of learning materials. Too often, we get stuck in the mode of having students create as a way of demonstrating their learning at what we consider an endpoint. There are so many opportunities to include students in creating at the beginning as well as the middle of their learning. Why not include students in hands on experiences that let them be in charge right from the start? Fortunately, we have digital tools that can help make the learning pit interactive and maybe even fun.

Pear Deck's Flashcard Factory is not new, but I think we often forget it's there or think it's not for us. I'm here to remind you and convince you that it is for you and your students.

Vocabulary can be a barrier or an open door to learning. Using Flashcard Factory at the beginning or the middle of a unit can help flip the switch from barrier to open doorway.

 There are a few things I love about Flashcard Factory. Here they are in no particular order.

1. Students are involved in creating their own study set of flashcards

2. It requires drawing in addition to writing 

3. It is collaborative and encourages students to lean in and work together

4. The class gets to look at and make decisions about whether or not a card makes it into the final deck

5. The graphics are super cute and fun

6. This is appropriate for any content area and any level

7. Seeing what the students come up with can be great formative data

Here's how it works:

1. Go to PearDeck.com and sign in using your school Google credentials.

2. Click Flashcard Factory.

3. Create your list or import a list. There is a connection to Miriam Webster if you want to auto-add definitions. 

4. Click Play Flashcard Factory and present the join code to your students. They will go to joinpd.com and enter the code.

5. Once your students have all signed on, click Clock In. It will automatically put your students in pairs and on teams. There are 2 teams: Day Shift and Night Shift. If you have an odd number of students, they can work on their own and the game will adjust for them. You can click to shuffle the teams if you don't like the pairings that were created. Click Let's Play to start the game. 

6. Once the game starts, pairs of students will be given a word and the definition you loaded for them. One of the students is asked to draw an example of the word and the other student is asked to write an example. Remember, they are given the word and the definition so they will need to draw and write to show their understanding of the word. When they are done, they will click Ship It. A smaller version of their flashcard will appear on the screen you are projecting and it will land on a conveyer belt. 

7. Once everyone has done all of the words you will click to move on to Quality Control. The students will have an opportunity to look at every flashcard and collectively decide to keep (green check) or reject (red X) each card. You have the ability to see who made each card but it is not printed on the cards. 

8. The last phase is called the shipping phase. You can print the cards or export them to Gimkit. In lieu of printing, you can also opt to save as a pdf when you get to the print menu. Save the pdf to your Google drive and share the link on your Schoology page so your students can easily access them. 

Want to learn more? Here is a quick seven minute webinar to walk you through using Pear Deck's Flashcard Factory.

Want some help getting started? Feel free to book a time with me so we can get your students creating incredible flashcards.

Looking For Interaction In The Classroom? 

It's All About The Pear!

@LisaBerghoff/@MrKimDHS

I get to be in so many classrooms! I feel so fortunate to have the position that allows me to see so many of our incredible teachers in action. It also gives me a unique perspective on what our students experience on a daily basis. Imagine spending your day with 8 different bosses who each give you a new, independent, set of tasks and expectations. It's pretty exhausting! That is why one of the most common questions I get from teachers is: "How can I make sure my students stay engaged in my class?" As a teacher myself, I know that it is challenging to always make sure my students are moving, interacting, and staying on task. Sometimes, I just need to have a slide deck and a lecture or discussion. That is when we often lose our students. No matter how amazing your graphics are, sometimes it's hard to stay focused during a lecture.

That's where PearDeck comes in!

I will admit, this post is slightly biased because I just spent a day learning and experimenting with PearDeck at the Google office in Chicago and it was outstanding. I did write a post on PearDeck in October of 2018, you can search the blog to find it, but I realize that it's a good time for a refresher. That's how great this tool is!

First, watch this 1 minute video:

Here are five big takeaways about PearDeck...

1. PearDeck integrates with your slides.

If you already have slide decks that you are using, it is seamless to utilize PearDeck. You don't need to change your slides, you can just add a few interactive slides within your existing slide deck. Yes, you can use both Google slides and PowePoint. As you advance your slides, the slides will advance on your students' screens as well. No need to make sure they're all looking at the front of the room.

2. Students can connect to PearDeck using any device that has internet capabilities.

Yes, we're a 1:1 chromebook district, but sometimes those chromebooks are not charged, not working, or in a locker. Not to worry! You know they have their phones on them:) Also, you can run your slide deck from a different device than what is projecting. This allows you to move around the room and interact with your students. No need to stay at the front!

3. There are fantastic templates that are free to use.

Don't have a slide deck? Want to start fresh with PearDeck? Don't have tons of time to create your own interactive lesson? That's ok. PearDeck has so many templates that are already created. Use them as is or edit to make them your own.

4. Flashcard Factory integrates with Quizlet

PearDeck has a game called Flashcard Factory and it is outstanding for vocabulary! Enter your words and your students and then Flashcard Factory does the rest. It will pair your students and they will take turns giving and example and drawing an image that goes with that example. You can see the responses on the teacher dashboard and approve the best ones. THEN, it will make a Quizlet flashcard deck for you and your students to use with their examples and images! (can you tell I'm excited?)

5. You can create self-paced activities

Once you have presented, you might want your students to work through some activities on their own. You can do that right in PearDeck. You will see all of the responses on your teacher dashboard. Then you can choose if you want to show them anonymously or not. There are lots of options available. 

Want to get started with PearDeck? Head over to PearDeck.com to get started.
PS. You will be given a 30 day free trial of the upgraded version, which is better than the free version, but the free version is rad too.
Let me know if you want any help getting started!

Winter's A Grind

5 Tips/Tools For Maximum Engagement 

@LisaBerghoff/@MrKimDHS

I will admit. I love the snow! I think it's beautiful and peaceful and I love winter outdoor activities like skiing and snowshoeing. So much of it has to do with owning the right gear. I have a great ski jacket, mittens, hat, neck gator, etc. In general, having the right equipment makes the experience so much better.   Third quarter, or what used to be third quarter, is always a bit of a grind. The holidays are over and it's cold and this is typically the time of year when we see students struggle the most.  For many of us, the snowy cold winter makes us want to hunker down and move as little as possible. It's our Chicagoland version of hibernating and I totally understand that too. 

Here are 5 tips/tools to remind you that with the right gear, your students can be engaged, enjoy learning, and make progress even though it's January. While these are not new, it can be good to be reminded that we have them and can use them in an in-person learning world. In addition, there are always new ways to use these and we have not come close to exhausting the possibilities. 

Goosechase:  

What is it?  A scavenger hunt app.

How do I use it? Go to Goosechase.com and log in. You create your "missions" or tasks here. Students download the free app onto their phones and submit pictures or text to complete the missions. As the teacher, you will see all of the submissions and the leaderboard.

Why should I use it? This is a FUN game that can be played in school in teams so only one person per team needs the app. Or, you can create a game that lasts all semester long! There are many applications for Goosechase.

   

Kahoot:

What is it? Ummmm, it's fun!

Kahoot is an interactive game-based platform for learning. If you haven't looked at kahoot in a while, it's a good time to take another look as they are constantly updating features and their interface. 

How do I use it? Go to kahoot.com and set yourself up with a free account. You create games by adding questions and you can adjust question types and also the way students interact with the game. This can be done live in class or assigned as homework. When you are ready you will have your students go to kahoot.it and enter the game pin you give them. 

Why should I use it? Kahoot has been around a while which in tech years means a lot. It's fun, engaging, interactive, and can be set up in many ways so it doesn't get too stale. It's great for kids who don't typically speak up in class. You'll probably be surprised by who is on your leaderboard. 

PearDeck:

What is it? Pear Deck is a way to embed interactive elements into Google slides. It's ALSO a great vocabulary/review game called Flashcard Factory. We are lucky to have two certified Pear Deck coaches in our district. Reach out if you want to know who they are!

How do I use it? Start by getting the Google chrome extension. You can also go to peardeck.com  and click Getting Started to learn how to use it and to connect to your Google slides that you already have created. There is now a feedback/reflection feature where you can give feedback to students. We have a premium license to Pear Deck in our district which means we have ALL the features. If you haven't used Flashcard Factory, it's also found at peardeck.com and click on Pear Deck vocabulary. Here is an overview of Flashcard Factory. 

Why should I use it? Sometimes we walk out of a class that seemed to go so well and then we realize that we really only heard from 5 or 6 students in the class. Pear Deck helps make sure everyone is participating. You can also set it to student-paced to differentiate the amount of time so you can meet the needs of more students. 

Quizlet Live:

What is it? A game within Quizlet that requires students to work in teams as opposed to individually with their own flashcard set. 

How do I use it?  Create your flashcards or question set in Quizlet. Then, you will click where it says In Class Live. You will get a game pin to send to your students and the program will put your students into teams. They need to physically be together to make this work since their answer choices will all be different.

Why should I use it?  In this world of awkward interactions, it's nice to have something prescribed and potentially less awkward.  Students are forced to work together and they really need to talk to make this work. 

Schoology Discussion Question OR Poll

What is it? Interactive questions that are already in the place where your students go for everything else! You may be trying to have discussions in your classes but students have forgotten how to do that. These give you the ability to add some interactive elements that you can use as a springboard for in-person discussions. 

How do I use it? From your materials page, click add materials and then choose Add Discussion. You can have students respond with text or with images, or even with audio or video responses. For a poll, go to the updates page and choose the poll icon at the bottom of the box then enter the poll items. Responses will be anonymous. These could also be a great on ramp to discussions in class.

What are your go-to tools when things feel cold and gray?

Let us know in the comments below!

 More Play = More Learning

Gimkit

@LisaBerghoff

There is no doubt that playing games makes learning more fun, increases engagement, and can help students feel more connected in class. There are lots of online tools designed to help educators manage lessons and track student achievements while students are practicing problem-solving and collaboration skills. Gimkit definitely rises to the top when the online tools are put to the test. 

What is Gimkit?

Gimkit is a classroom game-show platform where students compete by answering questions. Yes, it is similar to Kahoot, but different. Throughout a "kit", students answer questions on their own devices at their own pace. Each student gets exposure to the questions multiple times to ensure mastery. They earn in-game cash by answering questions correctly. Student can then reinvest their money by purchasing upgrades and power-ups. Of course, these can all be adjusted by the teacher in the settings. 

What's New And Different About Gimkit?

• There are actually over 10 unique game modes so there is always a new way for students to play. 
• Gimkit can be assigned for homework and done individually.
• KitCollab allows students to create questions for the game!
• Creative mode allows students to create their own game modes, maps, and worlds

How To Get Started:

1. Go to Gimkit.com and click New Kit. You will name your kit, choose what language you want students to use, and a subject. 
2. You can choose or add an image that will represent your kit, making it easier for your students to recognize.
3. Choose: 
1. Add Question: Add a multiple choice or a text input question. You can add images, audio, and equations for support. 
2. Create With Flashcards: Make or import flashcards (great alternative to Quizlet) You can also import directly from Flashcard Factory- by Pear Deck
3. Collaborate with KitCollab: Share the link with your students and have them create questions. Great for review!
4. Add From Question Bank: Access kits that have been created by others.
5. Import From Spreadsheet: Quick way to add questions. Add them in a spreadsheet and then import them into Gimkit.

After you make your game- called a Kit, click done and then decide if you will play it live or for homework. You will then choose the type of game you want your students to play. The game types will vary depending on if you are playing live or asynchronously. You will also set the parameters. You can also decide if you want it to be teacher or student-paced. 

You Don't Have To Make A Kit!

Want your students to play but don't want to make a kit? You can have them play "this or that". In this game, you say the questions out loud and the students choose the red or the blue side. You get to decide who gets the points!

Once your games are done, you can pull reports, copy your kit, create folders so you can keep track of all the games you are using for your classes, and more.

I highly encourage you to give Gimkit a try!

Want some help getting started? Feel free to contact me. I'm happy to help.

 

 

What's In The Toolbox?

@LisaBerghoff

*image above was created with Canva's text to image AI tool

I was shopping for school supplies with my kids last week. Maybe it's just me but there is something exciting about bringing home new notebooks, folders, and pens. Yes, they are the same supplies we bought last year, but when they are brand new it's like there are endless possibilities.

I feel the same way about our digital tools. Many are the same we had last year, many also have added new features, but it's the idea of the endless possibilities of how we will use them with our students this year that gets me excited. 

Here is a list of some of the items available to you in your digital toolbox. Many of these can be utilized in lots of different ways. I would love to explore these with you so if you want to work together please reach out.

Here are the top 5 (in no particular order) that we pay for click here to see the whole list:

Pear Deck gives you the ability to create interactive slides. You can create a prompt on the fly or in advance and your students can work along with you as you lead them or you can set the activity to student-paced. Within the Pear Deck suite lives Flashcard Factory, which is a partner activity that can be tailored to any lesson, and Giant Steps, which is a game-like activity where you can create questions and your students can play with you in person or on their own. There are lots of Pear Deck posts in this blog, feel free to search the archives or reach out to me for help. I am a proud certified Pear Deck coach.

Read&Write for Google Chrome is a chrome extension and the premium version is available to ALL students and staff. This is your one stop shop for everything reading and writing online. It has text to speech, a highlighting tool, a screen mask, a vocabulary builder, voice notes, and so much more. This is an extension that many adults in the business world are using and it would only make sense for us to teach our students about this tool now. There are also many blog posts about Read&Write in the archives so feel free to check them out. I'm happy to work with you and your students to get you up and running.

Screencastify is your go-to tool for screen recording and basic video editing. Yes, the students have access to it too! This is a fantastic tool for students to give presentations and voice over their slides. You can also now give assignments right on the Screencastify dashboard. Just look for the orange arrow in your chrome extension bar and try out the various tools you and your students can use to create videos. 

Want to assign videos for your students to watch? EdPuzzle is a great way to make those videos interactive. You can add questions and notes and it integrates with Schoology. EdPuzzle now also has a great content library with their own videos in addition to all of those found on YouTube and elsewhere. If you set it up with multiple choice questions it will also auto-grade!

Did you know that we have a building license for Padlet? That means that you and your students can make unlimited padlets and you can set them to only be visible within our dist113 environment. Padlet is a digital bulletin board. But really it's so much more than that. You can create timelines, maps, use it as a backchannel, a review guide, a hub for resources, a way for students to display work and give and get feedback and more. 

Want to know what else we have? Check it out here.

These are free and amazing:

Canva- Do I need to tell you what Canva is?  Probably not. 

Flip- Students can interact with you and each other via short videos. Great mobile app! Easy to use. So easy my niece's 2nd grade class used it. Try it. You won't be disappointed. 

I am so excited to see what you and your students create with these tools! Don't forget to reach out for help or just to bounce ideas.

 

 

Blooket ("Blue-Kit")

@LisaBerghoff/@MrKimDHS

Kahoot, Gimkit, PearDeck Flashcard Factory, and Quizizz are a few of the more popular trivia-style classroom review games that have been wildly popular with educators and students alike in the last few years. Just like how basketball can trick people into having fun while running, these review games add some excitement and competition to the learning and reviewing process. They each have their strengths and weaknesses and unique little twists that are unique to their platforms. While understanding the risk of being too derivative, here is yet another exciting addition to the review game market: Blooket (pronounced: "Blue-Kit.")

Blooket goes in the same direction as Gimkit in the ways that the latter gamified the review process. Instead of "just" having trivia-style questions, Gimkit had different game modes that students would participate in with upgrades and strategies. Blooket offers a variety of customizable game modes that, according to their website, allow us to "ditch the old, redundant classroom review game(s)..." Having played a game mode titled, "Fishing Frenzy" with my homeroom, I can certainly attest to the "Fun Factor" in catching megalodons while answering questions.  

So much is still the same. Staff can create an account and create what is known as a "Question Set." Mostly multiple-choice style questions that you can manually add, import from Quizlet, or import as CSV files or Comma Separated Values. Matching its competitors, Blooket also provides a trove of popular question sets provided by blooket or created by other users. 

Once you choose the question set you want your students to engage with, you and your students get to choose from a variety of game modes like:

• Gold Quest
• Crypto Hack
• Tower Defense 2
• Racing
• Classic
• Fishing Frenzy
• Battle Royale

and on and on. 

Clicking on each game mode gives you and your students a simple, brief explanation. Students can play by themselves asynchronously, or live modes can have up to 60-300 individuals (depending on your subscription). Luckily, students don't have to sign-up for this with their emails which won't mess with COPA rules. After you choose a game mode you can decide how long you want to play, and customize parts of the game mode like Map selection or dinosaur types (I know, it's getting exciting).

Students go to play.blooket.com and enter the unique Game ID provided. You can randomize player names and you can also delete names you deem less than appropriate. And the rest is pretty straight-forward. I figured since my homeroom unanimously voted to play Blooket that it must be fun, and like I said, I can verify the "fun factor." Give it a try! There are a number of different game modes to choose from. Let us know your favorite game mode below!

Skills For The Future

@LisaBerghoff/@MrKimDHS

As we get ready to send the class of 2022 on their way, it seems like an appropriate time  to take a look at the skills that will be needed by our students in the not so distant future. The World Economic Forum's future of jobs report  indicates the top ten skills of 2025. They are divided into four categories: Problem-Solving, Self-Management, Working With People, and Technology Use And Development.  Here is the full list, color coded by category. 

 Fortunately for us, we have the ability to craft learning experiences for our students that will enable them to hone these skills.  As you can see, five of the ten skills involve problem-solving, which can easily apply to any content area. 

Now, here is a list of five tools/activities that you are probably already familiar with,that you can utilize in your classroom to maximize these skills.

Breakout Edu: This is a popular activity because it is so much fun. It's also really challenging and can be brought into any class. We own several breakout edu physical boxes and locks but you can also do this entirely digitally. Yes, you can make your own breakout games but there are also many many open source breakout edu games that you can grab and make your own.

Schoology: Varying Assessment Types Did you know that there are 18 different types of questions that you can create in Schoology assessments? Go beyond multiple choice and rote memorization and get into more reasoning, critical thinking and analysis by using these different options. You can ask students to manipulate graphs,  generate video responses, interact with images, and more. 

Canva To Synthesize and Create: You can ask students to answer questions or you can ask students to create an infographic explaining their understanding; which would be more engaging and memorable? Tap into students' creativity by having them create a video. In case you missed the announcement, our district now has a Canva Pro account! Just sign in with your school Google credentials. 

Pear Deck: Go beyond students watching slides presentations and have them interact with Pear Deck interactive questions but also leverage the ability to embed websites into Pear Deck and ask students to think critically about what they notice. Remember that Pear Deck now has a reflect and review feature which allows you to give feedback to students. Also, if you have not tried flashcard factory I highly recommend it! 

Schoology: Discussion Questions: Have students interact with one another outside of class by creating discussion questions. This helps ensure that every student participates and it also helps keep students engaged when they are not physically in class. This is a very real and practical way for our students to interact and you can provide opportunities for them to practice doing this beyond social media.

Did any of your favorites not make this list? Let us know what you use for maximum engagement and problem-solving. 

What's In The Toolbox?

An Inventory Of Premium Tools

@LisaBerghoff/@MrKimDHS

I have been doing a lot of home repairs lately and while I am not particularly handy, I am pretty good at following YouTube directions and eventually getting the job done. One thing that I have learned is the value of having the right tools. It definitely makes a huge difference when you have the appropriate tools for the job. I have also learned the importance of taking inventory and knowing what tools I have and what they are actually used for. (A story for another day!)

This seems like a good time to share a brief inventory of the tools that we have available to us. The tools on this list are specifically ones that we pay for, are for classroom use,  and are not content specific. If you would like more information or some help working with any of these, please don't hesitate to reach out. 

To not show favoritism, here they are in alphabetical order, with a very
brief explanation of each. 

1. Edpuzzle: Integrates with Schoology (use file/link/external tool) and allows you to embed questions into video content. If your questions are multiple choice it will also auto-grade and input into the Schoology gradebook. 

2. Hapara: Creates shared Google folders with you and your students. Hapara also allows you to see students' active screens and focus internet use to a specific domain.  You can access Hapara from the staff portal. You will need to click allow to connect to your school Google account. 

3. Mastery Manager: Web-based assessment tool that allows teachers to monitor progress. Especially helpful if you are looking for data on standards alignment.   This is a great tool for collecting SLO data. Can also be accessed from the staff portal. 

4. PearDeck: This is two tools in one. Peardeck integrates with Schoology and works to create interactive Google slides presentations. Students can respond in a variety of ways to embedded interactive questions. Also, Flashcard Factory is a game used for vocabulary development. A class set of flashcards is the end result of this collaborative game. To get started, go to Peardeck.com and sign in with your school credentials to use all of the premium features. 

5. Respondus Lockdown Browser: This is a tool that is integrated with Schoology. It locks down the testing environment within Schoology. Students will not be able to open tabs or access their chromebooks other than to take a test in Schoology. They also cannot take screenshots, copy, or print. To access, just click LockDown Browser on the left side of your screen when you are in a Schoology course. 

6. Screencastify: This chrome extension is a fantastic tool for screencasting. You can record what is on your screen and/or your webcam to make videos for your students. This is a great option for flipped lessons and also for instructions that you want your students to have but you don't want to repeat yourself a hundred times. Your videos will automatically save in Google drive. Easy integration with YouTube as well. There also is a built in editor. Your students have it too! To access, click the extention icon or click the little gray puzzle piece in the top right corner of your chrome browser. 

7. Texthelp: Equatio and Google Read&Write: These tools make outstanding Tier 1 interventions. Equation is designed for math and science, while Read & Write is a literacy tool. Both are chrome extensions and all of our students have access to the premium features. Both include speech to text, text to
speech, and so many other options that are designed to remove barriers to learning. To access, click the chrome extension icon or click the little gray puzzle piece in the top right corner of your chrome browser. 

8. TurnItIn: This tool is designed to promote original written work by your students. Turnitin integrates well with Schoology and can easily catch plagiarism.  It is simple to get started but must be done through Schoology. Here are instructions to get you started. 

Incorporate More Play With Gimkit

@LisaBerghoff

I am so fortunate that I get to be in many classrooms over the course of the school year. When talking about their students, teachers will often say something like "this is a really good class". I somehow know what they mean, but also would like to spell it out more clearly. What makes a group of students a "good class"? It tends to boil down to two things, and these things are often confused as the same thing. These two things are engagement and compliance. I would argue that you need some amount of both to make a good class but I think it is important to define these terms.

Compliance refers to performing required behaviors such as following rules or completing assignments. Engagement is referring to a cognitive and emotional investment in learning involving active participation, curiosity, and a desire to understand. The argument could be made that you need a level of compliance in order for real engagement to happen. That is why it is so important to really think about what we know about our students when we are preparing lessons and activities. Will they be able to follow the rules and will they be engaged are two main questions I would ask. Then, what tools do I have to maximize both of these?

That's where Gimkit comes in!

What Is Gimkit?

Gimkit is a classroom game-show style platform where students compete by answering questions on their electronic devices. Instead of earning points, students earn virtual currency, which they can "invest" during the game to boost their score. Games can be played live or can be assigned as independent practice. Students connect via game codes  and can play in a web browser on any internet-connected device. They can compete against each other or collaborate in teams or as a whole class. When teachers launch the game, they choose from a variety of play modes and set in-game parameters. In KitCollab mode, students help build the game by submitting questions before play begins. Teachers can view and download detailed student reports after every game.

Gimkit gets a rating of 4/5 on Common Sense.

How Do I Get Started with Gimkit?

Start by going to Gimkit.com and logging in with your school Google credentials. That will take you to our premium license.

The games are called Kits and you can start from scratch or you can click Discovery and search from more than 30,000,000 kits that have already been created. Yes, you have the ability to edit and adjust to make it your own.  You can also begin by importing or creating a set of flashcards. The flashcards created from Pear Deck's Flashcard Factory are perfect for this.  

If you are starting from scratch, click Add Question and choose from multiple choice or text input. You can add images, audio, and equations to both types of questions.

Of course, there is now an AI generator that will help create questions for you as well. Enter a prompt, and watch the questions appear.

What is KitCollab?

If you really want to level up the engagement of your lesson and go beyond simply review, use KitCollab and have students create the questions. You will have the opportunity to decide which questions actually get added to the kit.

What Happens When The Gimkit Game Ends?

After your game ends, whether it was live or assigned outside of class, you have the opportunity to view a report. This report has a breakdown by question, overview by student, and also some quick statistics that can give you valuable insights into how well your students understood the material. This makes Gimkit an ideal formative assessment tool.

Ready to give Gimkit a try? Let me know. I'm happy to help.