Are you looking for some tips for using BOOM Cards in distance learning? This online learning tool makes it simple and easy for students to practice specific grade level task.
BOOM Cards also allow teachers to monitor student progress on specific skills and track data for each of their students. This digital activity can be done online at home or at school and are compatible with Google Classroom and Google Apps
These digital activities help teachers connect with their students and help in instruction planning to meet students’ needs. Below are some tips for using BOOM Cards in distance learnings that may help you get started with this online platform.
1: What are BOOM Cards?
BOOM Cards are an online learning platform created by teachers for students to use on their online devices. A set of BOOM Cards is called a BOOM Deck.
Each BOOM Deck is game-based task cards created for students for a specific skill. These decks can cover any subject area or grade level. BOOM Cards can help students practice literacy, math, science, and social studies skills. They also have a themed based application to them if that is what you are looking for.
The online learning gives students immediate feedback because they are self-checking. Teachers can track students’ progress with each BOOM Deck and can easily differentiate learning for students depending on this progress.
While using distance learning with BOOM Cards is an excellent tool it can also be perfect to use in the classroom. If your classroom is fortunate to have iPads or Chrome Books you can set up literacy or math centers that include the use of Boom Learning.
2: What Type of BOOM Learning Account Do I Need?
The type of BOOM Learning account you will need depends on your situation. There are four different types of accounts: starter, basic, power and ultimate accounts.
The prices are very affordable, but if you have five students or less and don’t plan to create your own decks your account will be free. Scroll down on Boom Learning’s site to find the account type that would best meet your needs.
3: How Do I Set Up My Classroom or Children?
Creating a classroom for your students or children can be done either manually or through importing from Google Classroom. If done manually, you click New Student to add your students’ names one at a time and create their password. If importing from Google Classroom students may have their same username and password. The BOOM Learning site has valuable tutorials about how everything is done.
4: How DO I Get BOOM Decks?
BOOM Decks can be purchased either on the BOOM Learning site or on the Teachers Pay Teachers site. On the BOOM Learning site, you purchase a points package. Each point’s value is less than one penny per point.
On the Teachers Pay Teacher Site you can search BOOM Cards or BOOM Learning to find the BOOM Decks that meet your students’ instructional needs.
There are also many BOOM Decks available for free on both the BOOM Learning and Teachers Pay Teachers site. Many authors offer free decks for a variety of skills or as a preview a larger deck that you can purchase.
BOOM Learning allows you to preview a few task cards in a BOOM Deck. This allows you to see if the deck will truly meet the instructional needs of your students.
Once you have purchased or clicked on a free BOOM Deck they are added to your library and are yours forever. You will always have access to assign or play your BOOM Decks.
5: What Types of BOOM Cards Are There?
BOOM task cards may contain the following features:
- Fill in the Blank Answers: Ex: Math Word Problems
- Multiple Choice: Ex: Letter & Sound Match
- Moveable Pieces: Ex: Counting Activity
- Clickable Answer Choices: Ex: Fact Families
6: How Are BOOM Decks Played?
BOOM Decks can be played in two ways: Fast Play or Hyperplay Links.
Fast Play: Students play BOOM Deck without recording student progress.
Hyperplay or Assign to Students: The teacher assigns the BOOM Deck to the whole, group, or individual students. Students’ progress is reported and data is collected on each individual student. (This is where differentiating learning takes place).
7: How DO I Assign BOOM Decks to My Students?
There are two ways to assign decks to students. First, you can assign the BOOM Deck to your entire class by clicking on Action and then click on Assign.
Secondly, if you what to assign the BOOM Deck to certain students you click on Classes and choose the class the student is in. Next, find the student(s) you want to assign the deck to. Finally, click the blue arrow to find the drop-down menu and click Assign.
In summary, there are many tips for using BOOM Cards in distance learning. They allow teachers to easily monitor their students’ progress on specific academic skills. They are designed with a variety of features that keep the student actively engaged in their learning. BOOM Cards are self-checking and offer students immediate feedback on the skill being practiced.
Have you tried BOOM Learning yet? Do you want to give it a try? Try one of my free word decoding BOOM Decks to see if it is right for you or your students!
Grab your Free, Fall Patterns BOOM Deck Here!
Find some more reading activities and assessments in my store, The Teaching Scene by Maureen.
To read more topics check out my blog, “Seven Effective First Grade Assessment Tools”
