One useful tool I leverage in my classroom is Pear Deck. I first heard about Pear Deck when they sponsored a Google Summit I attended a few years ago, but I didn’t really begin using it in my classroom until I saw it expertly utilized at a Bay Area Writer’s Project seminar. (Yes, I’m name-dropping PDs… because they’re some of my favorites!) Pear Deck creates a way to “blow up” multiple students’ answers on your projector, in real time. It displays their answers anonymously, which frees some students to contribute when they’d normally remain silent. It is a great tool for letting students get ideas from others, and also to point out common mistakes without embarrassing any of the mistake-makers. As with many great classroom tools, it has robust capabilities if you pay for them… but the freemium version has proved just enough for my needs.
Best uses:
My favorite way to use the tool is when students are starting a new writing assignment- a point at which many students struggle with the right words to get started. I ask them to draft their first few sentences and type them into Pear Deck. Though the responses appear anonymously, students love waiting for theirs to appear as I scroll through the screen, and it gives me a good opportunity to point out expert ideas that can help raise struggling students out of their writer’s block. Pear Deck is also an easy, high-engagement alternative to written exit tickets, formative assessments, and class-wide brainstorming.
How it works:
Tech-savvy teachers may want to think of it this way: If you’ve had success with Kahoot!, you might want to try Pear Deck. Or, if you like Poll Everywhere, you should give Pear Deck a shot. Similar to both programs, students are given a login code to join. The teacher prepares a series of slides ahead of time, which ask multiple choice, free response, or drawing questions. As the teacher “unlocks” each slide, the students see it on their screen and respond to the questions. Responses all go to the teacher’s computer as they are entered, and the teacher can show them on the projector screen.
Not perfect… but almost:
Strengths of the tool are its simplicity, real-time application, and student anonymity. My only qualm with Pear Deck is that I can’t see my students’ names as they type (in the way that I could, with say, Padlet). I’m not sure if that’s a feature only available for Pear Deck subscribers, or if there’s a setting I haven’t found yet. But don’t tell my students! I assure them that even though their names aren’t in the projector view, I can see them on my dashboard. That claim is an essential management tool when using this program with middle schoolers. Given that flaw, I still recommend using Pear Deck in the classroom. It took me about three minutes to set up the first time, and about three more to start my first presentation. The returns on student engagement and learning, for six minutes of prep, are substantial.
The right tool for the job:
When it comes to sharing students’ short (or long) answers with the class, Pear Deck is not only tool for the job. Creative uses of Padlet, Google Slides, and even Docs could serve a similar purpose. It is, however, a fun/easy/efficient tool for the job. I know I’m on the right track when students eagerly get out their devices and start typing- and then stop a minute, thinking about what they’re about to show the whole class, and type a little more. And even though responses are anonymous, I’m always tickled when my kids shout, “Mrs. Miller! Scroll down more… stop on mine!” Every time I've used Pear Deck, engagement is high and often, students' writing improves. All that for six minutes of prep? Pear Deck is going to stay in my tool belt for quite a while.
Best uses:
My favorite way to use the tool is when students are starting a new writing assignment- a point at which many students struggle with the right words to get started. I ask them to draft their first few sentences and type them into Pear Deck. Though the responses appear anonymously, students love waiting for theirs to appear as I scroll through the screen, and it gives me a good opportunity to point out expert ideas that can help raise struggling students out of their writer’s block. Pear Deck is also an easy, high-engagement alternative to written exit tickets, formative assessments, and class-wide brainstorming.
How it works:
Tech-savvy teachers may want to think of it this way: If you’ve had success with Kahoot!, you might want to try Pear Deck. Or, if you like Poll Everywhere, you should give Pear Deck a shot. Similar to both programs, students are given a login code to join. The teacher prepares a series of slides ahead of time, which ask multiple choice, free response, or drawing questions. As the teacher “unlocks” each slide, the students see it on their screen and respond to the questions. Responses all go to the teacher’s computer as they are entered, and the teacher can show them on the projector screen.
Not perfect… but almost:
Strengths of the tool are its simplicity, real-time application, and student anonymity. My only qualm with Pear Deck is that I can’t see my students’ names as they type (in the way that I could, with say, Padlet). I’m not sure if that’s a feature only available for Pear Deck subscribers, or if there’s a setting I haven’t found yet. But don’t tell my students! I assure them that even though their names aren’t in the projector view, I can see them on my dashboard. That claim is an essential management tool when using this program with middle schoolers. Given that flaw, I still recommend using Pear Deck in the classroom. It took me about three minutes to set up the first time, and about three more to start my first presentation. The returns on student engagement and learning, for six minutes of prep, are substantial.
The right tool for the job:
When it comes to sharing students’ short (or long) answers with the class, Pear Deck is not only tool for the job. Creative uses of Padlet, Google Slides, and even Docs could serve a similar purpose. It is, however, a fun/easy/efficient tool for the job. I know I’m on the right track when students eagerly get out their devices and start typing- and then stop a minute, thinking about what they’re about to show the whole class, and type a little more. And even though responses are anonymous, I’m always tickled when my kids shout, “Mrs. Miller! Scroll down more… stop on mine!” Every time I've used Pear Deck, engagement is high and often, students' writing improves. All that for six minutes of prep? Pear Deck is going to stay in my tool belt for quite a while.