Hack for Creating Jamboard Background Templates with Google Drawings

 Did you know that you can use Google Drawings to create background templates for Jamboard? This is a great hack for creating graphic organizers like T-Charts, Venn Diagrams, and Frayer Model templates. The best part is that it takes minutes, NOT hours! 

Check out my video below for how to do this! This is a game-changer! 

Think Pair Share Jamboard Template for Remote Learning

 How do you use Breakout Rooms for classroom discussion? One of my favorite strategies is combining Jamboard with the Think - Pair - Share model because it is an easy, but effective way of generating class discussion. Plus, it gives ALL students the opportunity to speak. 

How does it work? 

Open up your video conferencing tool of choice (i.e. Zoom, Google Meet, etc.) and share the link to your Jamboard. If it is easier, please feel free to use the following Jamboard template.  NOTE: You will want to make sure that your Jamboard can be edited by anyone with the link!

First, have students think and write their response to the discussion question. 

Next, generate breakout rooms for students to pair up and discuss their responses. Most video conferencing tools like Meet and Zoom provide you with tools to predetermine or randomly select groups. In this example, I provided space for 8 different groups. 

As students are discussing their responses, I have provided a spot for them to place their answer on a sticky note. Notice that there is a specific area for students to place their answer. This might be helpful to keep the discussion organized. 

Finally, close all of your breakout rooms and discuss student responses.  Each group should have a spokesperson to share!

NOTE: At this point, you might want to change the Jamboard permissions from "Anyone with the link can edit" to "Anyone with the link can View." This will allow you to use the drawing tools to check off groups that have verbally shared their responses. 

Conclusion

Think Pair Share is an excellent strategy for any classroom! Pairing it with Jamboard can make remote learning even better! It provides you with an opportunity to post your question and have a space, where ALL students can participate and collaborate. 

Google Jamboard Integrates with Meet!

 Did you know that you can create a Jamboard directly from Google Meet? It is now possible by clicking on the 3 dots in the bottom-right corner of your Google Meet screen.

Once you select Jamboard, you can use a new or existing Jamboard, which saves on Google Drive! Want to create an existing Jamboard before your Google Meet? No problem! Check out my tutorial.

Why Should I Use Jamboard? 

Jamboard is an interactive whiteboard tool that can be used as a tool for group or individual instruction. Here are some ideas for using this tool: 

• Use it as a whiteboard for group instruction.
• Keep notes of your meeting and save as a PDF. 
• Use the post-it note feature as a way to collaborate and groupthink.

Did you know that if you create an existing Jamboard and share it in Google Classroom, you can make individual copies for each student? This might be an excellent way to customize instruction for each of your students!