With copy limits, limited time, and absent students, printed paper copies of assignments can truly be a hassle! During Covid, a lot of teachers were forced to use digital practice activities, and many have continued to make them a constant in their classrooms due to the many benefits of digital activities!
Benefits of Digital Practice Activities
- Declutters your classroom by not having a mess of papers everywhere!
- Students (and teachers) can’t lose assignments!
- Absent students can access them from afar!
- Teaches digital literacy skills!
- Can be self-correcting, which helps students get real-time feedback!
- Easier to monitor through programs like GoGuardian or by opening student files through Google Classroom!
Here are my favorite types of digital practice activities to mix up the workflow and avoid just another worksheet!
Digital Task Cards
Digital Task Cards are a simple, straightforward activity! Often created on Google Slides, these are slides that often have just one question per card for students to answer. Some have text boxes for students to type their final answers, while others include a drag-and-drop component or even a true/false format. I’ve seen struggling students really enjoy these activities, as it prevents them from being overwhelmed with seeing so many problems at once!
If you want your digital task cards to be self-correcting, check out Boom Cards through Boom Learning! They are super fun, easy to use, and students can check their work instantly!
Digital Mazes
Digital Mazes are a-maze-ing! Get it? I have been using self-correcting mazes in my classroom this year, and students love them! Students start at the labeled “start” and solve the first problem. Once they enter the correct answer and click out of the box, the space turns green and reveals the route to the next problem! Because it is self-correcting, students can identify if they are incorrect and redo the problem or ask for help if needed! Check out these unique win-win resources here!
Pixel Art Mystery Pictures
Pixel Art mystery pictures work similarly to digital mazes. However, instead of the next portion of the maze being uncovered, part of an image is revealed instead! I love using Pixel Art activities around holidays to put a fun, themed flair to class activities – like this adorable winter corgi! Check it out here!
Digital Sorts
Digital sorting activities are another type of digital activity that is often on Google Slides. Students click and drag numbers, answers, questions, etc to different categories depending on what they are sorting. For example, students may sort numbers into categories of rational or irrational numbers, sentences into parts of speech categories based on underlined words, or match a problem with its correct answer. It’s a simple but fun twist on a traditional worksheet!
Digital Escape Rooms
Last but not least, a personal favorite! I’m a huge fan of using escape rooms in the classroom (check out my blog post about how to use them here!). Many escape room products can be used on a spectrum of all print to all tech-based, depending on teacher preference! With digital challenges and a Google Form for the “locks”, students can enjoy the fun challenge of an escape room completely digitally!
How do you nix the paper and incorporate digital practice in your classroom? Can’t wait to hear about it in the comments!
