GOOGLE PEAR DECK

Description of the tool

  • This is an online platform, also known as a Google add-on, that transforms regular Google presentations into completely interactive lessons. Since it offers various different forms of interactive formats, it can be used throughout entire lessons without feeling the need to use an additional online tool or platform.

How to access the website

  • Open Google Workspace Marketspace and type “Pear Deck” in the search bar (Direct link: https://workspace.google.com/marketplace/search/peardeck?pann=ogb)

  • Click on the below Pear Deck add-on visual to download the extension.

  • After downloading the Pear Deck extension, go to your own Google drive and right click on Google slides and choose the blank presentation as shown in the below visual.

  • After opening a blank presentation, please first choose add-ons from the top toolbar and then select Pear Deck for Google Slides Add-on. Finally, click on Open Pear Deck Add-on as shown in the below visual.

  • You can choose from the available templates or add any kind of format you wish to your slides.

How it works

  • If you choose from the available lesson templates (1. Lesson Builders: Beginnings of Lesson, During Lesson, End of lesson, 2. Critical thinking, 3. Social-Emotional Learning, 4. Subject Areas), you can design your own activities on these visually appealing templates.

  • If you decide to make your own slides from scratch, you can easily copy paste tasks from the interface or the .pdf of the text book you are using. Then, you need to click on one of the options below to make your slide digitally interactive:

  • If you click on “Text,” your students will be able to write open-ended answers to your questions on the slide. They can write entire essays since there is no word limit.

  • If you click on “Choice,” your students will be able to choose from the multiple options that you provide on the interactive slide.

  • If you click on “Number,” your students will be able to enter numbers on the slide.

  • If you click on “Draw,” your students will be able to write anywhere on your interactive slide. This is great for fill-in-the blanks type of activities.

  • If you click on “Draggable,” your students will be able to drag the icons (stars, thumbs-up etc.) on the interactive slide.

  • If you click on “Website,” you can add a link to your slide.

How it can be used in the classroom

  • Pear Deck can be used in all stages of any lesson. You can view your students’ responses one by one if you click on “Show Responses” button during an active lesson.

  • You can only view your students’ responses anonymously. The students can only view their own responses unless you show them all the responses from the main presentation screen.

  • Your students can keep doing the interactive activity even if you lose the Internet connection for a short time.