What are Boom Cards?
As a Boom Cards creator, I am often asked, “What are Boom Cards and how do they work?” Basically, Boom Cards are digital task cards that are hosted on the Boom Learning website. They are interactive and often self-checking. They can cover any skill and age that the creator wants to design them for.
How do Boom Cards work?
Boom cards have a variety of ways that they are interactive. They typically include at least one of the following interactive elements:
- Fill-in-the-blank answers (students are asked a question(s) and type in their answer). The creator can set the card up so that any answer is accepted or a certain answer is needed.
- For example, a question might say “What is 5+6?” and the student types in “11”.
- Another type of fill-in-the-blank might say, “How do you feel today?” and the student types in how they feel.
- Drag and Drop (students have a number of items on the page and they drag an image to a certain area of the card)
- An example of this might be a card with an image of a dog bowl, and the student is asked to drop X number of dog treats into the bowl.
- Multiple Choice (students are given at least 2 options to choose from and they click on the correct answer)
- Many Boom Cards are self-checking, meaning that the student is notified immediately of an incorrect answer and can change their answer.
How can I use them personally?
In addition to creating Boom Cards, I use them regularly. When I am in-person with kids, I like to bring the deck up on my computer and let them control the mouse/keyboard. Watching how they approach figuring out the answers helps me see what problems, if any, they have. I watch to see how they scan the cards, if they choose the first answer that they see, if they miss seeing parts of the cards, and any other difficulties they may have. I can target those skills during follow-up therapy sessions.
During online learning, I worked with students over Zoom. Sometimes I would email them the “fastpin” link before our session and they would open it on their end, sharing their screen with me so I could watch, or I would open on my end and share my screen. Some students do not have the option to share their screen or to interact with mine. In that case, I have them dictate to me what to type or what to move.
Some decks have audio included to help young learners or learners who are not at the reading level required by the deck. For myself, I have always used them with my students and am able to help read them as needed, so this feature is not as important currently for my needs.
How do I access Boom Cards?
Boom Cards are generally sold on either the Boom Learning website or on Teachers Pay Teachers. Some creators also sell them on their own website, including myself. Once a Boom Cards deck is purchased, the buyer must use it on the Boom Learning platform. They can be assigned to students in learning management systems, such as Google Classroom, but still will play on the Boom Learning site.
Are Boom Cards free?
The short answer is, they can be. Many sellers create small, introductory decks for others to try out Boom Cards. These can be free or very inexpensive. The Boom Learning website has 4 membership plans.
- Starter is a free membership. It allows the buyer to have 5 students and one “classroom” (set of students). The free membership allows the person to create 5 of their own decks. They can assign decks to students with a “fast pin” which is a free play option, but does not give teacher data
- Essential costs $25 per year. It allows 150 students and 17 classrooms, as well as 5 self-created decks.
- Premium costs $40 per year. It also allows 150 students and 17 classrooms, but allow unlimited self-made decks. It also allows the creator to upload audio to their decks.
- Publisher costs $50 per year. It has the same features as premium, but is the only membership that allows the creator to sell the decks that they make.
The Boom Learning marketplace has thousands of decks for sale that range in price from free to over $100. Once a buyer purchases the deck, they have unlimited use of it.
How do I buy a Boom Cards deck?
On the Boom learning website, you will go to the store tab. You can then click on “decks” then put in a search term. Boom Learning has the option to purchase decks based on “points” or dollars/cents. As of 9/16/22, points cost:
- $5.00 for 450 points
- $10.00 for 1,000 points
- $20.00 for 2,000 points
- $50.oo for 5,000 points
- $98.00 for 10,000 points
When you search for decks, you can select how to view the prices (in Boom points versus US dollars).
On Teachers Pay Teachers, you can enter a search term + “Boom Cards” to narrow down the search to Boom Cards. You can also narrow the search by looking for “task cards” or “internet activities” under resource type, but that will include other types of activities in addition to Boom Cards. Prices on TpT are based on USD or the equivalent in the country that the buyer is from.
I purchased a deck but can’t find it!
Once you purchase a deck, it will be added to your “library” on the Boom Learning website. You can click to play it in-person, upload it to your learning management system, or send a “fast pin” link. The FAQs on the website give detailed instructions if needed.
How does buying a deck on TpT work?
When buying on TpT, generally you will get a PDF that has the link to your purchase embedded in it. Most sellers create a box or image in the PDF that says “click here” or similar. Once you click the image, you are taken to the Boom Learning website to redeem the purchase. It is then added to your library.
Can I try before I buy?
Absolutely! All decks on the Boom Learning website allow you to preview (play) the first 4 cards of the deck. Some decks are created using “flow magic” that uses conditional links which may not work in the preview mode. You may notice this if you click a card and the next one seems out of order. In addition, you can get free decks to try out Boom Cards in general.
This is a free deck that I made to show what a fill-in-the-blank deck might look like. (Math preview deck)
This deck below is my latest that I created. It is a fun haunted house that requires kids to decipher codes to move through the house. Click the picture to see more images. The link to preview the deck is in the description.
So, hit me up in the comments and let me know if you have used Boom Cards before and how you like to use them.
