While making the switch to distance learning, we’ve adapted just about every aspect of how we teach to fit our new teaching platforms. But you know what has been the most difficult adjustment? Grading. Now don’t get me wrong, I love that Google Forms will self-grade student work. However, I usually feel like I’m missing something. I don’t internalize the common mistakes that students make in the same way. I really missed physically grading on paper with a pen. In fact, I still do. Luckily, I found a solution, and it’s really fun to implement too – digital stickers! Want to know how I use digital stickers for google classroom? Keep on reading!
What is a digital sticker?
Technically, any image can be used as a digital sticker. You can add images into Google Docs or Google Slides alongside students’ work. When those images contain text like “Great Work!”, they have the same effect as the regular stickers we use in the classroom. You know those super cute Bitmojis that everyone has? Those are digital stickers! Those can be added to student work using the Bitmoji extension in Google Chrome.
How to Add Digital Stickers
Do you know how to add images into a Google Doc or Slides file? Then you know how to add a digital sticker. If the image you want to use is saved on your computer, you can simply open the file, and then drag and drop your image. The digital stickers that I use are in a sort of digital sticker book (in Google Slides). To add these stickers, I keep the sticker book open in one tab, the student’s work in another, and I copy and paste the sticker.
Once your sticker is added to the student’s document or slides file, you can resize and rotate the sticker as you desire.
Using Digital Stickers in Google Classroom for Better Feedback
Rather than just drop the sticker and leave it there, I like to take it one step further. When I use the sticker to call a student’s attention to a mistake, I like to then click on the sticker, and add a comment. Prior to using stickers, students didn’t pay attention to the feedback I left for them. I imagine they may have felt confused about which part of their work I was referring to. Now, I can easily add a sticker to a student’s digital interactive notebook or any other assignment in Google Docs or Slides, and students know exactly where to look for my feedback.
When it comes to grading student work, I would always underline, circle, or draw arrows to the things I wanted my students to notice. When we switched to distance learning, I didn’t have a way to do that and leave feedback for students that was actually helpful. These digital stickers in google classroom make all the difference. Plus, students love stickers. Even in high school.
Are you ready to start using Digital Stickers in your virtual math class today? Look no further. I have a fun digital math sticker book available in my store. And make sure you follow me on Teachers Pay Teachers. I will be adding new sticker books with different themes throughout the year!
