Gimkit is something, isn’t it? Teachers and kids all dig it. Learning becomes a blast. Games make lessons great. Kids get super into it. Quick reviews are now fun. Test prep? No sweat! Schoolwork feels like playtime. Pretty cool, huh?
But let’s be honest here. Gimkit can be a bit of a solo gig. Game time is often just you playing by yourself. Trying to get the best score. Climbing up that list of names. It is kind of you versus the game. What if we tried working together? What about teams? Could Gimkit be more about teamwork?
Yes, totally! It really can. We can make Gimkit even better. We can make it all about collaborative learning. How do we do that? Easy peasy! We just need to add in some other awesome tools. Tools that help kids work together. Think of it as building a dream team for learning fun.
Let me introduce Flipgrid and Padlet. They are top digital tools for collaboration. Flipgrid lets students talk. They use videos to share what they think. Padlet is like a digital idea wall. Everyone puts their thoughts there. Everyone sees what others say.
This blog post is all about teaming up for real. We are going to see how to use Gimkit with Flipgrid for group work. I also learned how to use Gimkit with Padlet for group work. We are going to find ways to make collaborative learning with Gimkit truly happen. We will check out the Gimkit Flipgrid Padlet integration. Want to turn Gimkit into a team game? Let’s jump in! Get ready for awesome classroom activities using Gimkit and Padlet together!
Why Use Gimkit with Team Tools?
Let’s see why this is a super smart idea. Let’s peek at each tool up close. What’s amazing about each? Where could they be stronger for collaborative learning? For deeper insights into the power of collaborative approaches, resources from organizations like the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) are excellent.
Gimkit is Awesome (But Solo Sometimes)
Seriously, Gimkit is top-notch for many reasons!
- Kids get hooked instantly. Gimkit games just grab kids from the start. They want to play right now. The games are exciting and fast. That’s student engagement at its finest.
- Games are learning magic. Learning becomes like a game. Reviewing stuff is no longer boring. Test prep? Actually enjoyable! It’s gamification gold. And if you’re curious about all the ways games make it fun, take a peek at all the different game modes Gimkit has to offer.
- Great for learning alone. Gimkit is perfect for each student by themselves. They learn at their own pace. They work on what’s tricky for them. Help comes right away.
- Quick learning checks. Teachers can see how kids are doing now. They can spot who understands. They can tell who needs help. It is a formative assessment.
But, if we are being real, Gimkit games are often more solo play. You play for yourself to win. You want to get to number one. Even team mode feels kind of like that. It’s still about points and scores. It is not always true peer learning. It is not really deep teamwork.
If we want kids to learn together for real, we need more than just games alone. We need to grow those 21st-century skills. Kids must talk, share ideas, and solve problems together in teams. That’s where team tools come to the rescue!
Flipgrid & Padlet: Real Team Players
Now, let’s put the spotlight on Flipgrid and Padlet. They are true champions of team learning online!
- Flipgrid: Make voices louder. Flipgrid is all about video talks. Kids use videos to share what they think. They can see and hear their classmates. It builds a real class feeling. It’s super for:
- Student discussion: Talking about ideas using video. It’s way better than just typing words.
- Thinking it over: Think harder. Tell what you learned by making a video.
- Class friendships: Kids feel closer as a class. They learn from each other in videos. It is true peer learning.
- Padlet: Ideas all around! Padlet is like a huge idea wall online. It is so easy to use for team projects. Use it for tons of things like:
- Brainstorming sessions: Get ideas super fast from everyone. Put them all in one spot.
- Sharing cool stuff: Kids can find info as a team. They share links and cool images there.
- Project planning time: Teams can plan out project steps. They can break up the work. See the plan together.
- Seeing ideas in one view: Connect ideas by seeing them all together. Teams can see how ideas link up visually.
Team Power-Up: Gimkit Plus Team Tools
This is where the magic happens. Mix Gimkit with team tools. You get something truly amazing. It’s EdTech integration that clicks with kids!
Picture it like this:
- Gimkit is the starter spark. It makes kids want to learn. It gets brains working fast. Games make learning fun for everyone. They all play and get going.
- Flipgrid/Padlet is the power boost. They grab that spark and make it a real fire. It turns into real collaborative learning. Kids talk about the game together. They build on each other’s thoughts. They use what they learn in new and cool ways.
This synergistic approach is way stronger than using just one tool at a time. It helps you to:
- Learn things way deeper. Go beyond just knowing facts by heart. Think hard and get it in your head.
- Grow skills for the future now. Practice talking to people. Practice being a team player. Practice smart thinking. Practice coming up with new ideas. These are key 21st-century skills.
- Mix up how learning happens. Change it up. Do some solo games and some team talks and projects. Keep lessons fresh and fun.
- Let kids own their learning journey. Let kids have their say. Let them choose things sometimes. They care more about learning when they are in charge.
Ready to see how this actually works? Let’s look at some super ideas for the Gimkit Flipgrid collaboration and Gimkit Padlet collaboration!
Teamwork Idea 1: Gimkit + Flipgrid for Class Talks
A super cool way to link Gimkit and Flipgrid is for class chats after a game. Use Flipgrid for reflection and student discussion. We can call this awesome combo Gimkit Flipgrid collaboration. It’s like the “Gimkit & Reflect” Model. If you’re looking to make your quizzes more dynamic, you can even transform classroom quizzes by adding this reflection step after a Gimkit game.
The “Gimkit & Reflect” Model: Play First, Chat After
It is so simple to do. Here’s the easy plan:
- Start with a Gimkit Game. Begin class with a fun Gimkit game. Make the game about what you are teaching. Use it for review or to start something new.
- Next, Head to Flipgrid. Right after Gimkit, switch over to Flipgrid. Tell kids what to talk about in Flipgrid. Make sure they know what to do.
- Talk and Think in Flipgrid Videos. Kids make Flipgrid videos to share. They answer your question in the video. They chat about the game they just played.
Why is this so good? Gimkit gives everyone something real to talk about together. Everyone just played that same game. They saw their scores pop up. They all had those “aha” learning moments. Now, student discussion in Flipgrid is getting way better. It stays on topic. It makes real sense.
Flipgrid Chat Starters After Gimkit
Good questions are the secret sauce. Ask questions that push kids to think deeper. Here are some great question ideas for Flipgrid talks after Gimkit:
- “Main takeaway from Gimkit game?” (Focus on the key learning point.)
- “Game smarts used? Why did those work?” (Meta-cognition and thinking about learning methods.)
- “Hardest Gimkit question? What makes it tricky?” (Spot problem areas. Show what they now get.)
- “Team play? What changes next time?” (Teamwork and planning for better team play.)
- “Gimkit link to class stuff?” (Connect the game to the bigger topic and inquiry-based learning.)
Remind kids to reply to each other’s videos too. Make Flipgrid a real place for peer learning chats!
Lesson Ideas: Gimkit + Flipgrid, Ready to Go
- History Class Time: Gimkit game on why the big fight, the American Revolution, happened. Flipgrid talk time: “Which reason for the Revolution was the most big deal? Why? Show me examples from our Gimkit game.”
- Science Fun: Gimkit game all about cell parts and jobs. Flipgrid talk time: “Pick one cell part from Gimkit. Tell us what it does. Give us a real example of it, not just science stuff!”
- English Class Reads: Gimkit vocab game on story words. Flipgrid talk time: “Pick a story word from Gimkit that was cool or hard. Tell us what it means. Give an example from a book we just read in class.”
Be inventive! Make your Flipgrid questions fit your class topic and learning aims.
Teamwork Idea 2: Gimkit + Padlet for Idea Power
Now for something different! Let’s switch it up. Use Padlet before the Gimkit fun starts. This is a Gimkit Padlet collaboration. It’s the “Padlet Prep & Gimkit Practice” Model. It’s just awesome for project-based learning and inquiry-based learning. Think using Padlet and Gimkit for project-based learning. For more on making the most of this approach, resources from PBLWorks on project-based learning are invaluable.
The “Padlet Prep & Gimkit Practice” Model: Build Ideas, Then Play
Super easy steps here:
- Kick off with Padlet work. Begin class time with a Padlet project. Teams work right there on it. They come up with ideas. They do some research. They get project plans going. They learn new words. Kids build up ideas collaboratively on Padlet boards.
- Move on to Gimkit time. Right after Padlet time, switch to Gimkit. The Gimkit game will be about what kids just did in Padlet. It all links together.
- The Gimkit game makes it stick. Gimkit makes learning what they built in Padlet really fun. It helps them remember it better. It helps them use those ideas in action.
This way, Gimkit becomes even more helpful in class. Kids are not just doing questions on their own. They are using ideas that they made together as a team. They are truly doing collaborative learning with Gimkit. So good for Gimkit for group projects! Padlet planning really boosts project work.
Padlet Prep Work Before Gimkit Fun
Padlet is so handy here. Check out these Padlet work ideas that set the stage perfectly for a Gimkit game:
- Team Brainstorm Padlet Power: Start a Padlet with one big topic in the middle. Have kids add all their ideas to it. Add examples too. Ask questions there as well. Then, take those kid ideas and questions and make your Gimkit game! Now that’s real student ownership in action!
- Shared Research Padlet Time: For inquiry-based learning projects, use Padlet for team research. Kids find info together in teams. They drop links and notes right on the Padlet wall. Then, make a Gimkit game that tests them on what they just learned from their research.
- Project Plan Padlet Time: For class projects, use Padlet to get teams planning. Teams put project steps on Padlet. They split up who does what. They throw around ideas. Then, make a Gimkit game to quickly review project ideas. Make sure everyone is on the same page before projects start. That is using Padlet and Gimkit for project-based learning at its best.
- Vocab Building Padlet Fun: For new words to learn, use Padlet to build up vocab together. Kids add word meanings. They put example sentences. They can even drop in pictures. Then, make a Gimkit vocab game. Use the words and meanings they made as a team!
Lesson Ideas: Gimkit + Padlet Ready to Use
- Science (Biology Rocks!): Padlet work time: “Build a Food Chain Together.” Kids team up on a Padlet to make a food chain for a place, like a forest. They add animals and plants to Padlet. They use lines to show who eats whom. Gimkit game time: Make a Gimkit game to check food chain words and ideas. Test them on words like producer, and consumer, and how energy moves around.
- Social Studies (Civics Class): Padlet work time: “Think Up Town Helpers.” Kids use Padlet to think of ways to make their town better. Like fixing traffic problems or making parks nicer. Gimkit game time: Make a Gimkit game to check town words and ideas. Test them on town government and ways to fix community problems.
- Math Time is Fun: Padlet work time: “Solve Hard Geometry Together.” Put some tough geometry problems on a Padlet board. Teams work on Padlet to show how they solve them. They write out their steps. They help each other check answers. Gimkit game time: Make a Gimkit game with geometry problems just like on Padlet. Kids can practice by themselves and get better at problem-solving.
Padlet before Gimkit? It’s like building a team idea base first. Then, fun game practice alone!
Tips for Making Gimkit, Flipgrid & Padlet Teams Work Great
Want to make these team ideas really shine? Awesome! Here are some quick tips to make your Gimkit Flipgrid Padlet integration lessons super successful:
Make Sure Learning Goals Are Crystal Clear
Do not just mix tools for no reason! Have a clear goal. Know what you want kids to learn from the Gimkit part. Know what you want them to get from Flipgrid or Padlet. How does each tool help hit those goals? Make it make sense for learning. Purposeful integration is always the best way to go.
Help Students Get the Hang of Each Tool
Show kids the ropes for Flipgrid and Padlet. Mostly if they haven’t used them much yet. Give them easy steps. Show them how to switch from one tool to the next. Tell them what you expect from them in both Gimkit and team tools. Help them feel ready and able. Scaffolding for success is super important.
Plan Your Time and Lesson Flow Carefully
Think about the timing of your lesson. How much time for Gimkit gameplay? How much for Flipgrid or Padlet teamwork? How will you switch from one to the other without fuss? Think about the activity sequencing in your lesson plan. Should Gimkit come before or after Flipgrid/Padlet? Choose what fits your learning aims and lesson flow best. Solid time management makes it all smooth.
Check Team Learning, Too, Not Just Game Scores
Keep in mind, that it’s all about collaborative learning here! So, do not just focus on who wins Gimkit games. Look at how kids work together in Flipgrid and Padlet as well. Are they talking and sharing in Flipgrid videos? Are they adding ideas to the Padlet board? Are their ideas helpful and on topic? This does not need to be hard. Just some quick looks:
- See who is in action. Did students add thoughts to Padlet or Flipgrid?
- Listen to their chats. Are they helping each other out in Flipgrid videos?
- Look at their ideas. Are the ideas on the Padlet board smart and useful?
These quick peeks help you see how well the teamwork part is going in your lessons.
Wrapping It Up
Mixing Gimkit with Flipgrid and Padlet is seriously smart teaching. It makes learning way more awesome. You grab the fun power of Gimkit games. Then you add the team power of Flipgrid and Padlet. You get truly great collaborative learning moments. It is real EdTech integration that clicks for classrooms! For teachers looking to connect with others and improve their Gimkit lessons, there are fantastic teacher communities for sharing Gimkit tips.
Use the “Gimkit & Reflect” model with Flipgrid for class talks after games. Or use the “Padlet Prep & Gimkit Practice” model to build up ideas as a team before game time. Both are winners for your lessons.
So, teachers, get set to try this out! Use Gimkit Flipgrid Padlet integration in your teaching. Play around with these ideas a bit. Change them to fit your students. See the teamwork magic happen right in your class!
Time to make lessons pop even more?
- Go Explore Flipgrid Now: (https://flipgrid.en.softonic.com/web-apps)
- Go Discover Padlet Right Now: (https://padlet.com/)
- Go Start with Gimkit Today (It’s Free to Begin!): (https://www.gimkit.com/signup)
We really want to hear your stories! How do you use Gimkit and team tools together? Share your lesson ideas in the comments below. Let’s all learn from each other and build a team of super cool, tech-smart teachers!
