Hybrid classrooms are something to stick around. Some students learn in person. Some students learn from home. It’s hard to keep everyone interested. Tools such as Gimkit and Microsoft Teams can help in this case. These platforms change the way of teaching in a hybrid classroom. They can also be utilized in a form of online teaching. They make learning fun. Also, they ensure that every student feels connected.
Here, we will explore how to use Gimkit and Microsoft Teams to create a better hybrid classroom. Each tool will be explained away. We will show why they are good with each other. We will also provide you easy ways to use them in your own classroom. After that, you will have everything you need to create your hybrid classroom as a comfortable and connected place for learning for all students.
Table of Contents
What are Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft Teams is more preferred by many teachers. It is not only for video calls. It is like a classroom hub. Teachers make use of Microsoft Teams to plan lessons, assign homework, and speak to students. This lets you jump into group chats, share your work, and team up with others.
One great thing about Microsoft Teams is how it keeps things in order. You can set up different channels for each class or topic. You can share class notes, post homework, and send messages all in one place. This makes it easy for you and your students to find what you need and stay on track.
Why Combine Gimkit and Microsoft Teams?
Now that we know what both tools are? Why combine Gimkit and Microsoft Teams together? The reason is easy. They work quite well as a team.
- Gimkit adds an element of fun to learning. And Microsoft Teams provides the structure and organization needed to manage hybrid learning.
- Gimkit keeps students engaged by turning lessons into games. But, MicrosoftTeams allows you to easily share the games, track progress, and communicate with students.
- Gimkit allows students to play and interact in real-time easily. With Microsoft Teams, you can ensure everyone has access to the game. Whether they’re at home or in the classroom.
Setting Up a Hybrid Classroom with Gimkit and Microsoft Teams
Now we know the basics, let’s look at some key features of Gimkit with Microsoft Teams in your hybrid classroom. These tips will enable you to use them together in a simple and smart way.
Step 1: Create a Gimkit Game
First, create a Gimkit game. You can either buy one of the already created kits or yourself. However, if you are covering a specific lesson. You can write questions based on the lesson. When the game is ready, it will provide you with a unique game code that students will have to join.
Step 2: Share the Gimkit Link in Teams
Next, go to Microsoft Teams. You can use a channel your class already created, whether it’s a new post or an old one. Provide the game link or join code to your students. This allows for easy joining of the game by both online and in-person students. You can also do simple steps for students who have never used Gimkit. It makes everyone begin the game without a problem.
Step 3: Start Playing and Keep It Engaging
When you share the game you are ready to start. You can watch the game as it happens with Gimkit Dashboard. In Microsoft Teams, you can share your screen and show the leaderboard and everyone’s scores. This adds more fun and excitement to the game. To keep students interested, ask them to talk about the game while they play. What tips are they using? How can they get a better score? Talking in Teams helps students share ideas and stay involved.
Step 4: Use Gimkit for Asynchronous Learning
Sometimes not all students have live games available. Some students might be absent. Others may need more time. Then, the Gimkit Assignment feature is helpful. With Gimkit Assignments, you can make a game that students play on their own time. You can share the link in Microsoft Teams. So, students can join when it works best for them. You can also set a due date to make sure everyone finishes the game on time.
Step 5: Track Progress and Provide Feedback
It is one of the best things in the sense that it shows how students are doing. When the game ends, you can see the reports that display players who got right. And players that struggled with certain questions. This will help you notice who requires extra assistance. You can use this information to change or improve your teaching. You can also share the results in Microsoft Teams. This way, you can talk with your students and give them helpful feedback.
Step 6: Foster Community and Collaboration
Students in different places add to the separation in a hybrid classroom. To fix this, encourage students to chat with each other after the game. They can also share scores, discuss what they learned and share tips within a Teams channel you create. You can also plan group projects where online and in-person students work together on the same task. The goal is to help everyone feel like they are part of one team. Even if they are not in the same room.
Benefits of Using Gimkit and Microsoft Teams Together
Using Gimkit with Microsoft Teams presents a number of benefits for your hybrid classroom:
1. Increased Engagement
When students are playing a game, they will more likely participate. Learning is fun in Gimkit, and it keeps students focused and motivated.
2. Improved Collaboration
Microsoft Teams facilitates students staying connected and working together whether they are in the class or from home. It gives the feeling that there is a strong feeling of community and teamwork.
3. Real-Time Learning and Feedback
Real-Time learning is totally with you. And you can give immediate feedback. You can see how students are doing and adjust your teaching on the spot.
4. Flexibility
Learning synchronous and asynchronous is easy to switch between. Both Gimkit and Teams allow you to run a live game or assign a game for homework to accommodate all of your students.
5. Accessibility
Gimkit and Microsoft Teams are both web based tools. And students can use them from any device with internet access. This ensures that all students can participate fully in the learning process.
Practical Ways to Use Gimkit and Microsoft Teams Together in Your Hybrid Classroom
It is not easy to keep in person students and remote students engaged in hybrid classrooms. The integration of Gimkit and Microsoft Teams is a dynamic way to keep all students connected. So how you can use these tools to their maximum effectiveness:
1. Run Synchronous Gimkit Sessions for the Whole Class
Add a live game, post the game link or code in your Microsoft Teams channel. And share your screen so that all students can follow the game. It maintains everyone involved and acts as a means of engagement and friendly competition.
2. Assign Asynchronous Gimkit Games for Homework or Review
To gain flexibility, you can use Gimkit games for homework through Teams. You can also track progress and provide feedback to the students. While they can play the game without interference at their own pace.
3. Use Teams for Post-Game Discussions
Create a Teams discussion channel for students to post their thoughts after a game. This helps in peer learning and making students understand the content more easily.
4. Use Teams to Share Progress and Results
Post performance reports in Teams after each game. The results, progress, and feedback are then reviewed. And students are kept engaged with personalized feedback.
5. Collaborative Learning with KitCollab in Teams
To give students the ability to work together and create their own questions. You can use KitCollab in it. Use Teams to organize brainstorming sessions which support teamwork and great content creation.
6. Host Live “Gimkit Live” Sessions in Teams Meetings
Have a Gimkit Live session in a Teams meeting. You can share your screen and give the game link to play it in real time, to participate and strategize.
7. Use Teams for Collaborative Group Work with Gimkit
Mix in-person and remote students in a group. Students can use Teams for collaboration as they design their own game. And present it to the class for feedback.
By linking it with Microsoft Teams, you create a hybrid learning environment. This enhances engagement, collaboration, and effective learning for all students. These tools keep remote and in-person learners active.
Tips for Maximizing the Impact of Gimkit and Microsoft Teams in a Hybrid Classroom
Here are some tips to help you get the most out of these tools:
Clear Instructions
Make sure your students are skilled in using it as well as using Microsoft Teams. Follow a clear step-by-step process to avoid confusion. This is especially helpful for younger students.
Stay Organized
Teams make it easy to manage assignments, track deadlines, and stay connected. You should have different channels for different topics or groups. So, your virtual classroom can be kept in some sort of order.
Encourage Reflection
Have students think afterwards what they learned. What worked well for them? What did they find challenging? In a post game discussion in Teams, this can be done.
Mix Up the Game Mode
There are many game modes offered by Gimkit. Make things interesting by varying types of games used to stimulate students and catch certain types of content.
Provide Praise and Encouragement
Celebrate student achievements, both big and small, to keep them motivated and confident. The leaderboard built in Gimkit will help students compete with each other to do their best.
Conclusion
Gimkit is worked with Microsoft Teams, where you have interesting and interactive hybrid classroom learning. No matter where you are, they’re there to keep your students engaged, excited, and learning at their best. So if you do it right, you can build a classroom where remote and in-person students are included and a part of the team.
