We have all had to abruptly change our teaching styles to distance learning with little or no notice. It has been very challenging! If you have PDF files/resources that you usually copy at school and use in the classroom, you may still be able to use them in your distance learning with a little modification.
In this post I’m going to show you how to convert your PDF files to digital resources that you can use in Google Classroom or Seesaw as part of your distance learning.
The PDF pages need to be changed to JPEG files.
In order to use the pages from your PDF resources in either Google Classroom or Seesaw, they first need to be converted to JPEG files.
You can easily do this using the Snip tool on a PC or taking a screenshot of the page and saving it as a JPEG.
If you are not familiar with using the Snip tool, please watch this short video tutorial:
How to Use the Snip Tool to Convert PDF Pages to JPEGs
Using PDF Pages in Google Classroom
After converting your PDF pages to JPEG files, you can use them as backgrounds in Google Slides to create assignments for your students.
If you are familiar with Google Slides, follow these steps to create assignments for your students. If you need step by step directions, watch the video tutorial below.
Open a new Google Slides presentation, under Page Setup change it to either 8.5 x 11 for portrait style pages or 11 x 8.5 for landscape style.
Set the JPEG file of your PDF page as the background. It needs to be set as the background so that the students can not move it.
Create text boxes wherever you need students to type their answers. Change/adjust the font and font size to fit your page.
If you have pages that require students to circle answers, students can use the Scribble line tool to mark their answers.
If you have cut and paste pages, students can use the Scribble line tool to draw lines from the pieces to where they would paste them on the page.
Name and save the Google Slides file. Change the settings to a shareable link. Assign to your students in Google Classroom.
Using PDF Pages in Google Slides & Google Classroom
Using PDF Pages in Seesaw
After converting your PDF pages to JPEG files you can assign them in Seesaw by clicking the green Add button and Assign Activity.
Then click +Create New Activity in your Library.
Name the activity and add the instructions for the students on how you would like them to complete the page.
Click + Add Template for Student Responses.
Click Upload.
Find the JPEG file for the PDF page. Click to select it. Click Open.
Click the green check mark.
If you need to add any formatting for students such as text boxes you can add it. Click the green check mark when finished.
Click Save.
Click Assign.
Assign to your entire class or click Edit Students, Folders, Skills to assign to specific students.
Students can use any of the tools in Seesaw to complete the PDF pages.
I hope this was helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at lessonsforlittleones@gmail.com.
If you need ready-made resources for distance learning you can find Google Classroom resources here and Digital Boom Cards here.
You may also like:
How to Use Boom Cards in Google Classroom
How to Use Boom Cards in Seesaw
Distance Learning Ideas – How to Stay Connected with Your Students
