How to Use Boom Cards & Google Slides in Zoom or Google Meet

Since many teachers are starting the year virtually or in a hybrid situation, I have received many questions about how to use Boom Cards and Google Slides during a Zoom Meeting or Google Meet session.

There are several options for using these interactive resources during online meetings.

1. Share Your Screen, Teacher Has Control

The first option is to access the Google Slides or Boom Cards on your device and share your screen with students. In this option, you control the screen. Show the cards or slides, ask the students for answers, and you click on or move the objects.

When sharing Boom Cards with your class, use the Fast Pin link that does not require student log-in or connect to student accounts since you are using the deck with all the students in your class.

If you are using a Boom Card deck with one student via Zoom or Google Meet and you want a record of their responses, use the hyperplay link and sign in to the student’s Boom account.

Make sure to have the Boom Cards or Google Slides open and ready prior to your Zoom Meeting or Google Meet.

Share your screen with the students and go through the cards or deck together as a class.

When sharing your screen in Zoom, be sure to select side by side mode in settings prior to starting the meeting so you can see your students while sharing your screen.

In Zoom, if you are sharing a Boom Card deck or Google Slides presentation that has sound, be sure to click the “Share computer sound” box.

To share your screen in Google Meet, click the Present now button in the lower right corner and select window.

2. Share Your Screen, Give Students Control (Zoom Remote Control)

Another option when sharing Boom Cards or Google Slides in Zoom is to give students control of the screen in order to make it more interactive and engaging for them. Students will click on or move the objects in the deck or slides.

This is a great option to use when doing individual assessments or working one on one with a student. You can also use it with your class and give students turns controlling the shared screen to keep them more engaged.

To give a student control of your shared screen, click the Remote Control button on the Share Screen menu (move your mouse to the top of the screen to make the menu appear). Under “Give Mouse/Keyboard Control to:” you will see a list of student names (I could not show student names due to privacy issues). Click on the student that you wish to give control of the screen.

You will then see a message at the top of your shared screen that says which student is controlling your screen and the student will be able to click on, move, interact with the Boom Cards or Google Slides.

The student will also see a message on the top of their screen that tells them they can control your screen. They can then interact with the Boom Cards or Google Slides.

You can end a student’s remote control at any time and then give control to another student by clicking the red “Abort Control” button on the share screen menu to stop the control for one student then pick another student’s name under “Give Mouse/Keyboard Control to:”.

When you abort control of the screen for a student, the message at the top of their screen will change back to “You are viewing (your name)’s screen”. They will no longer be able to control or interact with the shared screen.

3. Share Your Screen, Give Students Control (Google Meet Remote Control Option)

As of the writing of this post, remote control is not an option in Google Meet. However, there is a way to add it by installing an extension.

Here is a YouTube video I found on how to give remote control in Google Meet.

4. Students Share Their Screen

If you are assessing a student or working one on one with them on practicing a skill or if you do not want to do the Google Meet remote control hack in step 3, you can have the student access the Boom Cards or Google Slides in their account and share their screen with you. In this option, the student will have control of the screen and complete the Boom Cards or Google Slides (in Zoom you can request remote control access of the screen, more details below).

Have the student access the Boom Card deck in their Boom Learning account. If you do not have a classroom set up in Boom, send them the fast pin link. If using Google Slides, send the student the link via Google Classroom.

Have students access the cards or slides and share their screen. Watch them complete the assignment and give instructions or support when needed.

If you are using Zoom, you can request control of the student’s screen if you need to show them how to use the cards or slides or provide support.

On your share screen menu, click View Options – Request Remote Control.

You will then see a pop-up confirming the request. Click the blue Request button.

The student will then see a pop-up stating you are requesting remote control of their screen. Have them click the blue Approve button.

You will then be able to control the student’s shared screen. You will see a message across the top of your screen that says you can control the student’s screen.

The student will see a message at the top of their screen telling them that you are controlling their screen.

When you are ready to give control of the screen back to the student, click “Give up Remote Control” in the menu.

I hope this was helpful! If you have any questions please feel free to email me at lessonsforlittleones@gmail.com.

Don’t have time to create interactive Boom Cards or Google Slides for your students?
Click here to access ready-made Boom Cards.
Click here to access ready-made Google Slides.

You may also like:

How to Use Boom Cards in Seesaw

How to Use Boom Cards in Google Classroom

How to Customize Boom Cards (Hide Cards, Number of Cards per Play)

How to Assign Only Part of a Google Slides File to Students