After (for the most part) an over 10 year break in blogging I am starting again. My old blog has been moved to the My Old Blog Posts page. The focus of this blog will be broader than my last one. I will discuss tools and tips for all educators. Hopefully other speech-language pathologists, special education teachers, regular education teachers, homeschooling parents, and any other educators will find the information helpful. In the next few months, I plan on updating some of the previous tools I have created (e.g., the Bell Curve Bar Graph and Caseload spreadsheet), I am also working on a flashcard/data collection system that can be used for sight words or therapy materials. Most of these materials will be free but a few will be available for a small price. Please check in the new few months to see if there is something you might be able to use.
The Boom is Back in Boom Cards for Free Users
More information from Boom™: No limits on Presentation Mode for free users, so there will be no forced watermarks! I got an email directly from Boom today. Here is part of what it said:
“Presentation Mode will have a basic option – similar to today’s Preview at no charge. Optional data collection at the end of a session will be available to paid subscribers only.
We have no plans to limit how often Presentation Mode is launched, so long as there are no signs of the same abuses we saw with Fast Pins. If there are abuses, we will place limits to align usage to the license terms – use by a single therapist or teacher.”
This is great news! This means free users won’t have to use limited fast pins or limited Presentation Mode uses. When they roll out this update we won’t have to use fast pins. Boom Cards in Presentation Mode will work similar to how we are using them now in Preview Mode except paid users will get the option of downloading data. Boom has listened to their users! I look forward to continuing to purchase cards and using them as a free user. I might even eventually get a subscription to try the data collection feature, with the knowledge that if I go back to being a free user, I don’t have to worry about watermarks.
The last few weeks have been intense. I truly appreciate all the support I have gotten from other Boom Card users, particularly the outpouring from other speech-language pathologists in Facebook. We were able to join together and make a difference. Thanks for all your help!
I started blogging again to not just talk about Boom Cards. 🙂 Even though I will likely do a follow up post after the new features are rolled out in Boom Cards, I look forward to moving on and discussing other things. This summer I plan on updating my Bell Curve Bar Graph (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UWlPEbC7kQpwb236W39LY_YYlIf9Eyn471VYxOZn3vI/template/preview) to show the standard error of measurement instead of a bar. I also plan to update my Contact & Schedule + Ultra (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1e5C577jValCeNm8A60ILsq547zzYetLhZ3o302h7u44/template/preview) and File Review (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zVpKCXojF8sUj4_Otss5N3rfMT-dG_09VaFFR8zl5OE/template/preview) spreadsheets. I am finishing up development of a Google Sheet flashcard system that will show stimuli and collect data. This should be very useful for any educator. Along with all the files I hope to share other tips and ideas I find as I finish up my second ASHA ACE (70 continuing education hours in 3 years). Subscribe to the blog if you are interested in getting emails.
Here are links to my previous blog posts on this topic:
First: https://rwslp.wordpress.com/2024/05/20/big-perhaps-not-so-good-changes-are-coming-to-boom-cards/
Second: https://rwslp.wordpress.com/2024/05/24/squashing-the-boom-out-of-boom-cards/
Watermarks are still coming to Boom Cards, but free users will have access to a limited number of Fast Pins without watermarks
I attended a meeting with Boom™ yesterday afternoon and left the meeting feeling as if I know less than I did before it. They did their best to answer questions and get our opinions, but because they haven’t finalized their plans there were some unanswered questions at the end. It appears that our outpouring of concern has had some impact, but restrictions and watermarks are still coming. Boom’s original plan to basically force free users into large watermarks or paid subscriptions appears to have changed due to our (users and publishers) feedback.
For anyone who hasn’t read my previous blog posts, let me briefly summarize my last two posts in this paragraph. (Again, some of this information has now changed) On May 12th, Boom sent an email indicating that this summer prices would be increasing, and free accounts would have severe restrictions. Free accounts would be limited to 10 fast pins a month and 10 uses (total), of a new feature, presentation mode. After these have been used, cards would only be accessible through prep mode with large watermarks.
Currently when you click on a Boom Card deck within your library, it opens in what is called preview mode. Fast pins and several options are available as actions. Soon this will all change, but thankfully not exactly in the way stated in the previous paragraph. It looks like the initial roll out of changes will be coming 7/1/24.
The first phase will change the current preview mode to prep mode or presentation mode. Watermarks will be on the prep mode. If I understand correctly, presentation mode will initially be unlimited for free users, but this is going to change probably in a few months. Presentation mode will eventually allow for data collection, which will be a great addition. This change is coming as part of rolling out of Boom Passports, allowing groups to pay for access to all premiere decks. The company is encouraging/forcing users to transition to using fast pins and presentation mode with clients instead of using prep mode (previously preview mode).
The good news here is that presentation mode will initially be free. The bad news is that in the near future presentation mode will likely be severely limited or not an option for free users. Fast pins which have been unlimited, will also be limited. Fast pin limits will be coming to all users because people have been misusing them. They are seeking input from users to figure out a fair fast pin amount.
The day before the meeting with customers, they met with publishers. The publishers asked to give an increased cut to the company of purchased materials instead of forcing users to pay through subscriptions. This will probably increase the price of purchased materials, but hopefully will prevent free accounts from becoming completely unusable.
I still have a lot of concerns about all these changes. Most SLPs who use Boom Cards are free users that have often spent a large amount of money on decks instead of subscriptions. It is not feasible for us to sign into a large number of student accounts especially for group therapy. Many SLPs have found the extra features in paid subscriptions unnecessary. We have been sharing cards in teacher preview mode and collecting data ourselves. I like that presentation mode will be collecting data, but it will likely, in a short time, only available for paid subscribers. This will force free users to be completely dependent on fast pin use.
My biggest concern is the number limit they are going to put on fast pins. SLPs, particularly Tele-SLPs like me, can use a very large amount of Boom Cards a day. It is not uncommon for me to open 10 decks for a session with preschoolers or a student who has severe needs. I might only use 5 of the decks, and sometimes open others in the session. If I have 8 sessions in a day, I could easily use 80 different sets of boom cards. Even though I may be using the same deck as a game for most of the students that day. The students are all working on different tasks and require unique task decks to be open. I don’t want the stress of worrying about a daily or monthly limit to stop me from opening decks in preparation for sessions. When they were asking for limit suggestions in the meeting that is why I said 100 a day, but ultimately I suspect the number will be much lower for free users.
As a free user I have loved using Boom Cards for speech-language therapy and homeschool. I understand the company’s need to increase revenue to support staff, continue development, and storage of very large libraries, such as mine. At the same time, I don’t want to get stuck in another yearly subscription, especially one where I have to also purchase materials that once I stop the subscription I would lose. Paid subscribers may see me as a whiny free user, but many of us have chosen to invest in purchasing decks instead of subscriptions with the expectation that we would always be able to use the decks. In our view, being forced into a subscription is being forced to pay repeatedly for something we already purchased.
Hopefully the company will find a way to balance all this out. I am grateful for the publishers that are willing to get a lower percentage of purchases, so the free users aren’t getting completely pushed aside. To what extent our usage will be limited still remains to be seen.
Here are links to my previous blog posts on this topic:
First: https://rwslp.wordpress.com/2024/05/20/big-perhaps-not-so-good-changes-are-coming-to-boom-cards/
Second: https://rwslp.wordpress.com/2024/05/24/squashing-the-boom-out-of-boom-cards/
Squashing the Boom out of Boom Cards
I met with a director of Boom Cards™ last evening, and unfortunately, I was unsuccessful in stopping the planned roll out of a large watermark for free users. The change is still on its way.
Here are the details I know: Per the “Important Product Update” email I received on 5-12-24 and their response to my questions about it: Subscription prices will be changing to starting at $6.99 a month or $49.99 a year. Currently when you open cards in your library while you are signed in as a teacher, they are opened in what is called “Preview mode”. This is going to be changed to “Prep Mode” with a large watermark. To access the cards without the watermark you will need to use “Presentation Mode”. Free users will only be able to try this out 10 times (ever). The fastpasses (fastpins) for free users will also be limited to 10 uses a month. Basically, free users (who have often chosen to invest in purchasing large numbers of decks instead of paid subscriptions) are now going to be forced to deal with a large watermark or pay for a subscription.
Basically the reasoning behind this was to increase revenue for the company so they can continue to improve and support their employees. I told her that I didn’t think this was the best way to do this. For that subscription price I felt I could go elsewhere and get more, not having to pay for a membership plus materials. I compared it to Netflix telling their customers that they needed to pay for a subscription, so they could buy movies to watch while they had a subscription. In retrospect it is more like Amazon telling their customers that all the movies they bought can only be accessed through a subscription.
Boom Cards has been my go to platform for many years. I loved the tons of free therapy and homeschooling materials I have been able to find, along with the excellent materials I have been able to purchase. The knowledge that I wouldn’t be forced into another yearly subscription to use these resources has kept me coming back and building my library. Unfortunately now this is no longer true. Even if I were to purchase a subscription, I wouldn’t want to continue to build my library. From my point of view the company is choosing to squash the Boom out of Boom Cards.
Fortunately, there are many other great places to go for materials. FreeSLP.com is a great resource for SLPs and other educators. Whoever does this site is truly a saint. I plan on using this site more. If I subscribe to any platform for next school year it will probably be Pink Cat Games. At least the materials I find there, I will be able to continue to use without a subscription, even if it is with a very limited game selection. $50 a year there now makes more sense than spending it in Boom Cards.
If you are as upset and sad as I am with BoomLearning.com’s decision, please spread the word and let the company know. Posting a comment here or on Facebook isn’t going to have the same impact as emailing help@boomlearning.com or calling (833)-969-2666. Maybe if enough of us complain they might change their minds. I don’t think they grasp how much this change is going to disrupt their business.
You can view my original post about this change here: https://rwslp.wordpress.com/2024/05/20/big-perhaps-not-so-good-changes-are-coming-to-boom-cards/
Big, Perhaps Not So Good, Changes are Coming to Boom Cards
One of the few tools I use almost every week as an educator is about to change and perhaps not in a good way. Boomlearning.com™ aka “Boom™ Cards” is planning on changing the way teachers view/present their cards. In their May 12th “Important Product Update” email, they announced that “Presentation Mode was going to be replacing Preview”. The email goes on to state free accounts will only be given 10 presentation mode uses.
I emailed them asking for an explanation and got the following information:
“Presentation mode will be similar to a Preview in function, but the teacher will be able to download the reports after the play session has ended.
It is aimed at users who work through decks with their class or a student on other students’ or classes’ behalf, such as for SLPs.
The Preview mode will still be available for teachers to see the deck to see if they want to use it/assign it, but it will have large watermarks.”
Based on the information, if you are using a free account (like most SLPs) you will be able to use 10 Presentation Mode uses (probably ever, not per month), then you will be stuck with large watermarks on every presentation you are sharing from your teacher login. I find this very frustrating! I am soon going to be forced with a watermark on all the decks. I have spent a lot of money on Boom Cards, and didn’t expect them to force watermarks on all my cards.
I replied to the email expressing my concerns about this. If you would like to express your concerns email: help@boomlearning.com or call 833-969-2666.
To see my second post about this go here: https://rwslp.wordpress.com/2024/05/24/squashing-the-boom-out-of-boom-cards/
Using Pictures as Educational Tools
As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. If that is true, SLPs and other educators can use a picture in at least a thousand ways. Technology has made it very simple to take photos making it easy to document and share projects. This can be an excellent way to reinforce the learning process.
Working most of my career in special education, I tend to approach the teaching/learning process as spiraling towards mastery of skills, using a variety of evidence based practices. Recently this approach has also worked while with my daughter homeschooling. She typically picks things up very fast, but for some reason she really struggled learning names and values of coins. This is typically taught in kindergarten or first grade in preparation for the 2nd grade Common Core State Standard related to money (CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.C.8). After unsuccessfully trying a variety of approaches (handling toy and real coins, instruction in ABC Mouse, and various Boom Cards), I knew I needed to try something else.
I came up with a silly science experiment which I had her document through photographs on her iPad in Google Slides (Can you cut a pickle with a nickel?). This was a fun sensory experience for her. During the experiment, I named and had her name the coins and their values she was using as many times as I could. After we finished, I had her share this presentation with several other family members. That day she mastered naming coins and their values. This was a great homeschooling experience. A few months later in a discussion about what we were going to be doing in school she asked “What if I can’t do it?”. I told her I would help her, and she responded, “Like the coins!”.
When editing a Google Slide presentation from a smart phone or tablet, tap on the plus sign in the top right, image, and then from camera. My linked example presentation is locked, so you will not be able to edit it. You can make a copy of the presentation or create your own to try it out. Double tap a slide or single tap and select “Edit slide” then you can insert a photograph (image). If you still need some support on how to do this, check out this YouTube video.
A similar approach can be used in a variety of areas. SLPs can help a student create a Google Slides presentation on prepositions and share it with the student’s parent. This is a simple way to get parent involvement and reinforce what is being taught. Research has shown that video modeling can be a very effective learning tool, but sometimes the videos themselves are distracting or disruptive to the flow of instruction. I personally prefer (in teletherapy) reading books in Google Slides or even YouTube, over Vooks, because I find it harder to pause for discussion in Vooks. Luckily our ad driven world has gotten kids use to video interruptions, but pausing can still be disruptive. Don’t underestimate the power of a simple photo based “how to manual” in a Google Slides presentation! It is just as easy to share as videos and is a lot easier to find a specific task than hunting for it in the middle of the video.
There are many other great tools for educators related to pictures. Choiceworks and Choiceworks Calendar are excellent tools to use on iPads and iPhones for creating visual schedules. My daughter loves creating her own schedules in Choiceworks (working on her typing/spelling to find drawings or taking/using photos or videos of tasks). Once Upon a Picture has an amazing collection drawing (with question prompts) that can be used by educators for discussions or writing prompts.
Educators Don't Get Apples! 