The ColabYard Blog
Practical guides and ideas for trainers and teachers — running live quizzes, choosing the right kind of assessment, and getting every learner involved.
Teaching Maths and Code Without Installing Anything
Two of the hardest subjects to run in a shared room are maths and code — one needs handwriting, the other needs installs. Here’s how to teach both from a browser, in fourteen languages.
30 Jul 2026 · 6 min readDiscussionsWhen to Use a Shared Document Instead of Sticky Notes
A wall of sticky notes is great for divergent ideas. But when a group needs to produce one thing together, they need a shared document. Here’s when to switch, and how to run it.
26 Jul 2026 · 5 min readDiscussionsHow to Run Effective Small-Group Discussions Online
Great group discussion isn’t luck. Here’s how to structure groups, write prompts that spark debate, and keep everyone contributing.
18 Jul 2026 · 6 min readActivitiesDrag-and-Drop Activities That Make Learning Stick
Match, categorise, sequence — three simple interaction types that turn passive review into active recall. Here’s how to use each well.
17 Jul 2026 · 5 min readGuided ScenariosTeaching Decision-Making with Branching Scenarios
Some things can’t be taught by telling. Branching scenarios let learners decide, see the fallout, and learn judgement by living it.
16 Jul 2026 · 6 min readGreenBoard8 Collaborative Whiteboard Activities for Any Class
A shared whiteboard is a blank canvas — here are eight concrete activities to fill it with, from concept maps to live process mapping, and the templates to start each from.
15 Jul 2026 · 7 min readQuizzesHow to Run a Live Quiz in Class (Step by Step)
From writing good questions to reading the leaderboard in the room — everything you need to run a live quiz that actually lands.
14 Jul 2026 · 6 min readInteractive LectureHow to Turn a Slide Deck into an Interactive Lecture
A deck of slides is a monologue. Add break points for quizzes and discussion and it becomes a conversation. Here’s how.
11 Jul 2026 · 6 min readAssessmentFormative vs Summative Assessment: What’s the Difference?
Formative or summative? Here’s the difference in plain English, with examples and a simple rule for choosing between them.
9 Jul 2026 · 7 min readSlidesLive Slide Presentations That Keep Learners Engaged
When learners follow slides on their own screen — with chat, reactions, and live joins — attention stops drifting. Here’s how to run it.
7 Jul 2026 · 5 min readModulesHow to Build a Structured Learning Module (Course Pathway)
Loose links and scattered activities lose learners. A module gives your session a clear beginning, middle, and end. Here’s how to build one.
4 Jul 2026 · 6 min readPrivacyThe Case for Classroom Tools That Need No Student Accounts
Every account you don’t ask learners to create is friction removed and data you never have to protect. Here’s why it matters.
2 Jul 2026 · 5 min readGamificationGamify Your Classroom with Live Leaderboards (Without the Downsides)
A leaderboard can light up a room or shut down the learners who need it most. Here’s how to gamify in a way that motivates everyone.
27 Jun 2026 · 5 min read