Teaching Tips and Tools: Instant Buttons
Want an attention grabber in your course?
Something to get students’ attention?
A way to celebrate, laugh and have fun?
Check out Instant Buttons.
Instant Buttons is an app that can easily be downloaded to Apple, Windows, Google Play and
Blackberry devices via their app stores. This tool has more than one hundred sound buttons with
everything from the “G” rated Applause, Ave Maria, Benny Hill, Cookie Monster, and Everything is
Awesome to, well, not G-rated sounds such as WTF, “They Killed Kenny,” “Striptease” and “I Kill You.”
So how can you use Instant Buttons in your class?
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If a student gets a correct answer, click on the “Applause” button or the “Bazinga” button.
If the class does well on a test, how about the “Celebration” button or the “Hallelujah” button?
Did you ask a question and no one answered it? Try clicking on the “Crickets” button.
Have an announcement? Perhaps the “Drum Roll” is appropriate.
Are your students packing up their backpack five minutes before class is actually over? How
about telling them they can pack up when they hear the “School Bell” button?
There are more than 100 sounds from which to choose. You can make the sounds you like to use your
favorites and store them in a folder for easy access. You can even record your own sound!
Additionally, there is a “children’s lock” so that kids playing with your cell phone will not run across the
“not G-rated” buttons.
Warning: Instant buttons can become addicting. The key is to use them sparingly. Over-use will kill the
novelty of these buttons.
So if you are looking for a fun app that can spark some humor and life into your courses, try Instant
Buttons!