Nearpod is a presentation tool that can be used to make lessons more engaging. Nearpod offers a subscription for a fee, but you can still do some stuff with a free account. While the teacher is presenting, students will also have a version of the Nearpod on their personal device, and this allows them to participate in activities within the presentation. This also means that the teacher will be getting instant feedback.
When you go to create a slide in your presentation, it will ask if you want to add content, web content, or an activity. Under content, you can add text, slide shows, videos, virtual field trips, audio, and more. If you select web content, you can put a URL and it will embed the website. The add activity option allows you to have quizzes, drawing, polls, fill in the blanks, and memory tests in you presentation.
Without a paid subscription, it is difficult to create a good project, so I found this tool to be most usable when paired with another slideshow tool, like PowerPoint or Keynote. I would screenshot my slides, and use the tools in Nearpod to make it interactive. Nearpod also has an entire collection of presentations for a variety of lesson topics, and I found this to be very helpful. To use a Nearpod, the teacher will activate the presentation on their device. They will then be given a code to share with students, and they will go to nearpod.com, and enter the code. The teacher will then guide the presentation, as students follow along and participate in activities.
When you go to create a slide in your presentation, it will ask if you want to add content, web content, or an activity. Under content, you can add text, slide shows, videos, virtual field trips, audio, and more. If you select web content, you can put a URL and it will embed the website. The add activity option allows you to have quizzes, drawing, polls, fill in the blanks, and memory tests in you presentation.
Without a paid subscription, it is difficult to create a good project, so I found this tool to be most usable when paired with another slideshow tool, like PowerPoint or Keynote. I would screenshot my slides, and use the tools in Nearpod to make it interactive. Nearpod also has an entire collection of presentations for a variety of lesson topics, and I found this to be very helpful. To use a Nearpod, the teacher will activate the presentation on their device. They will then be given a code to share with students, and they will go to nearpod.com, and enter the code. The teacher will then guide the presentation, as students follow along and participate in activities.
***To view everything correct, please click enlarge in the upper left corner.***
How does this experience relate to Growth Mindset?
This tech tool allows the teacher to monitor progress as the lesson is taking place. Students can also see that they are learning, as they should be gaining skills that they use to answer questions or complete other activities. Nearpod is a good tool for showing progress and understanding through learning.
How does this experience relate to SAMR model?
Nearpod can be used to redefine a lesson. There is so much that a teacher can do with Nearpod that would be impossible with a traditional slideshow. For example, it would be a little difficult to take a class trip to Egypt for a few minutes, but with Nearpod it is possible. Also, teachers are gaining instant feedback on student understanding through the different activities that can be incorporated.
What would you do differently?
I found the free version of Nearpod to be a little difficult to work with. There was little room for creativity, which is why I chose to create my slides using another tool. If this was something I think I would use regularly, I would definitely look into getting a paid subscription. I also realized that Nearpod's library of presentations would be a lot easier to use than creating one from scratch, and this is something I may consider doing in the future.
How does this experience relate to Growth Mindset?
This tech tool allows the teacher to monitor progress as the lesson is taking place. Students can also see that they are learning, as they should be gaining skills that they use to answer questions or complete other activities. Nearpod is a good tool for showing progress and understanding through learning.
How does this experience relate to SAMR model?
Nearpod can be used to redefine a lesson. There is so much that a teacher can do with Nearpod that would be impossible with a traditional slideshow. For example, it would be a little difficult to take a class trip to Egypt for a few minutes, but with Nearpod it is possible. Also, teachers are gaining instant feedback on student understanding through the different activities that can be incorporated.
What would you do differently?
I found the free version of Nearpod to be a little difficult to work with. There was little room for creativity, which is why I chose to create my slides using another tool. If this was something I think I would use regularly, I would definitely look into getting a paid subscription. I also realized that Nearpod's library of presentations would be a lot easier to use than creating one from scratch, and this is something I may consider doing in the future.
Nearpod & Component 3C:
Component 3C is about engaging students. We all know how boring it is to sit through a slide show presentation, but Nearpod makes presentations more engaging. Students are interacting with the material through quizzes, drawing, memory tests, and other activities. An important part of engagement is structure and pacing. Nearpod can be useful to let teachers know when they need to make a pace adjustment, as they are able to evaluate student understanding and gain feedback while the lesson is taking place.
Component 3C is about engaging students. We all know how boring it is to sit through a slide show presentation, but Nearpod makes presentations more engaging. Students are interacting with the material through quizzes, drawing, memory tests, and other activities. An important part of engagement is structure and pacing. Nearpod can be useful to let teachers know when they need to make a pace adjustment, as they are able to evaluate student understanding and gain feedback while the lesson is taking place.
Sources:
Nearpod. (2017). Nearpod - Create, Engage, Assess through Mobile Devices. [online] Available at: https://nearpod.com/ [Accessed 11 Nov. 2017].
Pdesas.org. (2017). Standards Detail - SAS. [online] Available at: http://pdesas.org/Standard/Detail?linkStandardId=0&standardId=161037 [Accessed 11 Nov. 2017].
PDE SAS. (2011). The Framework for Teaching Evaluation Instrument. [online] Available at: http://static.pdesas.org/content/documents/danielson_rubric_32.pdf [Accessed 11 Nov. 2017].
Nearpod. (2017). Nearpod - Create, Engage, Assess through Mobile Devices. [online] Available at: https://nearpod.com/ [Accessed 11 Nov. 2017].
Pdesas.org. (2017). Standards Detail - SAS. [online] Available at: http://pdesas.org/Standard/Detail?linkStandardId=0&standardId=161037 [Accessed 11 Nov. 2017].
PDE SAS. (2011). The Framework for Teaching Evaluation Instrument. [online] Available at: http://static.pdesas.org/content/documents/danielson_rubric_32.pdf [Accessed 11 Nov. 2017].