Overview
Coined “an innovative and interactive classroom tool to create, engage and assess“, Nearpod puts you in control of your students devices, helping them stay on track and engaged in the lesson. Using a desktop or mobile device, teachers can choose exactly what each student sees on their individual screen and can interact through quizzes, open-ended questions, drawing, videos and more. If your school is looking at a 1:1 rollout or is on the way there already, Nearpod is well worth a careful look.
Name: Nearpod – www.nearpod.comPricing: Free / Subscription
Compatibility: Mobile / Desktop
Access: Email signup
Privacy: Customizable (privacy policy)
A Quick Look
In Practice
1. Lectures with interaction
If we are going to go to the trouble and expense of providing devices for all students, we need to make sure that they are adding value and not distraction. One way to really enhance engagement and focus with Nearpod is using some of the interactive features. Try throwing a short quiz into your lecture or discussion every couple of slides to keep students thinking. Have students label or annotate diagrams using the drawing tool. And best of all, you can review their submissions with Nearpod as they make them!
2. Adapt learning based on feedback
As students submit their responses and thoughts, you will be able to gauge understanding, interest and difficulties immediately. This can really benefit struggling students as you are able to adapt and curb class discussion and lesson material to focus on areas of misunderstanding or particular interest.
3. Share out of class
While there is a lot of value in the face-to-face discussion and interaction that occurs in a physical classroom, Nearpod also offers the opportunity for students who are not in class to participate and engage. Whether you have students who are learning remotely, are in another part of the school or even off sick, Nearpod can allow them to participate live in class or during their own time.
4. 2:1, 4:1 and group work
Nearpod can make a 1:1 classroom a much more cohesive and controlled environment, but it is not the only way for your students to work. Whether you are restricted with devices or just want to mix things up, try breaking your students into small groups with a single device. This can encourage constructive discussion and teamwork as well as change the dynamic of the classroom.
5. Take advantage of pre-made resources
The Nearpod Market is a place where you can explore lessons (both free and paid) that have been created by publishers and other educators. With a growing collection of high quality resources available, using pre-made material can save a lot of time as well as allow you to focus on other elements of the lesson.
Links and Next Steps
- Nearpod Guides – Instructional guides for using Nearpod
- Nearpod Market – Find pre-made Nearpod lessons and resources
- Using Nearpod in the K12 Classroom – Video (21 min)
- 5 Reasons to Use Nearpod in the Classroom
- 10 ways of using Nearpod in the Classroom
- Presentation: Online Teaching Conference 2014 – Why I Love Using Nearpod
- Using Nearpod for Classroom Assessment Formal and Informal – Video (15 min)
- 10 Tips For Using Nearpod In Your Math Class
- 10 Ways To Integrate Nearpod And Google Apps For Education
- Nearpod “Best Practices” For Math Class
- Tools of Engagement: Involving Students in Their Own Learning
Feature image adapted from image courtesy of Flickr, flickingerbrad.