Nearpod

Freemium!

Nearpod is a dynamic resource for syncing student computers with the teacher’s computer to share presentations, assessments, and digital content. To begin, teachers must go to the Nearpod website and register. Next, they can click the “My Library” button to load a new screen where teachers can click the “+ New” button and then “Lesson” to begin creating a lesson. At this point, teachers can begin building their presentation by choosing the “Add Slides” button and selecting the content they wish to include in their presentation, such as content typed directly into a Nearpod slide, content imported from the web, and an activity (e.g., Open-ended questions, polls, quizzes, drawing options, fill-in-the-blank questions, and a memory test). Teachers can also click in the top left to add a title to their presentation. Another option is for teachers to build their lesson using PowerPoint slides and simply dragging and dropping the slides into Nearpod. Nearpod will automatically convert the slides into a presentation format. When finished creating the lesson, teachers can click the “My Library” option to view a preview of their lesson. When satisfied with their lesson, teachers can choose if they are going to lead the lesson or if students will complete the lesson individually. If they are going to complete the lesson together, students will need to log onto the lesson by entering the pin into the Nearpod app or website. If this option is selected, teachers will have the ability to “hijack” their students’ computer screens once they are logged into the lesson, which means whatever is shown on the teacher’s screen is shown on the students’ screen. If students complete the lesson independently, they will be able to work on their own pace. If teachers include different activities and assessments, they will be able to view student achievement and work as students progress through the lesson. Teachers will be able to see student progress by clicking the group icon on the top left of the screen.

Please Note: Not all the content on Nearpod is free. At times, teachers may have to purchase a subscription to access all the content. However, they can still make and use lesson with their students for free. Also, teachers are encouraged to use the “Explore” option to view lessons made by colleagues, which are either free or require a small payment.

Classroom Applications

1. Instead of projecting a traditional presentation, teachers can use Nearpod so students can view the presentation on their individual devices.
2. Teachers can make a lesson that includes a presentation with embedded activities. Teachers can then have students complete the lesson individually and monitor their progress.
3. Teachers can click the “Explore” button and browse the premade lessons. Teachers can use the “Filter” button to search the lessons by cost, subject area, and grade level.

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