What is nearpod?
Nearpod is a really awesome and useful tool that allows teachers to bring the classroom to life, through interactive and informational presentations. However, these presentations are not typical; they allow for the integration of technology through virtual reality, interactive activities, assessments, multimedia, and collaboration. The presentations are interactive, accessible, and allow for creativity in a controlled environment, where teachers can teach and measure student learning in an engaging way. Students are able to access the presentation by entering a 5 digit/letter combination. The presentations can be done live or at the individual student's pace.
How did I create my nearpod?
The process of creating a nearpod presentation is fun and simple. There is access to a variety of tools and interactive options that can be implemented into the presentation. When I created my presentation, I based my presentation off of a pre-created presentation by accessing the wide variety of presentations that are available for free. I then began the process of personalizing and editing the presentation to fit the needs of the class. My presentation was created for a 5th grade social studies class on the Columbian Exchange. The presentation involves a number of activities and tools: objectives, slides, a virtual field trip to where Columbus landed, images, web content, a poll, a drawing submission, quizzes, video, and an open-ended question. This presentation informs students about the Columbian Exchange, mercantilism, capitalism, and how the world changed because of this event. The presentation is designed to be used in class as instruction.
How does nearpod help with component 3c?
Component 3c of Danielson's Framework is all about engaging students in learning. Nearpod is a great tool to engage students in learning. There are elements of nearpod that apply and appeal to all learners. It also creates a fun way to create episodic memory and learn through experience. They are not just reading about the content, but they are visualizing and experiencing it with their own eyes. Nearpod is fun way to teach all students.
PDE Standard
Artifact reflection
How can I use nearpod in my classroom? I can use nearpod in my classroom to create presentations for class the use that are not only informational but engaging. Unlike most tools that allow you to create presentations, nearpod allows for the implementation of so many different tools and activities that otherwise would not be available. There is true learning through the forming of episodic memories with nearpod. Students will remember those trips to different places from their own classroom that they never thought were possible. Episodic memory formation is what makes learning and understanding special and memorable.
What did I like about creating with nearpod? I loved creating with nearpod because it was also fun for me. It is so cool to be available to provide students with something that you never had access to as a student. I never knew that you could explore using nearpod in the different ways that you can. It is truly special to create something that is not only fun for you but fun your students, as well. I loved being able to think like my students and place myself in their shoes.
How does nearpod relate to the SAMR model? Nearpod is a perfect example of how implementing technology into the classroom can better student success and learning in ways that were not possible through conventional methods. By implementing virtual reality to nearpod presentations, there is a whole world of learning available to students that was not possible through typical learning and presentations. It is important also because nearpod allows for, again, the building of episodic memory, which is what makes learning memorable; every time they of the virtual field trip, they remember the purpose of the lesson and what they learned.
What did I like about creating with nearpod? I loved creating with nearpod because it was also fun for me. It is so cool to be available to provide students with something that you never had access to as a student. I never knew that you could explore using nearpod in the different ways that you can. It is truly special to create something that is not only fun for you but fun your students, as well. I loved being able to think like my students and place myself in their shoes.
How does nearpod relate to the SAMR model? Nearpod is a perfect example of how implementing technology into the classroom can better student success and learning in ways that were not possible through conventional methods. By implementing virtual reality to nearpod presentations, there is a whole world of learning available to students that was not possible through typical learning and presentations. It is important also because nearpod allows for, again, the building of episodic memory, which is what makes learning memorable; every time they of the virtual field trip, they remember the purpose of the lesson and what they learned.
References:
- View Standards - SAS. (2017). Pdesas.org. Retrieved 13 November 2017, from http://www.pdesas.org/Standard/View#
- Nearpod. (2017). Nearpod.com. Retrieved 13 November 2017, from https://nearpod.com/s/social-studies/8th-grade/the-columbian-exchange-L405698
- Nearpod - Easily integrate technology into every lesson. (2017). Nearpod.com. Retrieved 13 November 2017, from https://nearpod.com/how-it-works
- Danielson Group » The Framework. (2017). Danielsongroup.org. Retrieved 6 October 2017, from http://www.danielsongroup.org/framework/