Many of my students are easily distracted and have difficulty paying attention to content presentations (Powerpoints, lectures, videos, etc.). During these content presentations my students appear to experience symptoms of addiction to their cellphones which distracts them even more. It is an education technology conundrum. I am using technology to present material to my students in an interesting way, but the students have an addictive need to handle the technology they use on seemingly minute-by-minute basis. The solution: Nearpod.
The Nearpod education application has the potential to have students use their phones (allowing them to satisfy their addiction to the tactile handling of their phones) to follow Powerpoint presentations on their phone and assess their knowledge during the presentation. Also, if used effectively, a Nearpod lesson would allow an educator to satisfy several Marzano Domain 1 points (24 Noticing When Students are Not Engaged. 26 Managing Response Rates. 14. Reviewing Content. 10 Helping Students Process New Content.) for their evaluations.
In Nearpod you to upload or create PowerPoint presentations into their website which the students can then see through their phones/tablets/etc. Nearpod also has features such as drawing your answers for a question (which would be useful for math). You can also use videos within your Nearpod presentations not just powerpoints. You can upload questions in between the slides and monitor individual answers from your students. The students will see the slides and questions at the teacher’s pace. Students join the presentation through a temporary code. It is possible to go back to a presentation and assessment questions using the same code but that is a paid feature.
I started using the Nearpod app two years ago with my AP World History students and I was impressed with the results. My AP students were able to easily use the application while I was presenting information and I was able to analyze later what questions/content they were troubled with. If necessary, I could see and use the feedback instantly. Because it provides me instant feedback, if I choose the questions appropriately, I might be able to address confusion right away. I am also limiting the potential for distractions from my students because my lesson is incorporating the source of their distraction (their cellphones) as an educational tool. Thus, Nearpod gives me a chance to teach content while getting student engagement, instant feedback, and reducing distractions.
You should consider Nearpod more like a lesson tool to be used within the context of Quizlet or Kahoot it. However, those applications are useful for reviewing material and quizzes. Nearpod allows you to deliver content and quiz within the content. Ideally you would use Nearpod to deliver your lesson and go over the material and then in the next class you would review the material through a Quizlet or Kahoot it quiz.
However, like all education technology, Nearpod has its limitations which I discovered this past year at my new school. Nearpod does not work efficiently without a consistent wireless internet connection. Even with the unreliable internet, I was still able to use the quiz and feedback options in my lessons last year with World History and Government students. Also, Nearpod does not replace education interactive websites such as Google Classroom or Edmodo. Those education tech tools allow students to organize the resources they need for a class and occasionally do assignments. Nearpod lessons are done live in class so you would have to upload your PowerPoint presentation into your website for your students to use later.
Marzano Art and Science of Teaching Framework. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/talentdevelopment/html/mapd1teach.html
Limit Distraction, Improve Performance with Nearpod Independent research from Dakota State University shows that Nearpod prevents digital distraction and multitasking while learning. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://nearpod.com/independent-research-from-dakota-state-university-about-nearpod
Brunz, R. (n.d.) Game-Based Learning and Gamification: Strategies for Effective Integration. Retrieved from: https://www.fetc.org/materials/W060.pdf