Running head: TECHNOLOGY PROJECT 1

Madeline Albrittain

SPAN 571: Methods of Foreign Language Education

Professors Haley and Serafini

George Mason University

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Overview

What is Nearpod?

Nearpod is a free web tool for educators. Nearpod allows teachers to upload instructional

tools, such as Google Slides and add interactive activities to engage students with the content

material. Primarily, Nearpod is used for formative assessments and a more interactive alternative

to direct instruction.

How does it work?

To use Nearpod, teachers must sign up for a free account. Once educators have

registered, educators can upload previously used materials to the “My Nearpod Lessons.” Once

one has uploaded content, educators are able to add interactive activities with which students can

engage. In order for students to use, they simply input the unique lesson code; they do not need

to sign up. Students can engage in the lesson synchronously or asynchronously, at their own

pace. After each lesson, a report is generated that can be used as formative assessment. Nearpod

allows educators to add activities into a Powerpoint or other form of direct instruction, as a way

to reinforce content material and allow students to engage with the lesson.

Benefits of using Nearpod

Nearpod is a website that allows direct instruction to be more interactive, catering to the

many needs of different learners. With Nearpod, educators are able to use the same content as

before, upload it to Nearpod and add the following activities: open-ended question, matching,

quiz, draw it or collaborate. These activities are beneficial because they appeal to students’

multiple intelligences. For example, a visual learner might benefit from the draw it feature

because he is asked to draw or interpret content. Additionally, such interactive activities are ways
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of formative assessment during and after instruction. During instruction, I can add activities

based on learners’ responses throughout the lesson, adapting instruction and activities. This is a

unique feature an educator can use with Nearpod. As previously mentioned, Nearpod can also be

used asynchronously, another benefit for learners. With the asynchronous format, students can

explore content at their own pace. With the upgraded Nearpod Gold, teachers can also add video

and web content. If a Nearpod lesson is conducted synchronously, in a classroom setting, the

educator is able to share student responses with the rest of the class. The educator can choose

whether or not these responses are shared anonymously.

Formative Assessment is the most useful tool for educators as Nearpod gathers formative

data as students are completing the aforementioned activities. In the reports section of Nearpod,

educators are easily able to access percentages for student participation and quiz correctness.

Furthermore, educators are able to examine responses for each individual student. Educators are

able to then assess which students have understood the content or if the content needs to be

revisited the next class or with a particular student. The formative data acquired through this

innovative assessment tool is organized to be easily deciphered by teachers.

My Experience using Nearpod

As a high school educator, I have used Nearpod occasionally with my Spanish classes.

Whether it be my novice level ones or my honors level three classes, each student is engaged and

interacting with the material. They particularly enjoy the drawing feature! I have not used

Nearpod asynchronously; however, it would be a good tool to introduce to a flipped classroom.

During each Nearpod lesson, I am able to circulate the classroom while learners are answering

questions. I share student work to the class so learners are able to see exemplary student work or
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critique student work anonymously. After each lesson, I am able to retrieve the data report for

each lesson and evaluate student learning.

How to use Nearpod

➢ Create Nearpod account at nearpod.com

➢ Upload new or previously taught content (PDF, Google Slides, Powerpoint, etc.)

➢ Insert interactive activities (Open-Ended Questions, Draw It, Quiz, Matching,

Collaborate)
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➢ Save new Nearpod presentation. Your new, more interactive presentation can be found

under “My Library.”

➢ Share your Nearpod lesson with students, either synchronously or asynchronously with

code or link, respectively.

➢ If lesson is to be taught synchronously, students will enter the code as seen below. Below

is student view.
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➢ Throughout instruction, share student responses to activities with the rest of the class.

Names can be hidden, making the students anonymous. Below is an image of what

students and teachers can see while students are participating and interacting on Nearpod.

You can mute screen as needed so student cannot see others’ answers until all have

answered.

Anonymous Feature

➢ After your lesson, retrieve formative data under “Reports.”

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➢ Access student responses for formative assessment, in a general summary and specific

questions.