Nearpod’s PD team: Professional Services

At Nearpod, I lead the work done by an amazing team called Professional Services. We are responsible for creating and delivering the professional development opportunities that educators at all levels have access to, so they can more effectively use the instructional tools and supplemental content from Nearpod and Flocabulary.

The Professional Services team is an impressive group of educators who combine their valuable knowledge and expertise to help support schools and districts worldwide. Our team members have diverse educational backgrounds, including expertise in elementary education, special education, leadership, technology, and more.

Before we create a slide, handout, catchy title, or description, we make sure that whatever learning and work we are asking teachers to do will positively impact and support the important work they are already doing.

There are multiple ways for all types and levels of educators to engage in these learning opportunities, especially when considering how to get professional development hours for teaching. From free to paid, from beginner to advanced, we have professional development you can access that will impact the teaching and learning happening in your classroom, school, and district.

Nearpod PD: How to get professional development hours for teachers

Earning professional development hours should not be complicated when you are spending time learning new skills and ideas to support your students. At Nearpod, we diligently strive to make all our professional development offerings easy to join, relevant to your instructional needs, designed for you as an adult learner, and of course sharing documentation for you to submit for professional development hours. And of course, our webinars are usually hosted through the Nearpod platform, making it an interactive PD experience for all participants. Any webinar, course, or session that you join will model the best uses of Nearpod as a learning and instruction platform, it will be engaging, and—dare we say—you might even have a bit of fun along the way. So, what are all the options for you to earn professional development hours with Nearpod?

Foster a love of learning in every student with Nearpod. Teachers can sign up for free below to access and create interactive lessons. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.

Free professional development with year-round public webinars

Let’s start with something free, because who doesn’t love some free learning? For all users of Nearpod and Flocabulary, we offer free public webinars year-round. These webinars are typically 60 minutes in length and support primarily the basics of each of the two platforms. For each session that is attended live, you will receive a certificate of attendance that can be used to support your professional development requirements in your district.

For Nearpod, we regularly offer the following webinars:

• Nearpod for Beginners
• Plan, Create, and Edit a Nearpod Lesson
• Using Nearpod with Google
• Using Nearpod with Microsoft
• Nearpod for Corporate Training
• Nearpod in Higher Education

For Flocabulary, we regularly offer the Beginner’s Guide to Flocabulary.

The calendar of available webinars can be viewed at Nearpod.com/Resources. Find the session that supports your learning needs and register!

• Sessions are presented using GoToWebinar.
• Recordings are provided for all who register.
• Certificates of attendance are automatically sent to those who attend the live webinar; these can be submitted to your school or district to clock hours for professional development.

Summer sessions: PD by the Pool

And for the summer, we add a little more fun and learning! Each summer from mid-June until the end of August, we offer PD by the Pool. 

These opportunities include our regularly scheduled webinars but also include new learning opportunities. Explore more Summer PD learning opportunities.

This summer, we are including sessions such as:

• Creating & Launching Choice Boards with Nearpod 
• Enhancing Vocabulary and Comprehension: Using Nearpod to Support the Science of Reading for All Grade Levels
• Achieving Balance: On-Screen and Off-Screen Teaching with Technology 
• Using AI to Generate Text to Differentiate for Students 
• Enhancing Academic Vocabulary and Comprehension: Using Word Up in Flocabulary to Support the Science of Reading for All Grade Levels
• Back to School with Nearpod 

A certificate of attendance will be provided for each session that a teacher attends live so they can gain free PD hours. This certificate can be shared with your school or district as evidence of professional development hours. 

If a live webinar doesn’t work within your schedule or your time zone, Nearpod and Flocabulary offer several options for learning the basics asynchronously. Although these options are designed specifically for those who have a paid school or district Nearpod or Flocabulary account, they are available for free. 

Getting to Know Nearpod

This course is meant to introduce Nearpod and support educators in learning the Nearpod platform to support daily instruction and formative assessment. Participants will learn about navigating the platform, finding and editing lessons from the Nearpod library, creating lessons using their own resources, launching lessons to students in two modes, and reviewing evidence of student learning in reports.

Getting to Know Flocabulary

This course is meant to introduce Flocabulary and support educators in learning the Flocabulary platform so they can continue to support learning academic vocabulary in the classroom. Participants will learn about navigating the platform, understanding the lesson sequence, creating classes and assignments, and reviewing evidence of student learning in reports.

Contact your Nearpod or Flocabulary school or district account manager for more details!

Camp Engage

Two times per year, Nearpod hosts an event unlike any other: It is called Camp Engage! This is an online, multi-day, free conference for anyone who wants to learn about Nearpod and Flocabulary or anyone who already uses these platforms and wants to level up their skills. This is a perfect way for teachers to earn PD hours!

Camp Engage is designed to provide quality professional development led by experts in Nearpod and Flocabulary. You will learn from educators who have been or are currently in the field using these tools every day! Attending any of our main learning sessions during a Camp Engage event includes the option of earning free professional development hours for teachers. These can be shared with your school or district as evidence of your professional growth. It is also an opportunity to build your community of fellow educators to learn and laugh with during this conference.

Save your spot now for Camp Engage: Back to School, July 25-27, to help you make the most of the upcoming school year and find creative ways to engage your students!

Personalized professional development for your school and district

When a district or an individual school purchases Nearpod or Flocabulary platforms, there is the option to access professional development designed to meet the learning needs specific to that district or school.

The Professional Services team aims to help schools and districts just like yours to cultivate an environment that encourages digital learning and interactivity, helping teachers utilize technology in the most effective way possible. Each session begins with essential questions and learning objectives that are connected to the ISTE Standards for Educators and Coaches. Sessions are delivered virtually or on-site and are always designed using adult learning strategies, best instructional practices, and of course a little element of fun!

These learning opportunities are designed for a personalized approach with custom-tailored sessions to help educators seamlessly integrate Nearpod’s tools to address their unique needs. Professional development can include an introduction to the latest methodologies and strategies for technology integration as well as equipping educators with tools for digital learning success in their classroom or school.

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital education, we’re here to be your guide, your mentor, and your partner. Let us support you as you take your district or school to new heights.

Check out the professional development currently offered, to encourage transformative instruction with Nearpod, with the purchase of professional development for Nearpod and/or Flocabulary. 
Contact nearpodcoach@nearpod.com if you’re interested in this PD opportunity!

Start exploring Nearpod’s PD

Most teachers are in the education profession because they enjoyed or excelled at being a students; at some point, they enjoyed the process of learning, challenging the status quo, and working to make something better. Sadly, for the last few years that love of learning may have waned a bit. This could be from a lack of resources, ever-changing expectations, or just sheer exhaustion!

At Nearpod and Flocabulary, we hear and see you! Our goal has been, and continues to be, to offer professional development that prioritizes learning relevant ideas and skills you can immediately implement in your classroom or your school. We strive to do this through an engaging platform, using adult learning strategies, all while providing you with the evidence needed to meet accountability demands.

Foster a love of learning in every student with Nearpod. Teachers can sign up for free below to access and create interactive lessons. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.

Julie Cobb

Julie Cobb is a Director of Professional Services at Nearpod, leading high-quality implementation and training consultations for Nearpod School and District partners across the United States. She has her Bachelors in Education of the Hearing Impaired and her Masters in Educational Leadership. Passionate about education technology, she was inspired to join Nearpod because she wanted to share innovative ways to transform teaching and learning using technology in the classroom and beyond.

The post Extend your professional development learning and earn Nearpod PD hours for teachers appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

We’re thankful for the impact each of the ten finalists makes within their schools, among their students, and across their communities. Their dedication is the cornerstone of the Nearpod family.

It is with great excitement that we introduce our five distinguished Educators of the Year to you!

Nearpod’s 2023 Educators of the Year

Breaking Barriers

Creates equitable, inclusive learning environments and tackles obstacles head-on.

Asia Hutchings

Asia Hutchings, a Title I Lead Teacher at AMIkids Gainesville, a program for juveniles involved with the Department of Juvenile Justice, single-handedly plans and delivers a comprehensive curriculum, including math, science, language arts, social studies, vocational education, and physical education.

Beyond her academic contributions, Asia’s ability to build rapport and empathize with students facing drug abuse and traumatic experiences is commendable. Her efforts to introduce innovative learning tools like Flocabulary and hands-on projects like hydroponic and aquaponic systems significantly enhance the learning experience.

Community Connector

Brings people in the educator community together to collaborate and grow.

LeNeshia Markey

LeNeshia Markey, a seventh-grade English language arts teacher and team leader, has made a profound impact at Albert Cammon Middle School by securing vital resources and inspiring events that promote education, health, and personal growth, including:

• Collaborating with Capital One to provide school supplies and financial assistance
• Arranging a visit from the New Orleans Pelicans basketball team to promote education and healthy living
• Partnering with the sheriff’s department to implement a behavioral intervention initiative for young girls

Flocabulary’s Favorite

Deserves the ultimate *mic drop* for using Flocabulary in extraordinary ways!

Caroline Espinet

Caroline Espinet has embraced Flocabulary to create engaging and culturally relevant lessons for her special education students, especially the Week in Rap, to connect their passion for music to current events.

Beyond her classroom, Caroline is committed to spreading the benefits of Flocabulary through professional development sessions for educators in her district and Long Island. She emphasizes the importance of culturally relevant teaching and actively contributes to the school’s inclusive culture by spearheading major events like The Heritage Project and Celebrating Black History Through Music.

Magic Maker

Brings magic to the classroom by going the extra mile to foster a love of learning in students.

Eddy Rey Castellanos

Eddy Rey Castellanos brings excitement to learning with initiatives like “Chemistry Day Celebration,” empowering students to participate in experiments with accomplished chemists, highlighting the practical applications, and discussing topics like the role of women in science and the challenges of pursuing scientific careers.

Her dedication to her students’ academic and personal growth is evident through her active community involvement and innovative teaching methods.

Nearpod’s North Star

Champions Nearpod with other teachers and is the go-to for Nearpod support and innovative ideas.

Scott Nicks

Scott Nicks has exemplified excellence in implementing Nearpod in his science classroom. His daily use of Nearpod has not only made learning more engaging and accessible for his students but has also significantly boosted science testing scores across multiple schools in the district. Scott has proven that successful Nearpod implementation can lead to top results on district and state assessments. 

A strong advocate for using Nearpod to empower ALL learners to reach their full potential, Scott also focuses on specialized settings such as self-contained ASD (autism spectrum disorder) classrooms, as well as spaces to support ELL students.

His leadership in professional development has made him an invaluable resource to his peers by leading professional development sessions for both Nearpod beginners just getting started and advanced Nearpod users.

And a big shout out to our five runner-up finalists!

We’d like to spotlight our five additional finalists who have made significant contributions to their communities. 

Breaking Barriers Finalist

• Amara Pascuito, 1st-grade Teacher, New York – Celebrated for her foundational work in early childhood education

Community Connector Finalist

• Joseph Camputaro, 5th-grade Teacher, Florida – Recognized for his exceptional community-building efforts within the educational landscape

Flocabulary’s Favorite Finalist

• Micah Wolfe, Language Arts Teacher, Oklahoma – Acknowledged for his engaging and innovative use of Flocabulary to enhance language arts education

Magic Maker Finalist

• Amanda Cornet, Orchestra Teacher, Indiana – Delivered musical instruction that’s become a cornerstone of her students’ artistic development

Nearpod’s North Star Finalist

• Ashley Yergin, Instructional Tech Coach, Georgia -Seamlessly woven technology into the fabric of learning

Congratulations, educators!

A round of applause to all our winners for their passion, commitment, and inspiring efforts in education! Each recipient is awarded $300, an upgraded Nearpod and Flocabulary subscription, and a personalized shirt to celebrate their achievements.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all educators who devote themselves to making a positive, lasting impact. We see and appreciate everything you do.

Lindsay Rothfeld

Lindsay Rothfeld is the Sr. Manager, Community at Nearpod. Lindsay began her career in ed tech as Flocabulary’s community manager back in 2018 and has loved every minute of it. If you’ve seen posts on social media that mention PioNears, Nearpod/Flocabulary Certified Educators, or Camp Engage, then you’ve seen the result of Lindsay’s work. She is grateful for the incredible relationships she’s built with educators across the globe and would love to connect with anyone interested in getting more involved with Nearpod’s community!

The post Meet your 2023 Educators of the Year! appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

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ISTE 2023 recap from the Nearpod booth

Nearpod sessions

At the Nearpod booth, educators and attendees alike were immersed in an atmosphere of collaboration and creativity. Over a dozen PioNears led great demonstrations showcasing how they use Nearpod to engage, differentiate, and get real-time insights from students. Each demo concluded with a Nearpod fan-favorite, Time to Climb, and each winner left with a smile, some swag, and skills to bring back to the classroom.

Nearpod wasn’t just prevalent at the booth and in the conference agenda. Two sessions stood out to us:

• Janet Corder’s “Going Beyond the Basics of Nearpod” drew over 130 attendees, eager to take their Nearpod use to the next level
• Students from Andes International School in Puebla, Mexico, showcased how they use Nearpod to travel around the world right in their classroom
• Jason Clark was a hit in the Google Theater with his “Creating and Delivering Active Learning Experiences with Nearpod and Google” session. Attendees learned how to harness the power of Nearpod and Google to deliver transformative instruction that engages, challenges, and motivates students!

Nearpod won Best of Show!

Nearpod’s draw was palpable, so much so that we were recognized as Tech & Learning’s Best of Show awards at ISTELive 23. Judged by some of the most knowledgeable and tech-savvy educators, Tech & Learning showcases those products and businesses that demonstrate the most potential for transforming education. These professional users, editors, and judges evaluate products according to three criteria:

• ease of use, value
• uniqueness in the market
• proof that the product helped make teachers’ lives easier and supported student achievement

Nearpod, Flocabulary, and Nearpod Math Program all received “Best in Show” accolades for ISTE 2023.

Nearpod won the Common Sense Award!

For several years now, Common Sense has badged booths at ISTE 2023 as a Common Sense Selection for Learning if identified as a best-in-class resource and tool. These hand-picked selections are evaluated through their independent rating criteria and pedagogical rubric.

We believe properly resourced, well-prepared, passionate, and creative teachers make learning happen—not tech, tools, or resources.

Common Sense

For over 10 years, the seasoned Common Sense editorial learning team has reviewed new and existing products throughout the year by highlighting a Learning Rating, a Community Rating, and a Privacy Rating, plus teacher tricks and tips for each resource. Nearpod earned recognition as a Common Sense Selection for Learning again for 2023.

Poetry Slam

We brought the house down at the annual ISTE EdTech Poetry Slam, in collaboration with K-12 Learning, where 12 exceptional educators shared their original poetry with the community. Live beats provided by Flocabulary artists Mike Judd and Dizzy SenZe added an unforgettable musical dimension to the event. And it’s not a Flocabulary-sponsored event without some collaborative rhyme-writing via Lyric Lab, led by Ike Ramos and Merv Jenkins. Educators are masters at modeling how best to engage in learning, and seeing the community come together to support fellow educators and celebrate creativity was a real treat.

Join us for Camp Engage Back to School 2023

The learning doesn’t have to stop at ISTE 2023! Join us for Camp Engage, a FREE virtual professional development opportunity for all educators, on July 26-28! Get access to more than 30 interactive and informative sessions—you’ll come away supercharged for the school year ahead!

Nearpod Team

Nearpod’s award-winning platform is used by thousands of schools around the globe, transforming classroom engagement.

nearpod.com/

The post ISTE 2023 Recap appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

Research shows students who are given a choice in their instruction are more motivated, self-confident, high achieving, and find the learning process to be more meaningful and engaging. Creating the space for students to learn and elevate AAPI voices and stories is important in the fight for racial justice.

Nearpod received hundreds of well-researched submissions from students in grades K-12, and we’re excited to announce that this year’s contest winner is…

Sadie, 11th grade, from Livingston, New Jersey!

AAPI historical figure: Anna May Wong

As our contest winner, Sadie will work with Nearpod’s Content team to transform her script into a “Just A Minute” Nearpod Original video.

Sadie’s winning script about Anna May Wong

“Born Wong Liu Tsong in Los Angeles in 1905, Anna May Wong is considered the first Chinese American film star in Hollywood. She acted in over 60 films in her career but is most known for her role in 1932’s Shanghai Express opposite Marlene Dietrich. In 1951, Wong became the first Asian American to star in a US television show, The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong. And in 1960, she was the first Asian American woman to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Wong was also a fashion and style icon known for her flapper style that incorporated traditional Chinese designs.

Though Wong gained significant popularity in the US and internationally, she still faced discrimination and xenophobia in Hollywood. Throughout her career, she was mostly cast only in supporting roles, many of which played on Asian stereotypes. She had trouble getting lead roles due to anti-miscegenation laws, which prohibited interracial couples from appearing on screen. Despite the racism and discrimination she faced, Anna May Wong carved out a long and successful career and remains a role model for many Asian American actors.

Where do you see the legacy of Anna May Wong today?”

See Sadie’s script come to life in the final product! In this Interactive Video, students learn about Anna May Wong, the first Chinese American film star. A host discusses Wong’s career highlights and struggle to overcome discrimination in Hollywood, and students consider where they see her legacy today.

Explore past winning entries

If you’re looking for more ways to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, here are a few places to look:

• Learn about Nearpod’s 2022 student winner: Savannah!
• Teach the Just a Minute video from 2022’s winning script on Kalpana Chawla
• View the script-writing lesson video and AAPI Nearpod lessons linked on the contest page

Thank you to everyone that submitted an entry. The learning should not stop when Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month ends. These themes and topics can enrich cross-curricular learning all year round. That’s why we’ve updated the contest page so you can access the script-writing lesson at any time.

To stay involved in the Nearpod community, please join our Educator Facebook Group and our certification program.

Nearpod Team

Nearpod’s award-winning platform is used by thousands of schools around the globe, transforming classroom engagement.

nearpod.com/

The post Student contest winner: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2023 appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

All ten finalists have contributed greatly to their schools, students, peers, and communities. We are grateful to have each of them in the Nearpod family and incredibly proud.

Without further ado, meet our five Educators of the Year!

Nearpod’s 2022 Educators of the Year

Breaking Barriers

Creates equitable, inclusive learning environments. Tackles obstacles head-on.

Liudmyla Katereniuk

Despite the challenges presented by the ongoing war in Ukraine, Liudmyla has consistently found ways to support and mentor other educators. She has even helped teachers overcome challenges, like finding locations in their town with the power to attend online sessions to ensure that they have the resources they need to provide the best education possible to their students.

As a school administrator, she is constantly developing innovative ways to train teachers, like organizing professional development across multiple schools for more than 20 teachers.

Community Connector

Brings people in the educator community together to collaborate and grow.

Alexa Guy

Under her leadership as an Instructional Reading Intervention Coach, Alexa’s school has implemented a Positive Behavior Systems framework, structure, and incentive store to recognize student efforts and achievement. She has solidified several community partnerships with politicians, non-profits, and community organizations to fund this project, along with several others that benefit her students. As a result of her efforts, the school saw its grade rise from a projected “F” to a “B” in the last school year.

Flocabulary’s Favorite

Uses Flocabulary in extraordinary ways. It deserves the ultimate *mic drop*!

Sherena Small

Sherena Small is a School Social Worker who has found a passion for using Flocabulary in her SEL classes. She uses Lyric Lab to facilitate her students in writing a class song based on the SEL topics they have learned about (like respect, empathy, active listening, conflict resolution, self-compassion, and kindness). Allowing them to pick the music and use their ideas reinforces concepts and gives them ownership of their learning and an opportunity to learn in a fun and expressive way. A recent class creation was posted on the school’s Facebook page, titled “RESPECT IS LIT!”

Magic Maker

Brings magic to the classroom by fostering a love of learning in students! Always going the extra mile.

Amy Taylor

Amy’s students look to her for guidance as they make important decisions about their future, and she’s always available to them after they graduate. Not a graduation ceremony is complete without Senior after Senior dedicating large amounts of their final words to her. She can be found running the concession stand to raise money for the National Honor Society scholarship fund she created for her chapter. Or she’s in her classroom planning engaging lessons like author meet and greets, Zoom calls with Holocaust survivors, or planning a live French cooking and culture day with her students. She’s the only National Board Certified teacher at her school and one of just five in her county.

Nearpod’s North Star

Champions Nearpod with other teachers. Always the go-to for Nearpod support and innovative ideas.

Christie Thompson

Christie Thompson moves beyond simply using Nearpod as a presentation tool and really utilizes its possibilities within her classroom. She encourages students to use the “Save to Google Drive” feature to create notes that are transferred to their Interactive Notebooks for review and ownership. During Black History Month, she had students create an interactive Periodic Table of Black history and use Flocabulary to create raps about their chosen individuals, providing effective alternative assessment and cross-disciplinary engagement options. Christie is also an adjunct professor who has incorporated Nearpod into her courses and provided professional development sessions on Nearpod to educators in her county at Empower Virtual and the Coweta County Innovation Summit.

And a big shout out to our five runner-up finalists!

Breaking Barriers: Ashley Cornejo

• 2nd-grade teacher, North Carolina
• Oak Grove Elementary in Durham Public Schools

Community Connector: Nolan Grady

• 9th-grade Math Team Lead, Pennsylvania
• Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School

Flocabulary’s Favorite Finalist: Jeremy Percich

• 4th-grade teacher, Hawaii
• Waihe’e Elementary School in Hawaii Department of Education

Magic Maker Finalist: Sarana McDaniel

• 2nd-grade teacher, California
• Taft City School District

Nearpod’s North Star Finalist: Erin Merrill

• Social Studies Department Chair, Virginia
• Pennington School in Prince William Co Public Schools

Congratulations, educators!

Congratulations to all of our winners for their hard work and dedication to education. As award recipients, each will get $200, an upgraded Nearpod and Flocabulary subscription, and a personalized shirt!

We are honored to recognize these inspiring educators for their achievements. They showcase the day-in and day-out support, guidance, and love educators give to their students and communities worldwide. Thank you to all the educators who work tirelessly to impact our lives positively. Your efforts truly make a difference.

Lindsay Rothfeld

Lindsay Rothfeld is the Sr. Manager, Community at Nearpod. Lindsay began her career in ed tech as Flocabulary’s community manager back in 2018 and has loved every minute of it. If you’ve seen posts on social media that mention PioNears, Nearpod/Flocabulary Certified Educators, or Camp Engage, then you’ve seen the result of Lindsay’s work. She is grateful for the incredible relationships she’s built with educators across the globe and would love to connect with anyone interested in getting more involved with Nearpod’s community!

The post Meet Nearpod’s 2022 Educators of the Year! appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

For us at Nearpod, this week was all about celebrating teachers. We had our PioNears ambassadors leading Nearpod and Flocabulary demos at the booth, we showcased creative educators in the Edtech Poetry Slam event, and welcomed all attendees to escape the New Orleans heat with some free cold brew every day. As an ISTE attendee Jennifer Martin said, Nearpod truly knows the “way to a professional educator’s heart.”

ISTE 2022 recap from the Nearpod booth

If you were part of the #NotAtISTE crew, here are some highlights that might be meaningful to you:

The learning was nonstop at Booth #1654

One of the everyday observations from our booth visitors was how memorable and applicable these presentations were, and that’s because of the power of Nearpod. At all hours, groups of teachers circled around our booth to participate in ongoing demos, led by either Nearpod team members or PioNears. Whether playing Time to Climb trivia or illustrating a Draw-It, teachers weren’t passively learning about Nearpod. They were engaged.

Many teachers with whom I spoke expressed that they were looking for ways to weave Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) into their instruction. PioNear, Janet Corder, began her session with a Mr. Potato Head check-in Draw-It, modeling one of the many ways Nearpod can help facilitate SEL.

And guess what? The learning doesn’t have to stop at ISTE. In just a few weeks, you can join Nearpod staff, PioNears, and fellow educators at our FREE virtual conference, Camp Engage! For 3 days, you’ll have access to innovative and informative presentations about how to use Nearpod and Flocabulary to bring joy into your classrooms for back-to-school. And, of course, there will be tons of time to connect, play games, celebrate, and, yes – win swag!

Did you know? Nearpod won Best of Show!

Every year at ISTE, a Tech & Learning panel recognizes the ed-tech products transforming education in schools worldwide for their Tech & Learning Best of Show awards. They explicitly judge the “value, quality, ease of use, and versatility.” This year, Nearpod, Flocabulary, AND Nearpod Math won this title! 

And the accolades don’t stop there. Nearpod also received the highly regarded Common Sense Selections for Learning seal. This seal recognizes “best-in-class media resources and tools that facilitate great learning experiences for students and educators.”

Spotlight on: Teacher voice

One of the most impactful experiences I had during the week was outside the convention center. In partnership with K-12 Leaders, Flocabulary co-hosted an Ed Tech Poetry Slam where 12 incredible educators spoke their truths.  Let me tell you, by the end of the night, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

Ultimately, Dr. Amy Jackson was crowned victorious.  Her poem highlighted the struggles she’s experienced being a woman of color in a leadership position in education. My hands hurt from all the applause.

I’d be remiss not to mention another huge Flocabulary highlight from the week – a live recording of our newly launched Flocabulary podcast: The Flocast! Our co-hosts Tee and Bri spoke with Nearpod PioNear Leticia Citizen and Grammy-nominated producer Kevin Khao Cates during these live recordings at our booth.

Reunited, and it felt so good!

One of the reasons Nearpod stands out among its competitors, in my opinion, is the magic of our community. This was palpable at ISTE. Throughout the week, Nearpod PioNears and Certified Educators took every opportunity to come together, not just at the Nearpod booth. Some of the most impactful moments at ISTE occur during hallway run-ins, casual happy hours, and networking sessions with your PLN.

ISTE was a potent reminder of how genuine the connections in the Nearpod community are – even when made virtually! If you are itching for more opportunities to connect with educators so that you can have these kinds of IRL encounters, please explore what the Nearpod community has to offer!

ISTELive 22 was more than just a conference. It was a reminder that no matter what uphill battles the educators in our community are facing, they will remain steadfast on their dedication to quality and impactful education. I leave every ed tech event with a renewed sense of awe and admiration for the folks we aim to support at Nearpod.

I will speak on our whole organization’s behalf in saying that we are constantly humbled by the enthusiasm and love we feel from the Nearpod community. We can’t wait to build on the strong connections we started to form at ISTELive as we enter the new school year!

Interested in reading more about this topic? Check out this blog post: Camp Engage: Virtual Professional Development for Teachers

Lindsay Rothfeld

Lindsay Rothfeld is the Sr. Manager, Community at Nearpod. Lindsay began her career in ed tech as Flocabulary’s community manager back in 2018 and has loved every minute of it. If you’ve seen posts on social media that mention PioNears, Nearpod/Flocabulary Certified Educators, or Camp Engage, then you’ve seen the result of Lindsay’s work. She is grateful for the incredible relationships she’s built with educators across the globe and would love to connect with anyone interested in getting more involved with Nearpod’s community!

The post ISTE 2022 Recap appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

This means that if you’re one of the top 10 Silver teachers to launch the most lessons during these dates, Nearpod will donate a Site License to your school! View all of the amazing features available with a School Site License.

Not only can you unlock all of Nearpod’s features, your fellow teachers and administrators can also! That’s the power of a Nearpod School License.

Keep reading to see our Challenge FAQ and learn tips and tricks for entering.

Challenge FAQ

What is it?

It’s a contest for teachers who have a Silver (free) Nearpod account. Participants will launch Nearpod lessons each week for a chance to win weekly prizes and/or a Nearpod license for their school. Read the Terms and Conditions here.

When does the contest take place?

Monday September 20,2021 – Sunday October 24,2021

Who can enter?

This contest is only for teachers in the United States who currently have a Nearpod Silver account or sign up for a Nearpod Silver Account. You are automatically entered into our challenge if you have a Nearpod Silver account.

What is the prize(s)?

For the grand prize, Nearpod is donating 1 School License to the winning teacher’s respective school  on behalf of each of the 10 winning teachers. Each of the 10 winners will also receive a Nearpod swag pack.

There will also be weekly Nearpod swag packs given away to the top Silver teacher that week.

How can I enter/participate?

If you have a Silver account, you’re automatically entered in the challenge. You can participate by launching Nearpod lessons you’ve created, edited, and/or downloaded from our lesson library. Launching a lesson means hosting the lesson with Live Participation and/or Student-Paced. Learn how to launch a lesson.

If you have any other questions, please reach out to contest@nearpod.com.

You may be an expert when it comes to leveraging the power of Nearpod in your classroom, but it’s important to recognize all the different ways you can infuse Nearpod into your practice to enter. Here are some tips and tricks for how to get there by expanding your idea of how Nearpod can support your instruction!

Making the most out of your Nearpod experience during the challenge

Teaching is about imparting skills and information into learners through a variety of means, but great teachers all have something in common- they are continually assessing and reflecting on whether students have grasped the concepts at hand. Nearpod provides the means to do just that in so many different environments and technology landscapes, all while ensuring the learning experiences are engaging, accessible, and inclusive for students. Let’s review a few of my favorite ways to infuse Nearpod into your instructional practice, and keep in mind each of these will make you eligible for entry into our contest!

As a former HS social studies teacher, I leaned heavily on the lecture format to deliver information about events in US and World History. I prided myself on being the most enthusiastic and captivating orator I could possibly be and yet the evaluative feedback I got was always the same, “We’d like to hear the students more.” They were right. I found Nearpod’s platform and immediately recognized its ability to transform my lectures into interactive experiences where the content I delivered was all that more engaging and I was consistently injecting formative assessments in a variety of ways for students to demonstrate comprehension. 

Simple ways to get started on creating your own Nearpod lessons

With Nearpod, you can make slides-based lessons interactive and gather data on student understanding.

You can make any lesson interactive by searching Nearpod’s lesson library for pre-made lessons according to standards, subjects, and grade levels. You can also create your own slide-based lesson with interactive formative assessment features. 

Transforming one of your lectures is as easy as uploading an existing PPT or Google Slides presentation into Nearpod and infusing dynamic media and activities at strategic points, or modifying Nearpod’s pre-made lessons from the lesson library to fit your classroom. 

Some ideas include:

1. Add a poll or a VR field trip at the beginning of class to spark discussion or real world connection
2. Insert Draw Its, Open Ended Questions, or a Collaborate Board to let students make their voices heard throughout the experience
3. Embed a Quiz at the end to serve as an exit ticket

These 4-5 additions to my existing lesson transformed it from a passive to active learning experience for my students and I was more informed along the way because of it. 

Interactive Video: Choose a pre-made video lesson, or create your own in minutes

On Interactive Video, you can create active video experiences in any lesson while checking for student understanding using built-in questions. Another aspect of my teaching practice involved sharing videos with students as a means to flip the classroom ahead of a discussion or after a lecture to extend their learning. My Government students adored Craig from Crash Course Government, and yet I always found sharing these videos to be too passive of an experience. 

With Nearpod, I could make these videos interactive by injecting questions into strategic parts of the video just like I could with my lectures. 11 minutes is a long time to sit and watch, but by answering multiple choice or open-ended questions throughout the video I could ensure students would be paying attention and applying what they learned throughout. 

When I used this strategy to flip the classroom, the data would give me confidence that students understood a given concept like Separation of Powers ahead of committing an entire period to a debate on the subject. What’s even better was that Nearpod has a library of thousands of these videos with questions already written including some incredible Nearpod Originals, so I didn’t have to start from scratch.

Here are a few teacher favorites! Use these video lessons as is, modify them, or use them as inspiration to create your own:

1. Nearpod Originals (K-12 ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, Life Skills)
2. Crash Course (8-12 Math, Science, Social Studies) 
3. PBS Kids (K-5 ELA, Social Studies, SEL, Health, Technology)
4. BBC Worldwide  (3-12 Social Studies, Science, Life Skills, Technology)
5. TED-Ed (6-12 ELA, Science, Social Studies)

Choose from standards-aligned activities and gamification lessons, or create your own in minutes

An additional way I encourage teachers to unleash the power of Nearpod is by injecting some gamification activities into the classroom experience. Nearpod’s gamification and activities include Time to Climb, Draw It, and Matching Pairs.

At the end of an especially rigorous week, I would make a 10-question Time to Climb trivia quiz and let my students duke it out for who would sit atop the mountain as the master of that week’s knowledge base. This fun routine became a staple of my classroom’s culture and Nearpod made it so easy by offering a huge library just like with video or letting me convert existing quizzes into Time to Climb with the click of a button.

Use these activities as is, modify them, or use them as inspiration to create your own:

1. Draw It Activities (K-12 ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, Life Skills)
2. Matching Pairs Activities (K-12 ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, Tech & Other)
3. Time to Climb Activities (K-12 ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, Life Skills)

Any of the above strategies- turning a lecture into an interactive experience, flipping the classroom with interactive video, or injecting gamification with Time to Climb- are easy ways to dip your toe in the water of Nearpod and understand the power of the platform. The best part though, is that doing any of the above will automatically enter you in our contest!

Don’t forget to use these tips and tricks as a guide for when you’re creating, downloading, and launching lessons. Good luck, teachers!

If you’re looking for resources to provide your administrators about Nearpod and/or looking for alternative ways to fund a Gold or platinum license, click below!

Adam Franklin

Adam is a Learning Experience Designer at Nearpod. He previously taught High School History teacher in Houston, Texas where he also served as the Social Studies Department Chair. Adam is currently in charge of the quality control of Nearpod’s learning experiences. He is also the manager of the Digital Citizenship and Literacy program.

The post Bring Nearpod to Your School Challenge appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

Thinking about attending #NearpodTransform? Here are just a few reasons why you CAN’T miss it!

#1 Ft. Lauderdale in February. Need we say more?

#2 You can get continuing education credit! We’ll send you a certificate for 10 completed instructional hours after the event. Just email transformconference@nearpod.com.

#3 All of your meals , drinks and networking events are included in the registration fee of only $185.

#4 Get up close and personal with Nearpod leadership, including the founders. You’ll even have a chance to meet with our product team and provide your feedback on what we should build next!

#5 Get your school/district to sponsor you using our justification letter template.

#6 There is something for everyone – teachers and administrators, Nearpod experts and novices. Take a look at the agenda at nearpod.com/transform.

#7 Hear from Governor Beverly E. Perdue, the first female Governor of North Carolina and Founder & Chair of digiLEARN.

Register today – space is limited!

Click the button below  for more information about #NearpodTransform

Learn More

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“Sea” you there!

Nearpod Team

Nearpod’s award-winning platform is used by thousands of schools around the globe, transforming classroom engagement.

nearpod.com/

The post #NearpodTransform: 7 Reasons not to miss the boat! appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

On Feb 23-25, Nearpod hosted our 3rd annual PioNear Summit in sunny Hollywood Beach, FL. We were thrilled to welcome a packed room of passionate edtech enthusiasts from around the world. Some came from as far as the Middle East! We spent a weekend of community building and professional development.

This year’s summit was all about transformation. Conversations focused on questions like:

• How do we harness technology to transform the way teaching looks in the classroom?
• How do we ensure we are preparing students for the world that awaits them?
• How can we provide easy-to-use digital resources to more teachers and students?

Watch the brief video that brings together the best moments of this inspirational weekend.

Mass rock, paper, scissors contest.

Some of our favorite Summit moments included:

• Nearpod VP of Content Jennie Kristoffersen’s discussion about how we must bridge the gap between active and passive use of technology in the classroom
• A behind the scenes look at how the Nearpod product platform is evolving with CTO John Eckerd and Head of Product Sebastian Feldman
• A Next level VR demonstration by PioNear and VR enthusiast, Steve Bambury
• Indisputable evidence that educators can sing (and dance) at Plug-IN Karaoke

PioNear Experience

See what the PioNears had to say about their Summit experience.

Willingness of NEARPOD to bring motivated educators together to share and learn. Connections from the community of learners makes me a better educator and trainer. Can’t wait to try all the new curriculum and instructional options. #pionearsummit #nearpodbuzz

— jsrothenberger (@jsrothenberger) February 25, 2018

Day1 complete: it amazes me how hands on @nearpod is. I am so excited to see the content development team focus on preparing students for their future- college, Ctc etc. Ultimately, it is so apparent why nearpod continues to excel -they truly care! #nearpodbuzz #pionearsummit

— Courtney Kofeldt (@CourtneyKofeldt) February 24, 2018

My takeaway from the #pionearsummit today was the awesome work @nearpod is doing to to increase #innovation in the classroom. Making it possible to engage students in new and creative ways. #nearpodbuzz

— greg macer (@mrmacer) February 24, 2018

Takeaway for the day: @nearpod is constantly involving and improving but the best part is tchrs and ss are always at the center of the purpose and process! I ? #pionearsummit @moffatteach #nearpodbuzz pic.twitter.com/oSp0u0INU6

— Crystal Trotter (@CrystalTrotter) February 24, 2018

Read Crystal Trotter’s full experience at the PioNear Summit here.

Read Gabriel Carillo’s experience at the PioNear Summit here.

You can read the rest of the social media buzz using #PioNearSummit.

Nearpod Team Experience

The PioNear Summit was an opportunity for Nearpod employees to connect with PioNears. Nearpod keeps teachers at the center of everything we do and the Summit weekend was an outlet for employees to connect at a deeper level with Nearpod’s most avid fans.

The insight shared by the PioNears stretched my mind, allowing me to see how Nearpod can be used in ways I never imagined. Together, we bounced ideas off one other and cultivated a space of creativity which also strengthened our community. Together, we reflected on how we are transforming education and how we can continue to do so.

Valeria, Customer Success Manager

Nearpod keeps teachers at the center of everything they do. The PioNear Summit is just one example of this mission and collaboration. As a former district math coordinator, I am proud to work for a company with such a strong teacher focus.

Jennie, VP of Content Strategy 

The PioNear Summit was a tremendously inspirational and energizing experience. The passion PioNears have for education and technology is infectious!

Inga, Senior Director of Marketing

Thank you PioNears!

Nearpod Team

Nearpod’s award-winning platform is used by thousands of schools around the globe, transforming classroom engagement.

nearpod.com/

The post PioNear Summit 2018 appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

Rachel Thomas and Steven Lamb are elementary school teachers in Albuquerque Public Schools and Nearpod PioNears. They regularly connect their classrooms using digital tools and recently spoke about their collaboration at a TEDx event. Their reflection on their TEDx experience was originally posted on their blog here.

TEDx events personify “ideas worth spreading”, and redefining education through the use of technological tools is one of those ideas. As educators, we want to survive in the classroom as much as we want our students to be successful. We crave moments that inspire and reinvigorate why we chose education as a profession. Technology is one of those pieces.

Experiencing the value of the TEDx coaching sessions is a moment where big ideas turn into refined, focused message. Being our second TEDxABQ Education Talk, we felt we had much more to share. Steven and I discussed, considered, bantered, stressed, created, and finally came to the one idea worth spreading. Technology embodies creativity, it fosters engagement, enlightenment, and imagination.

There are a plethora of tools at our disposal and it can become terribly overwhelming when looking for what can change the culture of a classroom. Rather than attempting to implement them all, it is always best to focus on the most impactful resource. One such tool is Nearpod.

When cultivating our message, we knew that this interactive program could demonstrate what we could not accurately communicate. Open-ended questioning, polls, fill-in-the-blanks, drawing, quizzes, and a litany of other features demonstrate how Nearpod IS creativity. But not only for the students, but for the teachers as well. Hence, in a room of 300 individuals, we launched a Nearpod lesson for our audience to interact with a traditionally observation-only event. Interactive technology plus a live TEDx Talk? What could have been complete chaos, became an opportunity to learn from our peers. We first asked what they think of when they hear the term “educational technology”

Secondly, we asked the audience what the TEDxABQ Education event meant to them:

In the end, we asked a few hundred people to use a technology with which they had not had prior training. They were able to express their opinion, individuality, and creativity in seconds for all to experience.

Technology + Interactivity + Creativity + Imagination = Nearpod.

Nearpod is an idea worth spreading.

Until the official publishing of the Talk, please feel free to visit the LIVE STREAM at 1hr2min.

Nearpod Team

Nearpod’s award-winning platform is used by thousands of schools around the globe, transforming classroom engagement.

nearpod.com/

The post TEDxABQ Education 2017 & Nearpod appeared first on Nearpod Blog.