New to 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.

Addressing the challenge: Nearpod empowers Leo Academy Trust in advancing personalized learning

When a district strives for excellence, it must continuously evolve. In 2020, Graham Macaulay brought Nearpod into Leo Academy Trust schools’ (then virtual) classrooms to ease the shock and panic brought on by the pandemic and to ensure engagement and inclusion. By year-end, the Trust’s 60 teachers across six schools were consistently using Nearpod to support more than 3,500 pupils in learning at their own pace … and loving it.

Well into the new normal, teaching has changed, and tools have changed. Nearpod is now at the heart of the Leo Academy Trust’s learning ecosystem. While the Trust continues to empower educators and enrich its curriculum, new challenges have arisen in balancing expectations, as Graham explains:

“Nearpod has expanded opportunities for our students and improved collaboration among our staff. Now, we aim to take it a step further, leveraging the platform to provide even more, higher-quality education while remaining considerate of staff workloads.”

Engagement through immersive learning experiences

Nearpod has become an essential element of Leo Academy’s teaching approach, motivating educators as they witness students actively engaging with immersive learning experiences. Graham has been delighted to see how the process of delivering engaging lessons has become more intuitive, and less daunting and demanding for staff.

“It’s a win-win. Teachers save time, and students enjoy even more engaging and enriching lessons. Nearpod bridges the gap between teaching and learning, empowering teachers with the necessary tools to focus on what truly matters.”

Rather than preparing materials, teachers can now quickly share resources through Nearpod, which acts as conduit between teaching and learning, enabling teachers to create and share valuable resources that benefit them, their peers, and ultimately hundreds of students.

Lessons as diverse as their learners

Recognizing that students respond differently to the tools at their disposal, Graham and the educators at Leo Academy Trust value Nearpod’s versatility in offering a wide range of learning experiences. 

“Some students thrive in competitive situations, so they love features like Time to Climb, while others prefer the opportunity to engage repeatedly with the same content on a mini whiteboard,” he explains.

Graham also emphasizes the importance of empowering staff to take risks and embrace a culture of continuous improvement. For him, innovation in education involves risk-taking, self-reflection, and a focus on what truly matters. Rather than replicating traditional practices digitally and doing “what has always been done, but better,” the Trust is now exploring how Nearpod can create truly unique learning experiences, as Graham reflects:

“The minute you change anything in education, there’s an adoption cycle you’ve got to go through. And as you climb that mountain, you make mistakes. As leaders in education, we’ve got to empower our staff to do that, to reflect and even to fail forward.”

Education is asking questions every day

With Nearpod by its side, Leo Academy Trust is more driven than ever to meet the individual needs of its students and teachers today and tomorrow, as Graham concludes: 

“Every day, we ask ourselves how we can empower teachers to support students and deliver the best possible education while fostering innovation. Balancing these goals is a significant challenge, but the rewards are immense.”

Ready to learn more about how to prepare every student for success with Nearpod? Schedule a call with one of our experts and learn how you can empower educators with unlimited access to everything they need to engage learners.

About the trust

The Leo Academy Trust encompasses nine primary schools in South London and Surrey. Forward thinking and fearless, the trust strives to provide outstanding education, while fostering an inclusive environment that ensures the well-being of its 5,000 students. With its sights firmly on innovation, the Trust ensures outstanding teaching and learning experiences while addressing the digital divide through a pioneering one-to-one program, giving each child internet access and a personal Chromebook to support their education—regardless of their background or learning pace. Six years into the program, Leo Trust leads the way in personalized learning in the UK, challenging the notion that education is confined to traditional school hours.

About the educators

Graham Macaulay is director of strategic partnerships at Leo Academy Trust. An edtech leader, Google Certified Innovator, trainer and coach, and seasoned primary school teacher, he spearheads the Trust’s support for edtech through the Department for Education EdTech Demonstrator Schools & Colleges Programme. Graham is relentless in his mission to embrace technology to keep the Trust at the forefront of personalized learning while prioritizing the involvement, inclusion, and well-being of every student and teacher. 

Nearpod Team

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

nearpod.com/

The post Multi-academy trust puts student outcomes first: LEO Academy Trust’s story appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

We have exciting events planned this year! Connect with us by visiting our booth at conferences we attend, or collaborate with us to organize a customized professional development session at your school!

Scroll down to get all the details, including dates and locations of where I’ll team will be next. Don’t miss out on this  opportunity and join us for non-stop fun! 

See you there!

Don’t see your country in the list yet, but interested in hosting a workshop at your school? Fill out this form to let us know!

Nearpod Team

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

nearpod.com/

The post Nearpod’s Global Tour: Upcoming Events appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

O Nearpod ajuda os educadores a tornarem qualquer lição interativa, seja na sala de aula ou virtualmente. O conceito é simples. O Nearpod torna o ensino mais fácil com as ferramentas interativas, recursos e conteúdo de que os professores precisam –  tudo em um só lugar.

Um professor pode criar apresentações interativas que podem conter questionários, enquetes, vídeos, quadros colaborativos e muito mais. Você pode fazer upload de suas lições existentes e torná-las interativas usando o Nearpod na sala de aula.

Os alunos podem acessar a apresentação de participação ao vivo de um professor por meio de um código, e o professor então conduz a aula pela lição e permite que os alunos interajam com o conteúdo conforme avançam. Os professores também podem optar pelo modo “Ritmo do Aluno”, onde o aluno controla o fluxo da lição. Esse modo é perfeito para aprendizado remoto, aprendizado híbrido, dias de substituição, tarefas de casa ou trabalho independente.

Fomente o amor pelo aprendizado em cada estudante com o Nearpod. Professores podem criar uma conta gratuita abaixo e acessar diversos recursos para criar lições interativas. Administradores podem agendar um bate-papo com nossa equipe e explorar todo o potencial do Nearpod para escolas e redes de escolas.

10 maneiras de usar o Nearpod na sala de aula

Aqui estão algumas dicas sobre como usar o Nearpod efetivamente na sala de aula:

1. Comece simples com materiais que você já possui

Se você é novo no Nearpod, comece com apresentações simples e elementos interativos para se familiarizar com a plataforma. Com o tempo, você pode explorar recursos mais avançados. Em vez de usar o PowerPoint ou o Google Slides, você pode utilizar o Nearpod e tornar a lição mais interativa. Você pode fazer o upload das  suas apresentações existentes do Google Slides, PDFs e PowerPoints no aplicativo para criar instantaneamente uma apresentação do Nearpod. Em seguida, você pode escolher entre inúmeras atividades interativas e avaliações formativas. As apresentações serão enviadas para o dispositivo de cada aluno na sala de aula. Super prático e eficiente!

2. Engaje com Gamificação e atividades interativas

Faça uso dos recursos interativos do Nearpod, como questionários, enquetes, perguntas abertas e quadros colaborativos para envolver os alunos e promover a participação ativa.

Uma maneira simples de implementar o Nearpod em sua instrução diária é fazer com que os alunos participem de uma atividade interativa. Adicione interesse e entusiasmo à aprendizagem cotidiana com recursos como Drag and Drop (Arrastar e Soltar), Draw It, (Desenhe) , Time to Climb (Hora de Subir), Matching Pairs (Pares Correspondentes) e Collaborate Board (Quadro Colaborativo). 

Para revisar uma unidade, utilize o quiz gamificado de múltipla escolha, Time to Climb. Com o Collaborate Board, os professores podem realizar discussões em sala de aula com os alunos usando um quadro interativo para compartilhar ideias em tempo real.

Usando o Nearpod, você pode oferecer suporte individualizado a alunos, adaptando as lições para atender às suas necessidades específicas. Isso inclui fornecer recursos extras para alunos com deficiência visual ou oferecer suporte adicional a alunos com dificuldades de aprendizado. Você pode duplicar e personalizar as lições, incluindo atividades de avaliação formativa, coletando feedback e garantindo acessibilidade inclusiva.

3. Diferencie a Instrução

O Nearpod é uma ferramenta versátil que permite que os professores diferenciem a instrução, atendendo às necessidades únicas de cada aluno em sala de aula e  fornecendo diferentes níveis de conteúdo ou atividades para alunos com habilidades variadas.

Você pode criar lições personalizadas para atender às necessidades individuais dos alunos, fornecendo recursos adicionais para aqueles que precisam de apoio extra e desafios para os alunos mais avançados.

O Nearpod permite incluir uma variedade de formatos de conteúdo, como vídeos, áudios e interações interativas, tornando o aprendizado mais envolvente e acessível a diferentes estilos de aprendizado. Você pode incorporar avaliações formativas para verificar o entendimento dos alunos em tempo real e ajustar a instrução com base nos resultados. Os alunos podem progredir no seu próprio ritmo, revisitando o conteúdo conforme necessário, o que é útil para aqueles que aprendem em velocidades diferentes.

Usar a plataforma  para distribuir recursos é outra maneira simples de usá-lo na sala de aula. Você pode preencher sua apresentação com imagens ou planilhas e pedir aos alunos que usem o recurso de Notas dos Alunos para salvar a apresentação em seus dispositivos e acessar as informações posteriormente ao estudar para um exame ou fazer a lição de casa.

4. Avaliação formativa em tempo real

Use o Nearpod para avaliação formativa em tempo real. Isso permite que você avalie o entendimento dos alunos durante uma lição e ajuste sua instrução conforme necessário.

Como professor, você pode criar questionários personalizados, enquetes, perguntas abertas, atividades de desenho e muito mais. Use essas ferramentas para ver as respostas dos alunos e verificar o entendimento deles em tempo real. Os professores podem coletar feedback individual dos alunos e adaptar a instrução com base nas respostas, atendendo às necessidades específicas de cada aluno.

5. Incentive o Aprendizado no Ritmo do Aluno

Além das sessões ao vivo, considere usar o modo “Ritmo do Aluno”. Isso permite que os alunos progridam na lição em seu próprio ritmo, o que pode ser útil para tarefas de casa ou estudo independente. 

Ainda que os alunos estejam  trabalhando de forma independente nas atividades propostas, os professores podem acompanhar o progresso de cada aluno e identificar onde podem precisar de mais apoio ou desafio.

6. Immersive Reader – O leitor imersivo integrado ao Nearpod

O leitor imersivo, uma ferramenta poderosa de acessibilidade da Microsoft, foi integrado ao Nearpod, enriquecendo significativamente a experiência de aprendizado. Essa integração permite que os alunos acessem um ambiente de leitura mais inclusivo e personalizado durante as apresentações do Nearpod. O leitor imersivo oferece recursos como a leitura em voz alta do texto, destaque de palavras, ajuste de espaçamento e tamanho da fonte, além de tradução em diversos idiomas, tornando o conteúdo mais acessível para alunos com diferentes estilos de aprendizado e necessidades específicas. Isso não apenas promove a inclusão, mas também ajuda os educadores a atender às necessidades de uma sala de aula diversificada, proporcionando um ambiente de aprendizado mais equitativo e eficaz.

7. Modelagem

O Nearpod  também possui um recurso chamado DrawIt (Ferramenta exclusiva de desenho) que pode ser incorporado às suas apresentações. Essa ferramenta projeta uma lousa interativa nos dispositivos dos alunos. O dispositivo do professor exibirá todos os “desenhos” dos alunos e o professor poderá então “compartilhar” lousas individuais com toda a turma. Clicar em “compartilhar” fará com que o “desenho” escolhido apareça em todos os dispositivos. Isso permite que os professores compartilhem bons trabalhos e modelem boas progressões.

8. Tarefas abertas

O Nearpod na sala de aula permite flexibilidade criativa. O recurso de Open-Ended Questions (Perguntas Abertas) permite ao professor fazer uma pergunta ou criar um cenário para os alunos responderem. Com essa ferramenta, você pode facilitar tarefas de escrita criativa. Como resultado, a vantagem de usar algo como o Nearpod para esse tipo de atividade é que as respostas “Abertas” são automaticamente registradas nos relatórios.

9. Definir tarefas de casa

Todos os exemplos acima giram em torno da ideia de usar o Nearpod em uma sessão ao vivo, mas os alunos também podem se envolver por conta própria. Você pode fornecer um código de “Ritmo do Aluno” e eles podem acessar a lição do Nearpod em casa ou em qualquer lugar com uma conexão à internet.

10. Compartilhar e usar recursos pré-fabricados

Uma maneira de usar o Nearpod envolve quase nenhum trabalho. Depois de fazer login, clique no botão “Biblioteca Nearpod” no lado esquerdo e você será direcionado para uma biblioteca de lições pré-fabricadas do Nearpod. Você pode encontrar apresentações interativas sobre quase qualquer assunto para o Ensino Fundamental e Médio, feitas por especialistas em cada disciplina. Refine sua pesquisa usando os filtros no lado esquerdo, digitando na barra de pesquisa ou explorando nosso conteúdo em destaque. Você pode pesquisar por tipo de lição, padrões, disciplinas, níveis de ensino e palavras-chave.

A Biblioteca do Nearpod conta com centenas de lições já traduzidas para o Português mas estamos sempre disponibilizando novas lições ao longo do ano letivo.

Empoderando todos os professores, independente do que você ensina

Lembre-se de que o Nearpod é uma plataforma versátil, e sua eficácia depende de como você a integra ao seu estilo de ensino e às necessidades específicas de seus alunos. Experimente, aprenda com suas experiências e adapte sua abordagem conforme necessário.

O Nearpod pode ser utilizado por professores de qualquer disciplina, em qualquer contexto de ensino e por  alunos de  qualquer faixa etária. Economize  tempo com avaliações formativas em tempo real e relatórios de sessões e  construa uma cultura conectada dentro e fora da sala de aula.

Fomente o amor pelo aprendizado em cada estudante com o Nearpod. Professores podem criar uma conta gratuita abaixo e acessar diversos recursos para criar lições interativas. Administradores podem agendar um bate-papo com nossa equipe e explorar todo o potencial do Nearpod para escolas e redes de escolas.

Vitoria Mendes Rogers

Vitoria is currently the marketing coordinator for the Nearpod Emerging Markets team. She is always seeking new and creative ways to communicate the value of education technology to a global audience and promote educational equity.

Do you want to share your Nearpod story? Let’s connect: Vitoria.rogers@nearpod.com

The post 10 maneiras de usar o Nearpod na sala de aula appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

Nearpod, la plataforma de formación que transforma las clases cotidianas en experiencias de aprendizaje interactivas, organizó su tercer evento anual Camp Engage en español. Durante el evento, más que 9,500 educadores de América Latina, Europa y los Estados Unidos –el segundo país en el mundo con más hablantes de español– pudieron conectar, para fomentar la colaboración, el aprendizaje y el compromiso mientras en el inicio del próximo año escolar.

Aquí tienes acceso a todas las grabaciones de las sesiones del Camp Engage. Si quieres registrarte para los siguientes eventos, por favor, vuelve a este blog para más información.

Camp Engage en Español conectó a más de 9.500 educadores

El evento de este año fue especial ya que puso de relieve a diversos ponentes destacados de la comunidad de Nearpod, como Antonio González Grez, Melissa Muir, Pam Alba, Perla Lujón y Regina Freyman, así como los profesionales de Nearpod, Fanny Giuliani y Marianne Dolce, quienes abordaron temas como la integración de la tecnología educativa en el aprendizaje a lo largo de toda la vida, la creación de salas de escape virtuales y el papel de la inteligencia artificial en el aula, entre otros.

Camp Engage en Español 2023 Grabaciones

Esta fue la agenda completa del evento y la lista de reproducción de grabaciones para que puedas disfrutar de la experiencia de Camp Engage a demanda.

Enseñar con Nearpod

Enseñar con Nearpod es una sesion para los que son nuevos a en Nearpod. En esta sesión informativa, podrás aprender las nociones básicas para motivar e involucrar más a tus estudiantes a través de Nearpod.

Crear y editar con Nearpod

En Crear y editar con Nearpod aprenderemos cómo personalizar cualquier lección para que sea dinámica e interactiva. Utiliza la evaluación formativa para adaptar la instrucción a las necesidades de tus estudiantes. Trae los recursos didácticos que ya tienes y prepárate para hacerlos interactivos, potenciando así la participación, el compromiso y la implicación de los estudiantes en el aula.

Fusionando con Nearpod

Fusionando con Nearpod nos lleva a explorar la creación avanzada de contenido en Nearpod integrando Google Add On y compartiendo valiosos trucos y consejos. Aprende a transformar tus lecciones estáticas en experiencias dinámicas y cautivadoras, elevando así tu enfoque educativo al siguiente nivel.

Nearpod y el aprendizaje a lo largo de la vida

Nearpod y el aprendizaje a lo largo de la vida explica los beneficios de Nearpod como integrar Nearpod en el aprendizaje a lo largo de la vida, tipos de aprendizaje y las reflexiones de Antonio Gonzalez Grez. Todos los temas llevarán propuestas interactivas para hacer participar y reflexionar a la audiencia sobre el potencial de Nearpod en el contexto del aprendizaje a lo largo de toda la vida.

Escape Rooms con Nearpod

Escape Rooms con Nearpod: Si te gustan los escape rooms o todavía no sabes qué son y quieres que tu audiencia se mantenga al tanto, se motive, conozca del tema y haya un ambiente de competencia sana, esta sesión te ayudara con las bases para lograr crear un escape room en Nearpod. Trabajemos juntos para descubrir esta herramienta y algunos trucos de la mano de Nearpod y combinarlo con tu práctica diaria.

Choice and voice con Nearpod

Choice and voice con Nearpod: Si crees que tus estudiantes deben ser autónomos o quieres conocer una forma de fomentar la autonomía (tomar decisiones, crear su propio camino de aprendizaje) en ellos, úntene a esta sesión en donde revisaremos algunas formas de darle voz a los estudiantes. A través de las herramientas propuestas por Nearpod podemos empoderar a nuestros estudiantes para que sean capaces de tomar decisiones sobre su aprendizaje y cómo lograr los objetivos propuestos.

Un lugar para AI en la tecnología educativa

Un lugar para AI en la tecnología educativa: ¿Te gustaría aprender cómo convertirte en un artista de la educación? ¿Cómo usar la tecnología y la inteligencia artificial generativa para crear sesiones y materiales educativos que dejen una huella humana en tus alumnos? ¿Cómo ser un mentor que los acompañe en su proceso de aprendizaje, donde lo importante es ser autoconscientes, generar autocrítica y divertirse? Si tu respuesta es sí, no te pierdas la conferencia que impartiré en el Bothcamp de Nearpod.escubre cómo la inteligencia artificial generativa puede ayudarte a generar contenidos originales y personalizados. No te pierdas esta oportunidad de aprender, crear y divertirte con el arte de enseñar.

¿Qué hay de nuevo en Nearpod?

¿Qué hay de nuevo en Nearpod? En esta sesión, aprenderás todas las novedades que Nearpod trae este año con Fanny Giuliani del equipo de Nearpod.

Mesa redonda: voces locales

Mesa redonda: voces locales: Melissa Muir, Pam Alba y Perla Lujón comparten una mesa redonda dónde comparten sus soluciones creativas a las demandas de la educación de hoy.

Nearpod anima a todos los educadores y líderes en educación a registrarse en futuros eventos Camp Engage para obtener las últimas ideas y activar el compromiso de los estudiantes.

Para ver el listado completo de grabaciones, haz clic aquí.

Camp Engage en Español 2023 Presentadores

• Presentadora Marianne Dolce: Tiene más de dos décadas de experiencia trabajando en bibliotecas públicas, así como en escuelas públicas y privadas. Una bibliotecaria dedicada y ahora maestra, su trabajo ha obtenido numerosas subvenciones y premios de organismos nacionales y locales, incluida una beca de la ALA y un Premio a la Maestra del Año por el Principio de Orientación del Sistema Escolar del Condado de Volusia, en el Centro de Florida, por el Respeto Mutuo y las Relaciones Positivas con todas las Partes Interesadas. Marianne es originaria de Cidra, Puerto Rico, la misma ciudad de la famosa bibliotecaria Pura Belpré. Nearpod ha sido una parte indispensable de su trabajo diario con niños en edad escolar durante muchos años.

• Presentadora Pam Alba: Con un Máster en Tecnología Educativa de la Universidad UDIMA en España y una certificación en STEM por stem.org en Estados Unidos, cuento con una sólida formación académica en el ámbito educativo y tecnológico. Además, respaldando mi experiencia teórica, he acumulado siete años de experiencia práctica en el aula, desempeñando roles tanto administrativos como pedagógicos.

• Presentador Antonio González Grez: Doctorando en tecnología educativa, posee un título de magíster en Educación Basada en Competencias y desempeña el rol de investigador alterno en el Grupo de Investigación Didáctica de la Universidad de Sevilla. Además, ha brindado asesoramiento en políticas de tecnología educativa para UNESCO, forma parte de la RedCad Chile y de la Mesa TIC en FID. También tiene vínculos con el Centro de Innovación Mineduc ENLACES del Ministerio de Educación, Gobierno de Chile, y ostenta el título de miembro Fellow de la Cátedra UNESCO – ICDE en UNESCO. Es asesor en tecnología educativa del Tecnológico Valparaíso Chile y co-fundador de Competencia Digital Cero, una iniciativa que busca reducir la brecha digital en los espacios educativos de Iberoamérica.

• Presentadora Perla Luján: Profesora de idiomas en México desde 2015 a todos los niveles educativos y del idioma. Psicóloga, amante de los idiomas, certificada en ISTE y Nearod Pionear. Maestra en enseñanza del inglés y actualmente estudiante de la maestria en neuropsicología educativa.

• Presentadora Regina Freyman: Soy Regina Freyman, una amante de las historias que lee, escribe, cuenta y vive. Estudié letras en la UNAM y me especialicé en cuento en la IBERO. Llevo 19 años en el TEC, donde comparto mi pasión por la literatura con mis alumnos. Creo que el arte es una herramienta para sanar, expresar y transformar. Me considero Arte educadora porque creo que la vida vale en la medida en que hacemos de ella una obra ética, expresiva y compasiva. Soy una apasionada de la inteligencia artificial generativa, convencida de que es un asistente y un reto para el talento artístico humano. Uso Nearpod desde hace 8 años y  es una plataforma que me permite diseñar lecciones apasionantes, mi recurso favorito para acompañar a mis alumnos en la aventura del conocimiento.

Manténgase informado sobre el próximo Camp Engage

Camp Engage representa un encuentro excepcional y singular dirigido a educadores de todo el mundo. Se trata de un evento de desarrollo profesional educativo gratuito que reúne a miles de maestros y administradores a través de talleres de crecimiento personal. Durante el evento, los educadores que participan adquieren conocimientos sobre la incorporación de Nearpod en sus aulas y se integran en una comunidad que cuenta con más de un millón de educadores de Nearpod de diversas partes del mundo. Si quieres obtener más información o registrarte en los siguientes eventos del Camp Engage, asegúrate de suscribirte al boletín de Nearpod aquí.

Nearpod Team

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

nearpod.com/

The post Camp Engage en Español conectó +9.500 educadores: ver las grabaciónes appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

About the study

Filipino students from Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) in Valenzuela City participated in a study highlighting Nearpod’s effectiveness. The study interviewed 224 students who had used Nearpod consistently for over four months. Their positive feedback emphasized how Nearpod significantly improved their learning journey across social motivation, creative expression, and personalization. This research aligns with David Havens’ framework, advocating for technology tools that encompass these crucial aspects in the classroom.

Empowering Filipino higher ed students: Nearpod’s role in transformative learning, motivation, and creativity

Several factors contribute to the effectiveness of a technological tool in education. First, it should facilitate a shift from traditional teaching methods to more progressive ones, fostering innovation and engagement in the learning process. Second, it should sustain student motivation, whether in the context of distance learning or face-to-face instruction, ensuring that learners remain eager and committed to their studies. Additionally, it should influence the development of 21st-century skills in students, preparing them for the demands of the modern world. Last, the use of technological tools, such as Nearpod, often reveals unforeseen benefits that enhance the overall educational experience, making it a valuable asset in contemporary classrooms.

New to Nearpod? Book a demo with one of our experts and learn how you can empower educators with unlimited access to everything they need to engage learners.

Key research questions

This research study aimed to explore the perspectives and experiences of college students who have incorporated Nearpod into their classroom activities. The exploration is guided by three key research questions:

• How do college students who used Nearpod in their classes feel about Nearpod in terms of social motivation, creativity, and personalization? This question aimed to uncover the students’ perceptions regarding Nearpod’s impact on aspects such as social interaction, creative engagement, and personalized learning experiences.
• How do students describe their experience with Nearpod? Here, the focus is on gathering in-depth descriptions of students’ personal encounters with Nearpod, providing valuable insights into their overall experiences and interactions with the platform.
• What are the students’ favorite things about working with Nearpod? This question aimed to pinpoint specific aspects or features of Nearpod that resonate most with students, shedding light on the elements that contribute to their positive perceptions and preferences within the platform.

Key findings

Boosted students’ social motivation

Social motivation is basically any motive that is acquired by interaction with others. Peer interaction is a big part of the learning journey, which is why most traditional and non-traditional learning cultures emphasize the importance of teamwork and group activity.

The study asked students if, during Nearpod activities like Collaborate Board, Quizzes, and responses shared on Time of Climb, students interacted with their peers in a way that helped them learn. An impressive 96% said that they often or sometimes did. When asked about their preferred aspect of using Nearpod, the three leading responses comprised engaging activities, chances for creativity and self-expression, and the user-friendly interface it offers.

When asked about their preferred aspect of using Nearpod, the three leading responses comprised engaging activities, chances for creativity and self-expression, and the user-friendly interface it offers.

• 99.5% of the students felt that their teacher knew how they were doing with the material or lesson some or most of the time while using Nearpod.
• 95% of the students said that someone (teacher/peers) would see the work they did during Nearpod activities.

Nearpod enables proactive tracking of teacher-student interaction, while also fostering social motivation through peer engagement. This social motivation, arising from interactions with others, is substantially important to the learning process, as evidenced by both traditional and non-traditional educational approaches that prioritize teamwork and group activities as integral components of the learning journey.

The teacher remains an integral part of the student journey, easing the fear that education technology could make teachers redundant. Most of the time, or sometimes, the teacher knew how the students were doing with their lesson.

Ignited student creativity

Creative forms of learning enable the lessons to stick far longer. Nearpod offers students various avenues to stretch their creative muscles and learn while at it. By incorporating interactive activities, multimedia presentations, and collaborative projects, Nearpod empowers students to engage with educational content in innovative ways, enhancing their retention and comprehension. This approach not only makes learning enjoyable but also cultivates a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

• 97% of the students said they can express themselves creatively using Nearpod. 
• 67% of the students claimed that Nearpod provided them avenues to express themselves creatively more than other classroom activities.

Supported personalization and embracing student individuality

Recognizing the individuality of each student and acknowledging the diversity in learning speeds and abilities, Nearpod’s educational tools stand out in their commitment to personalized learning. While tailoring lessons to cater to every inquisitive mind might present challenges within a traditional classroom setup, Nearpod’s tools have demonstrated remarkable success in this endeavor. In fact, a significant 88% of surveyed students attested that the difficulty level of Nearpod’s activities was perfectly suited to their learning needs.

More than 60% of students experienced a sense of connection with the content and a personal interest in the topics they were learning through the use of Nearpod.

Key results

Faculty members of Our Lady of Fatima University reinforce that Nearpod not only enriches the learning experience but also empowers both students and teachers. It has helped foster a sense of community and collaboration while embracing the unique strengths and needs of each learner. These findings affirm the value of Nearpod in modern education and its potential to shape a more engaging, creative, and personalized learning landscape.

Ready to bring Nearpod to your department or institution?

Join hundreds of faculty and institutions elevating instruction worldwide. Engage 100% of your students with interactive activities delivered live or asynchronously on any device.

New to Nearpod? Book a demo with one of our experts and learn how you can empower educators with unlimited access to everything they need to engage learners.

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

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The post How Nearpod empowers Filipino HigherEd students: OLFU Research Study appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

STEM education in Australia has gained significant momentum over the years, emerging as a cornerstone of the country’s educational landscape.

Based on information gathered by the Department of Education¹, Australia faces pressing concerns regarding its STEM landscape and the implications for its future trajectory. The percentage of secondary school students opting for STEM courses in later stages (Years 11 and 12) has stagnated at around 10% or lower.

There’s concerning news about how Australian students are doing in science and math. They’re either not getting better or just staying the same, while other countries are improving. While four countries or economies outperformed Australia in PISA mathematics back in 2003, this number surged to 23 by 2018.

In 2015, all Australian education ministers endorsed the National STEM School Education Strategy 2016–2026. The strategy emphasizes foundational skills, mathematical and scientific literacy, digital literacy, problem-solving, critical analysis, and creative thinking skills. It aims to coordinate and enhance STEM education activities across the country.

Sharon Raj, a primary school teacher (STEM RFF) at Dee Why Public School, Australia, is aware of all these challenges and is determined to make the subject really exciting for her students.

She tackles the task of overcoming the hurdles in providing STEM education to a diverse range of students spanning from kindergarten to grade 6. Her solution?

She uses Nearpod to differentiate learning, create active learning experiences, and connect with her students.

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.

Navigating STEM Challenges in Australia: A Teacher’s Insight on Transforming Education with Nearpod

Sharon’s initial introduction to Nearpod came through New South Wales’ Technology for Learning program, commonly known as STEM T4L. Reflecting on her experience, she exclaims, “Dealing with the diverse needs of each student in a classroom can be quite challenging. Fortunately, Nearpod has been a lifesaver!”

We interviewed Sharon to dive deeper into the valuable insights gained from her journey with Nearpod.

What are the main challenges of STEM education in Australia?

“STEM is not a traditional classroom subject. It involves project-based learning, problem-solving, and using technology. Students bring diverse experience levels into the classroom based on their exposure and access to technology at home. Some students may have spent time being creative using building blocks. Some others may not have had the opportunity. STEM education, therefore, must cater to this diversity in students.

The second challenge is that since STEM is not a traditional subject, students find it uncomfortable. Learning involves trial and error, and, most importantly, failing but then trying again. The idea of failing can be uncomfortable for many students. It is hard to change their mindset about this. To engage and motivate them, I introduce them to game-based learning to get them used to the idea of experimenting.”

Did you always want to be a teacher? When did your love for teaching start?

“I did not start my career as a teacher. I am trained in the sciences. I stumbled upon teaching when I helped at my children’s school during my early motherhood years. I loved being around children so much that I decided to train as a primary school teacher.

When the school decided to pay attention to STEM education, they needed someone to teach the digital technology curriculum. So, I stepped up. I could use these technology kits, including robots, in my lessons. It has been a rewarding journey because I get to discover and grow with the students.”

Tell us about your Nearpod experience. Are there any special instances that you would like to share?

“I remember when I first got training on Nearpod, especially the [Virtual Reality] Field Trip feature. Seeing the students light up at the 360-degree beach view was amazing – they were so excited! I found all these tools really helpful to keep them engaged.

I was curious to try out the other stuff in Nearpod, like gamification and the Draw It feature. But what really surprised me was the instant feedback I could get. When I asked the students questions, their responses blew me away. I never knew they had such thoughts. And the cool part was even the quiet students who usually keep to themselves joined in. Their answers really convinced me of how powerful Nearpod is.

As a STEM teacher, I come across many apps, but not many excite me. But with Nearpod, I was genuinely thrilled about the possibilities it offered.”

What are the benefits of using Nearpod in classroom teaching?

“Nearpod activities are especially useful when I need to explain complex concepts. When I simply talk about these concepts, students find it boring to listen. With Nearpod, every student has a screen, so they already feel as though they are interacting.

I also use Nearpod to wrap up a project after introducing the concepts. When I ask them to respond, every student can respond at the same time, even those who are typically nervous about speaking in front of their friends, or students for whom English is not a first language. With this feature, I know exactly what each student is thinking. It is an amazing personalization tool for a teacher.

In the STEM classroom, there is a lot of project work and hands-on work. It is difficult to gauge where a student is. Using Nearpod as a quick, low-stakes assessment tool without scaring the students too much has been fantastic! It has saved a lot of time in being able to reuse/reconfigure a lesson. It has revolutionized the way I teach!”

Please share an example of when you used Nearpod for good results.

“Recently, I played a video for a class about the use of technology in sustainable agriculture. After the video, I asked them questions. I was shocked by the students’ limited ability to retain information from the video. I had to play the video again and point out the details for them to learn better.

When I use Nearpod, even if I play a short video, I can highlight key points, and insert open-ended questions that make the students pause and think. So, getting students to engage and interact with videos has been great with Nearpod.”

What are your top tips for maximizing the use of Nearpod in STEM education?

There are a few things to keep in mind when planning your lessons to ensure that your students will have the best learning experience. A good STEM lesson should:

• Be hands-on: The best STEM lessons involve practical activities where students can use their hands, whether they’re designing a concept or creating and building something themselves. Nearpod can facilitate this by enabling you to incorporate virtual labs, simulations, and interactive activities into your lessons. This way, students can explore concepts in a controlled yet engaging environment, enhancing their understanding and retention.
• Incorporate the Collaborate Board during classroom sessions to foster interactivity. This feature allows students to share their ideas in a collaborative space, providing insight into their thought processes and encouraging meaningful discussions.
• Take advantage of Draw It’s utility. Often, a quick sketch can significantly enhance understanding. This drawing feature enables students to visually communicate their ideas, facilitating comprehension and exploration. Importantly, using this tool on an iPad offers a less intimidating platform compared to traditional pencil-and-paper drawing, allowing students to explore concepts without hesitation.
• Mimic real-life scenarios: This is another reason why hands-on learning is so essential. One of the most important things about STEM is that it helps students learn skills that will be immediately useful in the outside world. Nearpod’s ability to simulate real-world scenarios through interactive presentations and simulations allows students to apply their theoretical knowledge to practical situations, preparing them for the challenges they may face beyond the classroom.
• Utilize the Open-Ended Questions tool to create a safe and encouraging environment for students to freely express themselves. By ensuring that only the teacher can view their responses, students can confidently share their thoughts, opinions, and ideas without the pressure of public scrutiny.

Start using Nearpod for STEM education

Ever since incorporating Nearpod, students at Dee Why Public School have been freely expressing themselves without any hesitations. They’re approaching classroom learning with heightened curiosity, particularly when it comes to interactive screen engagement and virtual excursions.

One of the most significant achievements attributed to Nearpod is its role in enabling me to connect with every single student in the classroom.

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.

Nearpod Team

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

nearpod.com/

The post Educator Spotlight: Elevating STEM education in Australia with Nearpod appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

In response to the post-pandemic challenges, AHIS turned to Nearpod while searching for an all-encompassing solution that could offer interactive resources, real-time progress tracking, and personalized engagement. Nearpod enhanced teaching dynamics but aligned with the school’s focus on digital citizenship and social emotional learning (SEL), propelling Al Hekma on a path of continued educational excellence and growth.

Highlights of Al Hekma’s success with Nearpod

• From August 2022 to present
• 6,800+ lessons edited using Nearpod
• 22% of resources from Nearpod library, in addition to teachers’ own resources
• Around 2,075 activities were completed by students using the platform
• Students joined Nearpod more than 126,000 times across a range of subjects

New to Nearpod? Learn more about international school and district licenses.

Challenges

As students returned to the classroom at Al Hekma International School following the COVID-19 pandemic, a new challenge emerged for its principal and teachers: How could they measure and support every student’s progress without overwhelming teachers after such a fragmented period in everyone’s lives? Teachers needed instant insights in order to improve student engagement, performance, and self-esteem, and they needed a solid, diverse bank of resources they could draw on to make the necessary changes.

Solution

Al Hekma started integrating Nearpod in 2021, and the school had several training sessions with the Nearpod team experts to ensure all their needs were met. Teachers were trained on how to create lessons, summative and formative assessments, and reporting. They valued having a one-stop solution that enabled them to use various resources at the same time from the same place.

The results

• Usage grew steadily, and within a year, over half of the teachers became Nearpod Certified Educators! 
• Nearpod seamlessly integrated into the school’s teaching approach and is now embraced across various subjects.
• Giving teachers tools to track progress and pain points in real time has made decision-making more effective and has ramped up student performance.
• No student or teacher need ever be left behind. Fully engaged students are learning more, learning faster, and making the most of every minute in class.
• Self-paced learning has played a pivotal role in nurturing teachers’ autonomy, self-assurance, and sense of responsibility.
• Teachers feel more empowered to personalize lessons by providing a strong, versatile base of trustworthy resources and templates they can edit and adapt.

How Nearpod empowered a forward-thinking school in Bahrain to redefine excellence in education

Al Hekma’s principal, Maya Harb, had discovered Nearpod prior to the pandemic – when it was recommended as part of a routine school tech audit. In a flash, Nearpod became the school’s one-stop solution during the lockdown, ensuring that staff and students could access the materials and resources they needed and spurring active participation. But that was just the beginning, as the partnership evolved and continued well into the next normal.

Maya believes that Nearpod not only streamlined the transition back to the classroom but also made the teaching and learning experience more meaningful than ever.

Besides empowering teachers to track student attendance and engagement, Adreen Haddad, Al Hekma’s instructional coach and Nearpod PioNear, also highlights how Nearpod provides her with essential insights into progress across various classes and subjects:

“In addition to the instant feedback Nearpod gives us, when I check the session reports, I can see and save teachers’ notes, track which students are engaged, check their answers, and save reports to review and compare at any time and in any format.”

 A small step for teachers, a giant leap for students

Al Hekma International School has always embraced transformation and innovation as integral to its mission of facilitating continuous growth and excellence for both students and teachers. This courage is deeply rooted in the unwavering trust and support that permeates the relationships among teachers, staff, students, and parents.

Adreen vividly describes the initial enthusiasm among teachers and students after Nearpod was implemented in 2022. “Right from the beginning, our teachers were fully on board, and students found it incredibly easy to join using the provided code,” she recalls.

In the first year, the school started with 60 teacher’s licenses across different subjects. Then, in the following year, they elevated their engagement and upgraded to Nearpod Premium, which provided them with 30 accounts to work with.

The implementation process was made seamless through comprehensive step-by-step video tutorials, hands-on training sessions, and dedicated Nearpod workshops on formative assessments. This set the stage for a transformative educational experience that has since become an integral part of their approach.

One of the aspects that resonated most with teachers is the convenience of consolidating all their instructional resources within a single platform. Adreen highlights how Nearpod streamlines this process:

“With Nearpod, we can open all YouTube channels from within the same session, allowing us to seamlessly track everything from attendance to student engagement.” She reflects on the previous practices where teachers would juggle multiple platforms, such as PowerPoint presentations, YouTube, and other resources, causing inefficiencies.

Making the most of every minute in class

For Maya and Adreen, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing engaged students immersed in a learning experience. Adreen explains how Nearpod is helping students stay on task and make the most of each class.

“Our students love the activities, which are the most interesting and interactive parts of the lesson. You see how they come alive with Time to Climb or Draw It, how their creativity and critical thinking shine through.”

And it’s not just students who are experimenting and exploring. The Nearpod library has been a springboard for teachers preparing activities and planning lessons that are vibrant but also vibe with the school’s values and vision, as Maya explains:

“Our teachers love that they can start from scratch using Nearpod as a platform, or that they download presentations from the library and edit them in accordance with our priorities and standards, adjusting them and changing the templates.”

From digital natives to digital citizens

Digital literacy and English proficiency are at the heart of Al Hekma’s mission to give students the best skills, achievements, and opportunities – but teaching these comes with responsibilities. In her commitment to building students’ emotional and social skills, Adreen has found a firm ally in Nearpod’s 21st Century Readiness Program:

“Our computer department promotes Internet safety and digital citizenship, and the emotional and social package that we’ve added to our licenses during the past two years with Nearpod have really helped teachers to search for good resources. We apply common standards and share feedback on how the students are evolving as digital citizens.”

Maya explains how this emotional and social learning package the school added as part of its upgrade to a premium license has nurtured students’ confidence and critical thinking.

“The topics are impressive, inclusive, and really help students reflect on how to collaborate with each other, and the advice Nearpod gave us on how to work with the resources was really helpful.”

Adreen adds that Nearpod also supports Al Hekma’s priorities in giving students autonomy and recognition:

“The self-paced learning, where the teacher gives access to the students, really improves their independence and sense of personal and collective responsibility.”

Real-time solutions and real-life skills

Al Hekma relies on data to make decisions as a school – not just at the administration level but also at the teaching level, as Maya explains: 

“Every single decision that is related to learning in class is taken thanks to the instant feedback that the teacher receives from the students. For example, when the teacher notices that there is a trend where everybody makes the same mistake, he or she can immediately channel this information to revisit the concept.”

For the principal, the transformation is palpable, saving teachers time and enabling them to make changes the day of, and not the day after. It also gives a voice to all students, not just those who “raise their hands and jump to answer.” For Maya, Nearpod has created greater equality in the classroom, giving shyer students the confidence and opportunity to participate.

“Thanks to Nearpod, no student is left behind in class. All our students can take part, all our students can show us what they understand or don’t understand, and we’re right there to help.”

Recognizing and empowering teachers

In addition to recognizing students’ progress, Maya and Adreen create social media posts and videos to celebrate teachers’ accomplishments with the platform.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Al Hekma International School (@ahisbh)

The Nearpod certificates have pride of place on the principal’s office wall and in the school reception, and Maya makes a point of sharing the school’s achievements with the tool with parents and students, and through the school’s handbooks and websites.

Maya emphasizes the significance of Adreen, a dedicated Nearpod PioNear, in the implementation process: “She started a positive domino effect – the happiness, pride, and recognition are contagious: The more teachers we congratulate for using Nearpod, the more want to join, and we’re thrilled to share their success.”

Recognizing and empowering teachers is of paramount importance in cultivating a thriving educational environment. Maya understands that administrators play a pivotal role in acknowledging the dedication, innovation, and hard work that teachers bring to the classroom. By fostering a supportive atmosphere and valuing their unique insights, administrators create a sense of empowerment that translates into enhanced teaching quality and student engagement.

The future of Nearpod at Al Hekma

Moving into Al Hekma’s third year with the platform, Maya and Adreen plan to use Nearpod to help teachers share good practices and to keep admin staff tuned into the progress that’s being made in the classroom.

In addition to academics, AHIS aims to foster in every student a positive attitude toward lifelong learning, a deep value for cultural diversity, and the essential skills of advanced thinking and effective problem-solving, crucial for their future achievements.

New to Nearpod? Learn more about international school and district licenses.

Nearpod Team

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

nearpod.com/

The post Taking learning to the next level: Al Hekma’s Nearpod journey appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

In 2022 alone, we brought joy to thousands of schools and met you at over 20 conferences worldwide. This year, we want to connect with even more educators around the world! This is your chance to catch them in person, delivering their best demo sessions to sparkle joy in the classroom. 

Whether you’re already a Nearpod fan or just getting to know us, we promise you an unforgettable experience. Scroll down to get all the details, including dates and locations of where I’ll team will be next. Don’t miss out on this epic journey, and join us for non-stop fun! See you there!

Nearpod Team

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

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The post Nearpod’s Global Tour: Upcoming Events appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

Its dedicated team of educators and administrators strive to cultivate 21st-century success skills in each and every student – as well as in themselves. In 2017, five years before the pandemic hit, the principal and division directors launched the International Schoo (I.S.) Distance Learning Journey campaign. It was designed to leverage technology to build creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication into their curriculum – in alignment with their values and methodology.

The campaign focused on ambitious goals to blend onsite and online learning long before “hybrid” was a popular term. How and where would they find the right tool to help support their goa? How would they ensure acceptance of cutting-edge innovation in a highly accustomed culture of face-to-face communication? A culture where many parents—and some teachers—were not yet ready for such digital transformation.

Key statistics about Al-Koura’s experience with Nearpod

• Has been using Nearpod since June in 2020 with Silver accounts and then upgraded to Nearpod Premium Plus in January 2022 till present time.
• Nearpod key usage stats: 57 engaged teachers, 4,967 sessions launched, 89,189 student joins, and 246,707 activity submissions
• Having access to Nearpod’s Lesson Library was the most appealing feature initially, and since the beginning of 2023, they officially started using the 21st Century Readiness Program

New to Nearpod? Learn more about international school and district licenses.

Nearpod inspires and empowers educators in Lebanon

With empowering students through technology top of mind, School Principal Rima Nasr seized the opportunity presented in the 2020 lockdown to redesign lessons and methodologies. All of which helped to bringAl-Koura a giant leap closer to meeting its cutting-edge teaching and learning goals.

For Rima, it was a question of the right tool at the right time. Browsing Twitter with the pandemic in full swing, she discovered Nearpod through the online education community and never looked back.

“Everything we were forced to do during the pandemic aligned with what we had laid out three years earlier: to conduct live, online, student-paced lessons. The lockdown sped everything up, and I found Nearpod: which became our lifeline.”

Nearpod’s impact on the classroom

Today, every new teacher who comes into the school gets access to the school library, with a wealth of teaching resources at their fingertips, through the virtual school library. Nicole Ghobril, Elementary Division Director, explains:

“We have all the lessons ready, and it’s making everyone’s life easier. New teachers to get on track. Parents and students have gotten so used to Nearpod that they can’t live without it.”

Nicole explains that Nearpod continues to represent a true game-changer in creating a more inclusive learning environment for students of all levels in the post-pandemic period. Teachers regularly send assignments home with the peace of mind that in addition to students using Nearpod for lessons in class, they can review slides while listening to the teacher’s voice by simply clicking a link.

For Nicole, empowering students towards personalized self-paced learning reflects the beating heart of the school’s approach.

“No two students are alike. Some take ten minutes to internalize a concept, some half an hour, and some an hour. With Nearpod, they go through the lesson in class and take it home with them. It helps students learn at their own pace, to grasp the needed skills, when they might have listened in class and forgotten the traditional lesson.”

From vision to action

Rima fondly recalls how she began experimenting with Nearpod with a small group of teachers who were accustomed to using PowerPoint in class and getting to grips with Google Classroom—which had been activated in 2017 as part of IS 2020.

“When we actually started using Nearpod, it was remarkably simple and self-explanatory. We started off with the free version, and when we upgraded to premium, it was even better.”

For Rima, technology goes far beyond devices and software. She knew it was essential to introduce an effective virtual learning platform that would maintain the face-to-face interaction that is so central to the culture in Lebanon and at Al-Koura. “We wanted to find the balance, and we can do both, and we can do them really well if you have the right content and the right training and the right platform.”

Olga Sarkis, Ed Tech Adviser,  also saw the potential Nearpod offered to continue with “live” teaching in a forced online environment, making lessons more engaging and interactive without overwhelming teachers, parents, or students.

“My mission was to explore Nearpod as one of the platforms we could integrate with the ​​[Google] suite and our existing Alma learning management system. We literally switched all the flip charts we were using to Nearpod.“

Olga recalls how teachers were relieved and motivated by being able to present lessons, make formative assessments, and integrate other tools that parents and students could use easily, regardless of their location, such as Google Meet. “Instead of jumping between different apps and sharing multiple links with the students, Nearpod enabled us to deliver one interactive and engaging lesson. It includes all the applications, presentations, features, and assessment tools we could possibly need.”

Supporting teachers to support learners

In order to streamline implementation in a time when nobody was in the same physical room, the initial core team using Nearpod prepared step-by-step guides, shared videos, and developed a collaborative process for teachers to experiment, share, and compare ideas and best practices with the tool. Nicole Ghobril recalls it as a learning adventure among the division directors:

“We created lessons, samples, using all the tools across subjects, and then teachers started creating their lessons. We would check them one by one via Google Classroom to see how they could get better. Everything fell into place from there.”

For Olga, there was no doubt that Nearpod was the solution the school needed, and her instinct was soon confirmed.

“We didn’t need to convince our teachers. They all accepted it. They loved it from the get-go as much as we did, and even the process of practice and fine-tuning was incredibly positive.”

The ability to integrate Nearpod with other tools continues to streamline lesson planning and assessment now everyone is back in the classroom. Rima received positive feedback from parents, students, and teachers alike, who have found Nearpod to be a reassuring constant in lessons—onsite or online—despite the pandemic and the ongoing political unrest in Lebanon. It supports her mission as a principal and as a mother to “prioritize students’ mental health and wellbeing.”

Aligning with core values

While students and parents alike love the user-friendly interface and interactivity of their lessons through Nearpod, for Olga, it’s also strengthened the school’s commitment to empowering students through skills like critical thinking, creativity, and digital citizenship.

“We believe that the best learning experiences must be effective, engaging, and inclusive. Nearpod’s best practices help us to achieve our educational goals and objectives all the way.”

Al-Koura is an inclusive school with around 50 students with special needs, and Rima explains that teachers now rely on Nearpod to personalize and prepare activities so each student progresses at his or her own pace and level—without exception.

“It’s been a great help for the special programs and education departments in our school. Nearpod really came to the rescue during the lockdown with students with special needs.”

Nayla Saadeh, Intermediate and Secondary Division Director, highlights how Nearpod has also strengthened the school’s focus on critical thinking.

“I believe that a lot of learning takes place by students on their own, and this is what sticks in their mind and helps them to think critically. They actively try to find solutions for the problems they are facing. Time to Climb is a prime example of a feature that our students of all ages love and that gives them a sense of progress and achievement.”

Implementing Nearpod’s 21st Century Readiness Program

The four division directors at Al Koura are keen to embrace the future with Nearpod. January 2023 will see the school roll out the 21st Century Readiness Program. The educators for each cycle are already choosing relevant topics for their grade levels. Nicole explains:

“There is something for every cycle, and we’re really looking forward to assigning the tops. In Elementary, we will go mostly with SEL and digital citizenship. At the same time, high school students will focus on college prep and budgeting – which I’m sure Nayla is looking forward to.”

Whatever tomorrow brings, Al Koura’s administrators, educators, and students are ready. The experience with Nearpod has dissipated fears of what might happen if their children are absent from school because there is a system where teachers and technology collaborate to ensure engaging, interactive, and inclusive education.

“Nearpod helped us convince parents that education can continue, even though we’re not always in a face-to.face environment. Technology can strengthen the human connection, and learning doesn’t necessarily have to stop. The pandemic helped us prove that point, and Nearpod continues to do so daily.”

Two years after introducing Nearpod, Rima is excited to introduce the 21st Century Readiness Program in the coming year.

Nearpod’s 21st Century Readiness Program, available with Premium Plus, offers educators a unified approach to integrating 21st-century learning into their day-to-day teaching practices.

Ready to bring Nearpod to your school?

We’re honored to support the 2 million Nearpod teachers in +160 countries. Interested in learning more about how you can bring Nearpod to your school? Schedule a demo with one of our Nearpod Experts and learn how you can empower teachers with unlimited access to everything they need to engage students.

New to Nearpod? Learn more about international school and district licenses.

About the school

Al-Koura International School in Lebanon is an independent institution that forms part of the AMSI school management umbrella, which includes three sister schools in the UAE. Committed to preparing its 750+ K-12 students for tomorrow’s world, wherever they come from, Al-Koura prides itself on cultivating values such as responsibility, courage, empathy, tolerance, and integrity. The school’s 70+ teachers and 20+ administrational staff work day in, and day-out to provide a curriculum and Project-Based Learning approach that nurtures critical thinking, self-confidence, and self-sufficiency while ensuring academic excellence. The school is currently pursuing a NEASC accreditation, which recognizes holistic educational best practices and a focus on impactful personalized learning.

Vitoria Mendes Rogers

Vitoria is currently the marketing coordinator for the Nearpod Emerging Markets team. She is always seeking new and creative ways to communicate the value of education technology to a global audience and promote educational equity.

Do you want to share your Nearpod story? Let’s connect: Vitoria.rogers@nearpod.com

The post Nearpod inspires and empowers educators in Lebanon appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

Lincoln International Academy is a K-12 private international school based in Chile that offers students a fully bilingual education. The Academy consists of two schools – one in Santiago and one in Golina – that work as one. Lincoln also has a high rate of special needs students.

The last three years have been unimaginably hard for students and teachers at LINTAC. After the pandemic-induced school shutdown was finally over, they were again challenged to create valuable learning experiences while adapting to a new reality.

Nearpod supported LINTAC’s transition back to onsite learning and helped teachers engage with their students in new and effective ways, reducing their workload and activating their creativity.

New to Nearpod? Learn more about international school and district licenses by clicking below.

How Nearpod helped students transition back to onsite learning in Chile

Implementing Nearpod at Lincoln International Academy

During the lockdown period, education suddenly turned from formal to fragmented. With students from her international school scattered around different cities, sometimes different countries, and a high percentage of special needs students who couldn’t just turn on, tune in and keep up. Valentina and her colleagues tried various tools and platforms to boost engagement and participation among students who were used to a traditional school with very high standards.

Some solutions worked, others didn’t, and the gap widened. The teachers needed a platform that could deliver a comprehensive solution that would work equally as well in the classroom as in a remote setting – Valentina knew the pandemic wouldn’t last forever. Still, the challenge of engaging students in the new normal would remain.

Looking back, Valentina recalls the turning point clearly, in the midst of the pandemic, when she and a group of her fellow teachers were doing a course – they shared their challenges and frustrations, and a participant mentioned this about Nearpod: “It blew my mind. It was exactly what we needed.”

Interactive learning experiences for the special education classroom

She decided to test Nearpod with the class of special needs students she was teaching remotely at the time. After seeing their response to the activities, especially drawing assessments using Draw It, Valentina went straight to the headmaster. She insisted that Lincoln officially use Nearpod to engage students, help teachers reach their objectives, and nix the frustration both teachers and students were feeling from using scattered platforms and methodologies.

Valentina gathered a group of interested colleagues who began implementing the free version in their virtual classrooms. By mid-2020, Valentina had presented Nearpod to the whole school.

In March 2021, the school decided to move forward with a Premium Plus license and have access to all features and functionalities. The Nearpod team partnered up with teachers and admins. It provided training sessions, dedicated assistance, onboarding, and all the support they needed to immediately start using Nearpod as a part of their regular instruction. Since then, Nearpod has saved teachers at LINTAC countless hours and enhanced the interactivity of daily lessons and activities.

Transitioning back to onsite learning with Nearpod

Because of Nearpod, the transition back to onsite learning was smoother than Valentina expected. “Nearpod was made before the pandemic as a classroom tool, and it was actually a huge support to us in coming back to school.”

Lincoln has a strict lesson planning protocol – enter, and exit tickets must respond to certain learning objectives. The results were practically instant: “the teachers were thrilled to see the students achieving the objectives we gave them and monitor their progress. With Nearpod, they were able to look at and see in real-time if their students were doing well or if they needed a little extra help.”

Amazed by the high uptake of Nearpod, Valentina constantly monitors usage and recognizes teachers who use it consistently. In collaboration with Nearpod, she invites them to different workshops. This year, all Lincoln’s exit tickets are done officially through Nearpod.

High School: From teacher-centered to student-centered classrooms

Valentina is now the coordinator of all K-12 English students at Lincoln and supports teachers across all levels. One of the things that surprised her most was high school students and teachers’ love of Nearpod.

While middle school and elementary school teachers love features like Time to Climb and Matching Pairs, Valentina feels that high school is where Nearpod has been most effective: “It’s something that high school teachers did not have. It has made lessons easier for them and more exciting for the students because it puts the student in a central, much more active role.”

Open-Ended Questions have been particularly cherished as it gives the teachers full insight into what students are thinking and has them all organized into one single document that can be downloaded and printed to review each students’ answers and offer a truly personalized learning experience.

Make videos into interactive learning experiences

Valentina also feels that Nearpod’s integrations with existing tools like Google Slides, their own PowerPoint presentations, and YouTube has been central to the natural uptake.

“The ability for teachers to ask questions before the video or in the middle of the video, to see answers, share answers, and review again at home really helps us to see where students’ passion points are and support those who need help in a non-invasive way.”

Supporting all teachers

Time management has been a struggle for teachers at Lincoln. Lessons are typically 45 minutes long and consist of an intro and outro of about five minutes, with 40 minutes in the middle. Teachers would typically set phone alarms or just try to feel it out. The Nearpod timing and freeze feature has been extremely useful in helping them to time and pace their lessons accurately.

“I haven’t met a single person who I’ve shown Nearpod to who believes that it will not work for them.” For Valentina, the results speak for themselves. When it comes to advising anyone interested in bringing Nearpod into their school or district, she recalls the first time she knocked on the principal’s door and insisted that educators really need to know how their students are doing in terms of formative assessment for everyone to progress. Since then, neither Valentina nor Lincoln has ever looked back.

It’s also a way to embrace the future for teachers and students alike: “Our students don’t write on their copybooks [or notebooks]. They use computers.” Faced with this reality, it’s essential for Valentina that students use tech in positive ways toward their learning.

“Our goal is to make sure that all of our students can learn, want to learn, and love learning.”

Going beyond grades and tickets

Now in its third year with Nearpod and with over 300 active teachers, Lincoln has switched almost entirely to student-paced learning and has woven Nearpod firmly into the fabric of daily life at the school.

This year, the Academy has transitioned from using it strictly for academic purposes to incorporating Nearpod into its large special needs and psychology department. Students, especially 12^th graders in the run-up to their exams, have found it to be a great support in providing relaxation techniques and breathing and meditation exercises. “From Yoga poses to posing questions about ourselves.”

Valentina’s aim is that during the upcoming academic year, all teachers at Lincoln will be using Nearpod. All new teachers coming in will be introduced immediately to the platform and guided in how to use it for formative assessments.

She feels that Nearpod has been a powerful ally in propelling professional development among educators – enabling them to improve the quality of their teaching, share feedback, and inspire each other. She is delighted to see how teachers share their lessons with each other through the Nearpod Library or create a drive, which makes them more organized and gives them the peace of mind that they know where everything is.

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Nearpod Team

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