Nearpod: Engage Students with Interactive lesson!

Hello everyone! Welcome to Elora's ICT BLOG💗

This blog will be a record of my own explorations and discoveries, I'm gonna introduce different technologies applied in English education every week. It’s a new challenge for me as a new English teacher, but I can't wait to share my learning journey with you!😆 Each of you is very welcome to leave your comments💝

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This week our topic is mobile learning. It is becoming increasingly common for students to use their smartphones in the classroom, and admittedly, mobile learning has its significant advantages in that you can access the infinite wealth of resources on the internet anytime, anywhere.💫 How can teachers make the most of mobile learning and apply this advantage to the classroom? Nearpod is a great tool to help😀

How to use Nearpod?

Nearpod is an online platform that allows the teacher to create an interactive class. It provides lots of features and resources to help teachers design different activities. For example, you can design interactive slides by adding formative assessments, simulations and dynamic media. Or you can create an interactive video or game including elements like polls, quizzes, and open-ended questions to stimulate students' engagement. There are also many prepared lessons and activities for you to use straight away, or you can customise them to suit your teaching needs. Here is a very detailed video showing you what you can do with Nearpod in your classroom, click and check if you are interested👀

Once you have designed your lesson, students can easily access it from their own devices. The most significant advantage of Nearpod is its convenience and flexibility. You can use it in a face-to-face classroom, for example, to get students to answer questions, or you can use it in online teachings, like organising a discussion. And you can track and give feedback to all your students in real-time. It's really a great tool to help teachers monitor classroom performance and encourage student participation.😊

However, there are also some limitations...

Although Nearpod is free to use, if you want to unlock the full range of features you need to pay for it. The price may be a consideration for many people. Also, designing an interactive course is not an easy task, and although Nearpod offers some features for your reference, it is still a challenge for many teachers. The most important issue to consider is if students are allowed to use their mobile phones in class - that’s a risky electronic device! 😱How can you ensure that students are focused on what you are teaching? You know, kids are too easily distracted by the entertainment features of mobile phones! I think this is the most important restriction that needs to be considered for mobile phone learning, especially among younger learners😖

Alright, despite this, it has to be admitted that the use of electronic information devices in the classroom is an undoubted trend. Nearpod is certainly a very helpful tool with many advantages and I recommend that you all give it a try!😆

That's all for today, see you next week!💕