Briefing Doc: Nearpod Student Response System for Open Educational Resources

Source: Excerpts from "Nearpod Student Response System - Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore"

Main Themes:

• Utilizing Technology for Interactive Learning: The document highlights the use of Nearpod, a free student response system, to foster an engaging and interactive learning environment.
• Promoting Open Culture of Discussion: Nearpod facilitates student participation through Think-Pair-Share activities and enables teachers to display student responses, encouraging open dialogue and collaborative learning.
• Addressing Practical Considerations for Technology Integration: The document acknowledges potential challenges in implementing technology and emphasizes the importance of preparation, practice, and student access to devices and internet connectivity.

Key Ideas and Facts:

• Nearpod Functionality: Nearpod allows students to participate in lessons using their personal devices (smartphones, tablets, computers) through a browser or dedicated app (Android, iOS, Windows).
• Think-Pair-Openly Share: The document suggests using Nearpod to activate prior knowledge through pre-designed questions, enabling students to "think, pair, and openly share" their responses.
• Teacher Moderation and Sharing: Teachers can view student responses on their own devices and choose to share them with the class, fostering a transparent and open learning environment.
• Considerations for Implementation: The document emphasizes practical considerations for successful Nearpod integration, including:
• Device Compatibility: Ensuring students have access to devices capable of running a modern browser.
• Internet Connectivity: Securing reliable WiFi access or preparing backup options like hotspot tethering.
• Teacher and Student Preparedness: Ensuring both teachers and students are comfortable using technology in the classroom.
• Building a Culture of Technology-Based Learning: Highlighting the need for consistent practice and patience to effectively integrate technology into the learning process.

Key Quotes:

• "Using https://www.nearpod.com/ a free student response system, students can login using their devices (Android or iOS app available) or just through the browser..."
• "Students' responses will be viewable on the teachers' device (computer, tablets etc) who may choose to share with the rest of the class for an open culture of discussion key to open learning."
• "use of technology require practice, practice, practice to build culture of learning using technology. Don't expect everything to run smoothly in the first try!"

Overall: The document advocates for the use of Nearpod as a valuable tool to enhance student engagement and facilitate active learning within an open educational resource framework. It emphasizes the importance of thoughtful planning and preparation to overcome potential challenges and successfully integrate technology in the classroom.

Nearpod and Open Educational Resources in Physics Education

Glossary of Key Terms

• Nearpod: A student response system that allows teachers to create interactive presentations and assessments.
• Open Educational Resources (OERs): Freely accessible and reusable educational materials.
• Open Source Physics @ Singapore: A website that provides a repository of OERs, including physics simulations and Nearpod presentations.
• Think-Pair-Share: A collaborative learning strategy where students think individually, discuss with a partner, and then share with the class.
• Interactive Whiteboard: A touch-sensitive display that allows users to interact with digital content.
• Student Response System: A technology that allows students to respond to questions and activities in real-time using their devices.
• HTML5 Applet: A small program that runs within a web browser, often used for interactive simulations and visualizations.
• JavaScript: A programming language commonly used for web development and interactive elements.
• Creative Commons License: A type of copyright license that allows for the free sharing and adaptation of creative works under certain conditions.

Short-Answer Quiz

1. What is the primary function of Nearpod in an educational setting?
2. Describe the 'Think-Pair-Openly Share' strategy and how it can be facilitated by Nearpod.
3. Explain two potential challenges teachers may face when implementing Nearpod in their classrooms.
4. How does the Open Source Physics @ Singapore website support physics education?
5. List three different operating systems (or platforms) on which the Nearpod application can be accessed.
6. What is the role of an interactive whiteboard in conjunction with Nearpod?
7. Explain the concept of "open learning" and how technology like Nearpod can contribute to it.
8. Why is "practice, practice, practice" emphasized when integrating technology into the classroom?
9. What is the significance of a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Singapore License for educational materials?
10. Beyond physics, in what other subject areas might a student response system like Nearpod be useful?

Short-Answer Quiz Answer Key

1. Nearpod allows teachers to design interactive presentations, engage students with real-time feedback, and conduct assessments through various activities and quizzes.
2. In 'Think-Pair-Openly Share', students first think about a prompt individually, then discuss their thoughts with a partner. Nearpod allows them to submit their individual responses, which the teacher can then share anonymously for class-wide discussion, promoting open learning.
3. Challenges could include ensuring all students have access to devices with internet connectivity, potential technical difficulties, and the time needed for both teachers and students to become comfortable using the technology effectively.
4. The Open Source Physics @ Singapore website provides a collection of OERs specifically for physics education. These resources include simulations, lesson plans, and interactive tools like Nearpod presentations, all freely available for teachers to use and adapt.
5. The Nearpod app is available on Android, iOS (Apple), and Windows operating systems. It is also accessible through a web browser, like Chrome.
6. The interactive whiteboard can be used to display the Nearpod presentation, allowing both the teacher and students to manipulate content, highlight key points, and contribute to the interactive learning experience.
7. Open learning encourages collaboration, sharing of ideas, and active student participation. Nearpod facilitates open learning by allowing for real-time feedback, anonymous sharing of responses, and interactive discussions within the classroom.
8. Repeated practice with technology is crucial for both teachers and students to build confidence, troubleshoot issues, and seamlessly integrate it into the learning process, creating a culture of learning using technology.
9. The Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Singapore License allows for the free use, adaptation, and sharing of educational materials, provided that appropriate credit is given and any derivative works are also released under the same license. This promotes open access and collaboration in education.
10. Student response systems can be valuable in any subject where interactive engagement and formative assessment are beneficial, such as language arts, math, social studies, and even professional development settings.

Essay Questions

1. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using a student response system like Nearpod compared to traditional teaching methods.
2. Explain how the use of open educational resources (OERs) can contribute to equity and accessibility in education.
3. Analyze the role of technology in promoting student engagement and motivation in the classroom.
4. Evaluate the importance of professional development and ongoing support for teachers who are integrating new technologies into their teaching practices.
5. Imagine you are designing a Nearpod lesson on a physics topic of your choice. Describe the structure of your lesson, the types of interactive activities you would include, and how you would use Nearpod to assess student understanding.

Hi, I want to share an awesome Nearpod presentation with you. If you open this link, an editable copy of the presentation will appear in your Nearpod library.

Hope you enjoy it!

Think-Pair-Openly Share

Using https://www.nearpod.com/ a free student response system, students can login using their devices (Android or iOS app available) or just through the browser, can activate their prior knowledge by attempting some question designed by the teacher before hand. Students' responses will be viewable on the teachers' device (computer, tablets etc) who may choose to share with the rest of the class for an open culture of discussion key to open learning.

 Considerations

when using https://www.nearpod.com/ a free student response system, some points to note can:

1. is the student's personal devices a smart phone (android and iOS, Windows Chrome etc) that can run a modern browser?
2. Is there a strong signal for WiFi for internet connection?, else teacher need to prepare a backup internet connection such as tethering teacher's own WiFi hotspot.
3. is the teacher and students ready to use technology in classroom?
4. use of technology require practice, practice, practice to build culture of learning using technology. Don't expect everything to run smoothly in the first try!

Technology:
sometimes, teachers may choose some students to come to the front of the interactive whiteboard to "teach" or "demo" the steps to get the appropriate answer.