Standard 3.6 Selecting and Evaluating Digital Tools & Resources
Candidates collaborate with teachers and administrators to select and evaluate digital tools and resources for accuracy, suitability, and compatibility with the school technology infrastructure. (PSC 3.6/ISTE 3f)
Artifact:
Reflection:
ITEC 7445
Evaluating Emerging Technologies Project
I completed the Evaluating Emerging Technologies artifact to select and evaluate a digital resource that will be accurate, suitable, and compatible with my school technology infrastructure with my students. I was interested in completing this Evaluating Emerging Technology Project over Nearpod as my choice of technology resource to research. After researching Nearpod, I concluded that Nearpod is an effective resource that teachers can use as a mean of remediation, a lesson opener or “hook,” an interactive presentation delivery, and a method to formative assess students and share resources. With the implementation of Nearpod, students become more engaged during instructional time. I teach math, and I looked at a few learning experiences. I am sure the students would love to complete, not realizing they are learning. Also, with Nearpod teachers can differentiate lessons while still including higher-level thinking skills for students. I like that Nearpod provides a tool for students to ask the teacher a question online about the skill they are working on. By giving students the option to ask the teacher a question or for help with a skill they are working on will minimize the embarrassment of students not wanting to ask a question and failing to receive the explanation needed to gain a clear understanding.
Through the development of the Evaluating Emerging Technologies project, I began by researching the technology of my choice, which was Nearpod. I found that Nearpod is an interactive presentation and assessment tool that can be used in the classroom. Teachers can create presentations that contain Quiz’s Polls, Videos, Images, Drawing-Boards, Web Content, and much more. Students can access the teacher’s presentation through a code that the teacher shares with students. Nearpod is a web-based app and is accessible on a “login” basis. Which means anyone can access their Nearpod account using any device that connects to the internet. Nearpod allows teachers to connect with their students in creative and innovative ways digitally.
Next, I made sure the digital tool and resources I chose were in alignment with my school technology infrastructure. By doing this, I stated my school’s technology vision within my presentation, which is to use resources that allow students to stay up to date with our world’s ever-changing technology while allowing for appropriate use of technology to increase student engagement, enhance and support student learning. I believe that Nearpod addresses my school technology vision and stated three points as to why it supports this vision. Nearpod supports my school vision for technology in the classroom by creating this resource that provides teachers with a platform to create learning experiences that engages and inspire students. It also supports the school technology vision because they have full lessons available that educators can use to increase student engagement, enhance and support student learning. Lastly, it has assessments that teachers can use to assess students the knowledge and also student’s assessments that students can use for self-assessment to assess their knowledge of specific skills to improve their learning.
I learned throughout this learning project that teachers and administrators must select and evaluate digital tools and resources for accuracy, suitability, and compatibility with the school technology infrastructure. By doing this, the school not only ensures that the learning resources are appropriate and suitable for all students, but it aligns with the technology vision of the school. I learned that the main objective of Nearpod is to engage students with interactive activities, connect them through collaborative discussions, and gain insight into student learning through formative assessments on the app. Some essential vital benefits that I learned about Nearpod that will be helpful with teaching and learning is that students can experience interactive lessons at their own pace. Lessons can be modified for individual or small group assignments. Nearpod provides students with collaboration activities. Teachers can see student’s answers in real-time, access post-session data, and obtain detailed reports. Teachers can differentiate lessons and activities to fit the individual needs of each student. Nearpod was created for grades K– 12 and is tailored to provide resources to all four content areas: Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, and English Language Arts.
Overall, I most importantly learned how to conduct and complete a research evaluation effectively. I listed three references when evaluating the Nearpod resource. One of the references is: According to the website,” commonsense.org,” Nearpod is an interactive slideshow tool that engages students promoting collaboration — stating that some pros of Nearpod are students becoming active participants in their education while teachers get valuable feedback on student learning. Some cons of Nearpod are when creating and modifying presentations can be time-consuming and can get expensive; the preview feature has some lags. Lastly, the bottom line is this effective tool leverages the capabilities of 1 – to -1 environments and brings slide shows into the 21st century. (Rogowski, 2017) I agree that Nearpod is interactive but think that it is more than just an interactive slideshow. This resource does promote collaboration and student engagement. While I have never used Nearpod, I am sure that creating and modifying presentations can become time-consuming and expensive as I noticed that they have pricing for individual lessons.
In conclusion of this learning project, although it cannot be evaluated, I think that completing this project has impacted my pedagogy and student's learning positively. Nearpod has many benefits that will improve student learning and promote active engagement and collaborative learning among students.
References:
Rogowski, M. (2018, July 15). Nearpod. Retrieved from
https://www.commonsense.org/education/app/nearpod
ITEC 7445
Evaluating Emerging Technologies Project
I completed the Evaluating Emerging Technologies artifact to select and evaluate a digital resource that will be accurate, suitable, and compatible with my school technology infrastructure with my students. I was interested in completing this Evaluating Emerging Technology Project over Nearpod as my choice of technology resource to research. After researching Nearpod, I concluded that Nearpod is an effective resource that teachers can use as a mean of remediation, a lesson opener or “hook,” an interactive presentation delivery, and a method to formative assess students and share resources. With the implementation of Nearpod, students become more engaged during instructional time. I teach math, and I looked at a few learning experiences. I am sure the students would love to complete, not realizing they are learning. Also, with Nearpod teachers can differentiate lessons while still including higher-level thinking skills for students. I like that Nearpod provides a tool for students to ask the teacher a question online about the skill they are working on. By giving students the option to ask the teacher a question or for help with a skill they are working on will minimize the embarrassment of students not wanting to ask a question and failing to receive the explanation needed to gain a clear understanding.
Through the development of the Evaluating Emerging Technologies project, I began by researching the technology of my choice, which was Nearpod. I found that Nearpod is an interactive presentation and assessment tool that can be used in the classroom. Teachers can create presentations that contain Quiz’s Polls, Videos, Images, Drawing-Boards, Web Content, and much more. Students can access the teacher’s presentation through a code that the teacher shares with students. Nearpod is a web-based app and is accessible on a “login” basis. Which means anyone can access their Nearpod account using any device that connects to the internet. Nearpod allows teachers to connect with their students in creative and innovative ways digitally.
Next, I made sure the digital tool and resources I chose were in alignment with my school technology infrastructure. By doing this, I stated my school’s technology vision within my presentation, which is to use resources that allow students to stay up to date with our world’s ever-changing technology while allowing for appropriate use of technology to increase student engagement, enhance and support student learning. I believe that Nearpod addresses my school technology vision and stated three points as to why it supports this vision. Nearpod supports my school vision for technology in the classroom by creating this resource that provides teachers with a platform to create learning experiences that engages and inspire students. It also supports the school technology vision because they have full lessons available that educators can use to increase student engagement, enhance and support student learning. Lastly, it has assessments that teachers can use to assess students the knowledge and also student’s assessments that students can use for self-assessment to assess their knowledge of specific skills to improve their learning.
I learned throughout this learning project that teachers and administrators must select and evaluate digital tools and resources for accuracy, suitability, and compatibility with the school technology infrastructure. By doing this, the school not only ensures that the learning resources are appropriate and suitable for all students, but it aligns with the technology vision of the school. I learned that the main objective of Nearpod is to engage students with interactive activities, connect them through collaborative discussions, and gain insight into student learning through formative assessments on the app. Some essential vital benefits that I learned about Nearpod that will be helpful with teaching and learning is that students can experience interactive lessons at their own pace. Lessons can be modified for individual or small group assignments. Nearpod provides students with collaboration activities. Teachers can see student’s answers in real-time, access post-session data, and obtain detailed reports. Teachers can differentiate lessons and activities to fit the individual needs of each student. Nearpod was created for grades K– 12 and is tailored to provide resources to all four content areas: Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, and English Language Arts.
Overall, I most importantly learned how to conduct and complete a research evaluation effectively. I listed three references when evaluating the Nearpod resource. One of the references is: According to the website,” commonsense.org,” Nearpod is an interactive slideshow tool that engages students promoting collaboration — stating that some pros of Nearpod are students becoming active participants in their education while teachers get valuable feedback on student learning. Some cons of Nearpod are when creating and modifying presentations can be time-consuming and can get expensive; the preview feature has some lags. Lastly, the bottom line is this effective tool leverages the capabilities of 1 – to -1 environments and brings slide shows into the 21st century. (Rogowski, 2017) I agree that Nearpod is interactive but think that it is more than just an interactive slideshow. This resource does promote collaboration and student engagement. While I have never used Nearpod, I am sure that creating and modifying presentations can become time-consuming and expensive as I noticed that they have pricing for individual lessons.
In conclusion of this learning project, although it cannot be evaluated, I think that completing this project has impacted my pedagogy and student's learning positively. Nearpod has many benefits that will improve student learning and promote active engagement and collaborative learning among students.
References:
Rogowski, M. (2018, July 15). Nearpod. Retrieved from
https://www.commonsense.org/education/app/nearpod