What is school climate?

School climate refers to how the school’s stakeholders are feeling about the school. It represents the current temperature—quite literally, whether the staff, students, and families are feeling hot or cold about their personal experience. School climate surveys can take into consideration the campus and facilities, the curriculum and services, as well as the leadership, staff, and overall community of students and their families. There is always a myriad of factors and variables that can affect school climate—the school’s atmosphere or mood—each and every year, so it is important to get a regular pulse on such feedback to better understand the patterns or deviations.

What is the difference between school climate and culture?

Sometimes, we hear “school climate” and “school culture” being used interchangeably, or they are lumped together in one utterance. However, culture vs. climate in schools is quite different. School climate is the current temperature of a school, as rated by its primary stakeholders. The school climate can fluctuate yearly due to internal and external factors. The goal is to maintain a positive school climate.

School culture, on the other hand, is more aspirational. A school’s mission statement or philosophy usually sets the tone, and as the school administrator, you can create short- and long-term goals that ladder up to what you want your school’s culture to be. Sometimes, school culture is referred to as the personality of the school—what beliefs, values, and practices the community tries to uphold. And again, a school is inclusive of the campus, the curriculum, the certified and classified staff, the student body, and the families. It includes the tangibles like structures, resources, and services, as well as the intangibles like spirit, attitude, and behavior. The goal is to outline and develop a positive school culture.

How to create a school climate survey

Each spring, consider how to design a comprehensive survey that takes into account various stakeholders’ perspectives and opinions. As part of the design, you will want to plan on when and how to disseminate the survey and how best to crunch the data. You’ll want to land on a design that you can use year over year, to best compare apples to apples—otherwise, it can be difficult to ascertain true progress. Consider creating a task committee once you have the data so that you can begin to make data-informed decisions and create a plan of action that will increase buy-in.

How Nearpod can help improve school climate

Once you have administered the school climate survey by following the steps below and analyzing the data, Nearpod can help you take the next steps. First, use Nearpod to communicate the results with your stakeholders via a shared presentation. You may want to embed a video thanking participants for their feedback. You can add rich multimedia graphs and visuals to highlight areas where your school is doing well and those that need improvement. You can share your presentation via a code or QR code so that everyone can visit and revisit the information. Second, you may want to ask a few follow-up questions to gain even more clarity. Use a Poll to get a quick pulse on a new idea or to take a vote. You could also use Open-Ended Questions and Draw It to amass more qualitative responses.

You can also be responsive to teachers’ school climate needs by using Nearpod for interactive professional development to host in-person workshops or offer asynchronous learning or enrichment experiences. Similarly, you can address students’ identified needs by suggesting interactive Nearpod lessons or modifying existing activities. With spring marking the onset of state testing, you can create original content for test prep needs to fill learning gaps or address concerns shared in the school climate survey feedback.

New to Nearpod?Administrators can schedule a call to learn about the full instructional power of Nearpod for your schools and districts. Teachers can sign up for free below to access and create interactive lessons.

8 Steps to implement school climate surveys effectively

1. Determine your demographic data set

In order to slice and dice survey results, you will want to ask a concrete set of demographic questions of your survey takers each year. You will want survey takers to choose their primary role: administration, certified staff, classified staff, student (you could bifurcate by grade), and parent/guardian. With such a designation, you can filter the data results by role to determine how a survey taker’s role affects their input.

You may want to ask how long they have held such a role and how long they have been at your campus. Often, newcomers have a steeper learning curve, which can affect their opinions and perspectives. Likewise, a long-time participant can have more fidelity or, conversely, be more complacent. 

Asking demographic questions upfront will help you design the survey with logical rules, meaning you can serve specific questions based on their identifying factors. For instance, you may want to know a bit about a new staff member’s prior recent teaching experience, which may help contextualize their feedback. Look at examples of other surveys online—they don’t have to be school-specific—to see what types of analogous demographic questions are required.

2. Add a personal note as a survey description

At the top of most surveys, you can add a description. Use this space to add a personalized note from you, the school leader, thanking your partakers for spending the time on the survey. Reiterate that you are looking for honest and candid feedback so that the school can take constructive steps to improve itself. Underscore that your school is built to serve and support all, so every opinion is valid and valued. 

You may even want to word it as a letter to better position the survey takers’ mindset before they begin. Make sure to give an estimate of time required to take the survey, so that they are prepared beforehand to finish the survey—incomplete survey results should not be counted. Be profuse in your gratitude and share how you plan to digest the feedback into an actionable improvement plan.

3. Make it optional to share personal identifying information

While you should make most of the school climate survey questions “required” in order to move on to the next question and complete the survey, make the sharing of a name, personal email, and phone number optional. Most will opt into sharing, and knowing where feedback came from can help you follow up and dig for more details. You also can address the most problematic feedback head-on if you know from whom it came. Don’t require names and emails, as it can color the feedback early on and make survey takers hesitant to be candid. You may be surprised at how many willingly share their contact information.

4. Ask for quantitative feedback followed up by qualitative

You will want a mix of question types in your school climate survey. Quantifiable questions are closed and have definitive answers—yes/no, true/false, rank: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. In most cases, you can tally the results and get quantifiable data in terms of percentages or numbers. Qualitative questions are open-ended, so their responses must be read and deciphered individually. 

A good rule of thumb is to ask a quantifiable question and give definitive answer choices. Then, use a logic rule to follow up on the good and the bad. For instance, if someone ranks a service the best at a 5, follow up by asking, “Why were you so pleased with this service?” If someone ranks a service the worst at a 1, follow up by asking, “Why did you feel that we failed you with this service?” Often, a ranking has clear causation, and you can pinpoint reasons for such good/bad feedback. Extreme respondents, those with opinions on opposite sides of a spectrum, often offer the most actionable feedback, and by addressing their needs, you can meet the needs of all those who fall in between.

5. Make an action plan

Before you send out a survey, you need to determine an action plan for what will happen after you get the school climate assessment results. Often, those who administer the survey end up drowning in survey data. They ask the questions, gather the data, and then sit on it. Don’t fall into the trap of data paralysis. Proactively form a task committee to review and try to make sense of the data. Form a cross-functional committee of volunteers, with all stakeholders represented. Their deliverable can be to create a list of recommendations to address the school climate feedback. Make sure to share their recommendations far and wide so that survey takers will know that their input has been heard and that the school is committed to improvements year over year.

6. Set a firm deadline

Now, with a survey designed and an action plan set, begin your communication plan about the annual school climate survey. Be very clear in your communications about when the survey will close. You can share such information in typical ways, such as newsletters and emails. You may also want to be innovative and post QR codes around the school hallways. 

Just as you would share a Nearpod lesson, you can share a Nearpod survey. Consider sharing the URL, the participation code, or the QR code. Send it in an email as a newsletter, or share it on the school website.

Set an internal goal of how many stakeholders you would like to have participate (X% of the staff, X% of the student body, X% of families) and tailor the messaging accordingly. You may even want to post and share about the level of participation. If needed, you can always extend the deadline at the last minute. Still, ideally, your communications should be straightforward and convincing enough that everyone will take the time to participate and engage.

7. Look for trends and patterns

Once the data has been gathered, look for patterns and outliers. The trends, patterns, and one-off perspectives may be new or tried and true, for better or worse. As you crunch the data, use visuals such as bar or pie charts to help you internalize the good, the bad, and the ugly. Don’t shy away from asking the hard questions or facing the candid facts. As you probably have heard from your mother’s advice, frame the feedback in a way that shares the most critical and constructive first, then ends with a high of all the positive and glowing comments. Definitely highlight examples of positive school climate as identified by your survey takers.

8. Act

Plain and simple: Make sure to act on the feedback. Once the data has been summarized, it is your job as a leader to incorporate it into an overall school improvement plan. Awareness needs to be followed by a commitment to action. And it helps to compartmentalize the steps—for example:

• What can you do before school ends? 
• What can you do before the next school year starts? 
• What can you do in a year’s time? 

Clearly communicate the reason behind any extended timeline (budget, training, board approvals, etc.) so that a delay doesn’t become misconstrued. But be clear in your communication of what you plan to address, how, and when. The worst sign of lack of progress is repeated poor survey remarks on the same issue year after year.

Explore the best practices for how to provide teachers with effective feedback in this blog post!

Improve school climate with Nearpod’s support

School climate is critical to a school’s success, whether you’re looking through a leadership lens or that of a student. A positive school climate can lead to increased student attendance and engagement, increased teacher retention, and improved community involvement. Your goal is to make sure everyone has a voice to provide feedback at the end of the year and that they feel they have been heard. Your first year or two using school climate surveys may feel like a trial, but the feedback (or holes in the feedback) will help you strengthen your survey design for the coming year, and if needed, you can always send out a short-format follow-up survey. Such dedicated annual efforts will help your whole school community learn how to create a positive school climate. Good luck!

New to Nearpod?Administrators can schedule a call to learn about the full instructional power of Nearpod for your schools and districts. Teachers can sign up for free below to access and create interactive lessons.

Darri Stephens

Darri Stephens is a dedicated LX (learning experience) designer, passionate about creating quality content and programs for kids, families, and educators. With MAs in Education from both Harvard and Stanford, and work experience at best-in-class ed tech organizations including Wonder Workshop, Nickelodeon, and Common Sense Education, she is steeped in the design thinking process and committed to agile and iterative project management, which has resulted in multi-award-winning programs and products.

The post 8 Steps to Implement School Climate Surveys Effectively appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

Formative assessments collect student data that provide insights teachers can use to inform the next set of instructional strategies, often making adjustments in real-time. Student assessment outcomes may indicate that teachers need to modify or even scrap their instructional plans in order to revisit or reteach concepts. There are many different types of assessments, from diagnostic assessments to summative assessments to authentic assessments. However, formative assessments are a common method teachers use for monitoring student progress daily.

Formative assessments provide teachers with real-time indicators of progress (or lack thereof) to make data-informed decisions when it comes to individualizing and personalizing instruction. These assessments can be active learning strategies—thumbs up or thumbs down, polls, quizzes, and the ever-popular “exit tickets.” But formative assessments are not just for teachers! They can also empower students using formative assessment to track progress themselves. Based on the frequency of formative assessments, students have more intel to drive their own learning journeys; they can seek out supplemental resources or practice materials depending on whether they are looking for more challenges or further support.

How to monitor student progress during a lesson

Teachers are ever observant and vigilant in monitoring student progress during a lesson. They can make observations about a student’s level and type of participation. They may use strategic questioning to gain evidence of student thinking and when tracking student progress. Many use active learning strategies such as think-pair-share to encourage collaborative learning and allow for peer-to-peer learning and feedback. Through such continuous analysis, teachers also can provide actionable feedback to students on an ongoing basis.

One of the hallmarks of Nearpod is that the comprehensive platform provides educators with real-time formative assessment data to monitor and modify instruction throughout the day. Allowing them to make “in the moment” instructional decisions to support student needs. Nearpod offers nine types of formative assessment:

• Drag & Drop
• Draw It
• Open-Ended Question 
• Quiz
• Poll
• Collaborate Board
• Fill in the Blanks
• Matching Pairs
• Time to Climb

The formative assessment data from these interactive features can be tracked whether a teacher is delivering a Live or Student-Paced Lesson lessons. When launching Live lessons, the content is synced across all student devices, allowing teachers to see every student and identify misconceptions. With Student-Paced lessons, students work at their own pace while teachers keep a finger on the pulse of individual students’ performance on activities, quizzes, and homework assignments. With both delivery methods, teachers can find comprehensive post-session reports via the Teacher Dashboard or downloadable CSV or PDF files.

During a Live lesson, click on Teacher View in the top right corner to see student responses to activities and assessments. You can share answers (anonymously, if you prefer) to highlight exemplars or address misconceptions. During a Student-Paced lesson, you can “View Progress” via a lesson code for any student in real-time.

New to Nearpod? Teachers can sign up for a free Nearpod account below to access these resources, interactive activities, and engaging lessons. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.

7 Tips for monitoring student progress with real-time formative assessment data

1. Choose the formative assessments that will provide the right insights

As mentioned above, formative assessments vary in format from strategic questioning and observations to engaging activities and assessments. Teachers employ multiple techniques and strategies depending on the format, content, and cadence of their lesson plans. The key is to pepper formative assessments throughout instruction so that students are actively participating and you are receiving feedback about individuals and the whole group.

Nearpod offers a variety of features that can help teachers use formative assessments when monitoring student progress throughout lessons. Consider how you might use Polls during an anticipatory activity to gauge prior knowledge of a new concept. Then, weave in an activity learning strategy like Collaborate Board throughout a lesson for quick checks of understanding. As an exit ticket, create a short multiple-choice Quiz or ask an Open-Ended Question to evaluate whether student learning objectives were achieved (and by whom!). These insights can help with data-driven instruction methods.

2. Embed formative assessments into lessons or stand-alone activities

Formative assessments can be bite-sized as well as more comprehensive. The trick is to immerse yourself in the many formative assessment strategies (see these active learning best practices to start) so that they become natural touchpoints for you to depend on throughout your daily instruction. Many say that teachers have eyes in the back of their heads, and while this sixth sense can help with classroom management, it can also help progress students toward reaching their goals.

Within a single Nearpod lesson, you can add a slide featuring a quick interactive check for understanding, like Fill in the Blank, or you can use Time to Climb to conclude a lesson with a bit of fun competition. Or, you might design a learning experience around a single activity. For instance, you could use Draw It to kick off a K-W-L chart or a Collaborate Board to capture small group work on a particular concept or problem. On Draw It, teachers can view students’ responses and data in real-time and share responses on students’ screens for discussions.

3. Provide feedback to individual students

Formative assessments provide teachers with rich data; then, the question can be, “Now what?” In addition to leveraging formative assessment data to design the next steps in instruction or even for planning a reteach, you can also intervene in the moment with targeted feedback. A continuous feedback cycle ensures that students stay engaged as you support them and boost motivation to strive toward their goals.

Nearpod’s feedback feature, Live Teacher Feedback, helps you provide such a continuous feedback cycle so that students don’t have to wait for support, encouragement, and praise. You can expand the toolbar on Draw It to add stickers or annotations to students’ work and responses within Nearpod. Screenshots of your feedback will appear in the associated student reports and notes as well. Students will be able to see your feedback in real-time, which helps them learn from errors and misconceptions, ask questions, and try different strategies.

4. Share student work

Many teachers appreciate the notion of “show what you know” when it comes to asking students to demonstrate their understanding, proficiency, and mastery of a new concept or skill by sharing their work. Teachers can use examples of student work to highlight where common missteps can occur. They also can share examples to showcase exemplary work or to applaud innovative thinking or self-expression.

Students can submit their work using the variety of interactive activities found in Nearpod. Tools like Draw It provide students a choice in how they demonstrate their learning based on their ability or preference, through drawing, writing, typing, or images. Teachers can share student work on the devices to encourage them to demonstrate their skills while developing mastery. Collaborate Board encourages peer-to-peer learning as well as peer-to-peer feedback. This feature is used as a digital discussion board where students share responses using text or images while commented on with their peers’ posts. Both tools provide evidence of student thinking that the teacher can monitor and share with other students.

5. Monitor class performance to check understanding

Teachers strive for student engagement, but the reality is that students’ attention can wax and wane throughout a lesson for many reasons—from the commotion outside a school window to the lack of personal interest in a topic. Therefore, teachers are masterful at weaving checks for understanding throughout even an hour of instruction. They may incorporate subtle personalized learning strategies to gauge understanding while also giving students voice and choice about what to pursue so they can take ownership in furthering their learning, whether that be asking for more support or seeking out a new challenge.

Nearpod’s Teacher Dashboard provides a turnkey way for educators to check whether or not students have started an activity or lesson and how they are progressing. Having formative assessment data analysis for progress monitoring student growth means that you can make informed decisions in the moment about how to challenge or modify instruction for a student, a group of students, or the entire class. You may choose to pull one or many together for a quick mini-conference to individualize the learning a bit more.

6. Adjust learning in the moment

In a popular Friends episode, Ross yells out, “Pivot!” at the top of his lungs. Teachers are nimble and applauded for their flexibility in response to classroom needs. By continually weaving formative assessment strategies into monthly, weekly, and daily lesson plans, teachers can rely on real-time data analytics to make informed decisions about what to teach next and how to do so. Additionally, integrating tailored standardized test prep into these strategies empowers educators to effectively address and reinforce key concepts necessary for student success.

Remember, you can duplicate and modify any existing Nearpod lesson. You may choose to add more interactive activities on the fly to boost your formative assessment strategies within a particular lesson. During Live lessons, you can also launch the Whiteboard for a more collaborative and visual discussion. Also, you could use the Live Annotation feature to highlight, draw, or type on content slides in real time to encourage more interactivity and model for students.

7. Use lesson data to differentiate

Teachers know they have a diverse classroom when it comes to varying personalities, ages and stages of development, and ranges of abilities. The first day of school is filled with anticipation as teachers meet their learners often for the very first time. With such a group of individuals in mind, teachers nowadays avoid “teaching to the middle” regarding skills or being a “sage on the stage” preaching to the crowd. Instead, they try to personalize and individualize learning plans, so much of their lesson preparation is thinking of ways to differentiate instruction based on anticipated needs. 

The real-time data collection that Nearpod provides means that teachers can differentiate instruction, targeting support and challenges accordingly. Many teachers plan for such differentiation, yet the data means that they can employ such strategies as needed in the moment, preemptively avoiding frustration or disengagement. Nearpod empowers teachers to recognize and address differentiation and thereby provide a more tailored and targeted approach to instruction. Nearpod supports needs-based decision making in classrooms and schools, and aligns with intervention approaches such as response to intervention (RTI) and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).

Start using Nearpod for monitoring student progress

Periodically reassessing goals is essential for both teachers and students, as goal setting can evolve or expand over time. Teachers’ and students’ goals can shift or stretch at any time, but it is best to take this moment to reflect on what the data says in order to make informed decisions for the last half of the year. Formative assessment examples can be a teacher’s best friend when it comes to encouraging student participation, connections, and confidence building. Student engagement grows when they make progress and their curiosity is sparked. Explore new ways to use Nearpod’s nine formative assessment tools during the rest of this school year to help you monitor progress and enhance instruction.

New to Nearpod? Teachers can sign up for a free Nearpod account below to access these resources, interactive activities, and engaging lessons. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.

Darri Stephens

Darri Stephens is a dedicated LX (learning experience) designer, passionate about creating quality content and programs for kids, families, and educators. With MAs in Education from both Harvard and Stanford, and work experience at best-in-class ed tech organizations including Wonder Workshop, Nickelodeon, and Common Sense Education, she is steeped in the design thinking process and committed to agile and iterative project management, which has resulted in multi-award-winning programs and products.

The post How to monitor student progress with real-time formative assessment data appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

New to Nearpod? Teachers can sign up for a free Nearpod account below to access these resources, interactive activities, and engaging lessons. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.

What is the history of standardized testing?

Regardless of one’s age, most of us can remember the careful bubbling in of bubbles with standard #2 yellow pencils on standardized tests. There were various techniques — outside in, inside out, but with stern warnings to make sure the lead-filled bubble shape would be able to be read by a scantron machine. While testing protocols have changed with age, many educators and students still shudder at the thought of spring state standardized tests. So, how best to fortify and prepare school communities for state standardized testing?

During the early 1800s, standardized testing became the norm (no pun intended) as teachers shifted from oral exams to writing, and students were entering college, the military, or the workforce. Horace Mann theorized that standardized tests could help identify and replicate the best teaching methods. Yet after about a century of testing in schools, critics in the 1930s began to question how the efficiency of standardized tests was overshadowing the quality of instruction.

Early tests such as the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test, the Iowa Tests of Educational Development (ITED; now known as the Iowa Assessments), and the American College Testing (ACT) led up to national legislation called the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in 1965. ESEA was designed to fund primary and secondary education while emphasizing high standards and school accountability. Over the decades, it has been amended and reauthorized. With No Child Left Behind in 2001, standardized state testing had grown to be high stakes for reading and math. With testing in grades 3-8 and once in high school, educators deplored what now felt like they were “teaching to the test.” Then in 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was passed, and there was an emphasis on lessening testing but still focusing on academic outcomes (read more about key provisions).

Why does standardized testing matter?

While opinions can differ regarding the pros and cons of standardized testing, they are designed to provide a universal baseline and benchmarks for comparison, whether amongst individuals, grades, schools, or districts. The tests provide common standards for everyone to aspire to. Standardized tests can also demonstrate progress definitively, promoting more confidence in facing obstacles like learning loss due to the pandemic.

When there is a lack of progress, the data can support a change in programming or increased professional development. Furthermore, states allocate targeted funding, which schools can take advantage of through title grant opportunities to help address gaps, provide intervention, or fortify available resources. Consider sharing how you analyze the data each year to assess and address your school’s needs. You may want to involve your educators in analyzing the scores and drawing conclusions as you look forward to the next school year.

Test Prep with Nearpod: A Process, Not an Event

Watch Nearpod’s pre-recoded webinar for administrators focusing on supporting and building teacher confidence as they prepare students for success during state standardized tests.

During this video, learn how principals can support teachers Nearpod with:

• Identify common standard deficiencies through formative assessments and robust lesson reporting
• Access standards-aligned quality lessons, videos, and activities to improve student outcomes and close learning gaps
• Incorporate regular instructional experiences to better prepare students for the technology they will experience on the test

8 Ways administrators can support teachers’ test prep strategies

Regardless of your opinion of standardized testing, all stakeholders in a child’s education can feel the stress. To ease the anxiety — from student to parent to teacher alike — we have compiled a list of suggested test prep strategies that you, as an administrator, can adopt to support teachers. There are some definitive steps your school community can take in preparation for the April/May testing time frame. And do remember, testing is a process, not an event. How can principals support teachers when prepping for standardized tests? Keep reading to explore 8 test prep strategies you can utilize schoolwide.

1. Reframe the conversation to build confidence

Begin working test prep strategies into daily discussions to avoid the feeling of being overwhelmed at the onset. Testing is not for the faint of heart, so share ways to model how to develop one’s own sense of resilience or hardiness. Remind everyone that these tests should illustrate how much a student has progressed over the school year due to their teacher’s stellar instruction. To build teacher and student confidence, share these three C’s from Dr. Salvatore Maddi of the Hardness Institute:

1. Challenge refers to seeing problems as challenges as opposed to overwhelming threats.
2. Control describes handling tough situations by feeling powerful and taking action.
3. Commitment means staying motivated and committed even through difficult times, pushing through obstacles with intention.

– PsychAlive

2. Understand the design of the tests

Make sure that all of your stakeholders understand the design of these tests, the schedule for testing, and how to interpret the results. Have candid conversations about the current learning gaps and expectations for student performance, especially with new teachers:

• Norm-referenced testing (NRT) compares a tester’s knowledge and skills to the norm group, a.k.a their peers, by referencing the scores. When it comes to student standardized tests, these norm groups are usually a nationally representative sample of thousands of kids in that same grade; sometimes, the groups are narrowed down by socioeconomic status, ELL status, or race/ethnicity. 
• Criterion-referenced testing (CRT) measures a student’s knowledge or skills against a predetermined score, goal, standard, or another criterion. They are not measured against one another, nor does their performance affect another’s results. Most commonly, students’ scores are categorized as “basic,” “proficient,” or “advanced.”
• Both types of testing, NRT and CRT, can be standardized. ​​Standardization means that there are uniform procedures for both administration and scoring to ensure that results are comparable between different test takers.

Technology doesn’t have to be a barrier during testing. Through edtech tools, teachers can customize formative assessments to create sample tests that get students familiarized with questions they’ll see on a test. Nearpod can be used to prepare students for the standardized testing experience. Teachers can recreate test prep questions for familiarity using digital formative assessment tools such as Open-Ended Questions, Multiple Choice Questions, adding Reference media, and Draw It for annotating. You can customize the look and format of the questions to match what students will see on their exams. Additionally, principals can support educators in incorporating Nearpod into their daily instructional to boost students’ test-taking strategies.

3. Socialize best practices

Remember that you may have new teachers in your ranks who could learn more about how they can best support their students during testing. State testing protocols have changed, and taking tests on digital devices requires a new level of computer literacy so that the tools don’t hinder the students’ focus.

Using Nearpod in a targeted way will help familiarize students with using technology as part of their learning journey. Plus, the standards-aligned lesson plans and built-in assessment tools can help teachers identify gaps to address before testing begins. Your teachers can use Nearpod to experiment with mimicking test question and answer formats so that students are more prepared with the types of questions they will be asked.

Share the following article with your new teachers and veterans in a weekly newsletter or during an upcoming staff meeting. Ask them what else they would add to this list of tips to ensure a smooth and productive testing period.

4. Create rotation stations

First, consider which of Nearpod’s formative assessment techniques will help to identify any “gaps.”

• Conduct Polls to assess students’ readiness to learn
• Mix in Drag & Drop or Matching Pairs instead of multiple-answer choice questions
• Use Quizzes as exit tickets at the end of a lesson or school day

Nearpod’s ability to provide insight with real-time data will help teachers take discrete yet progressive steps in staying ever-vigilant and nimble in their daily instruction.

Next, remember that you can search for Nearpod lessons by standard, which is helpful when trying to target key skill sets. Discuss which instructional materials might be most helpful, and figure out ways to share these resources between the classrooms. Consider how adaptive technologies might be able to support small group or individual instruction with practice tests and activities. With test prep strategies in mind, you may also consider collaboration with after-school programs for their support.

Lastly, brainstorm how your grade levels can collaborate during instructional time to refresh concepts with students. Create rotation stations in classrooms centered around mini-lessons to provide a bit of extra practice. Explore how classrooms could dedicate time to rotation stations that leverage small group work, peer-to-peer instruction, and parent volunteers.

5. Fortify inspirational learning environments

Most teachers know they need to cover or remove instructional aides that adorn classroom walls during testing for test prep strategies. Instead, work with your educators to have students create meaningful messages and personal mantras that will motivate them and give them that extra boost of encouragement. Use a Collaborate Board to encourage mindful discussion, and then have students use Draw It to create their own signs. Help classrooms find exemplary quotes from role models. Classrooms can display these new posters or construction paper chains with each student’s personal messages.

6. Encourage healthy habits at home

Remind your students’ families how they can best support their kids during the testing period, and share some of the tips and strategies in Nearpod’s Take-Home Folder. Encourage your teachers to share the My Sleep Log, where the kids can mark their bedtimes and when they wake to assess better how many hours of sleep they are getting (remember, awareness is half the battle!). By getting enough hours of sleep, kids can have the energy and stamina to power through a long day of testing. Remind your school community’s families to limit screen time and maximize outdoor time so that kids are refreshed and alert to face hours of testing.

7. Model de-stressing techniques

As always, teachers are great role models to show how best to recenter one’s emotions at the moment. As a test prep strategy, model and practice some of the following techniques in staff meetings so that teachers can do so in their classrooms:

1. Elephant breathing — While this technique is quite elementary … it is quite effective! Stand with feet apart and dangle your arms in front of you like an elephant’s trunk. Breathe deeply through your nose as you raise your arms above your head. Breathe out through your mouth as you swing your arms back down. Repeat!
2. The Thinker — Cross your wrists to grasp your hands, then twist your clasped hands under so that you can pin between your chin and chest, hugging your elbows tight.
3. Pressure points — Simply press both thumbs to your middle fingers simultaneously, or use your dominant hand to grasp your other and press your thumb into the center of your palm.

8. Prioritize self-care

We know prioritizing self-care has been echoed over the last couple of years. Still, we need to equip our student and teacher bodies with myriad strategies so that each individual can find what works best for them. Build teacher confidence and develop student well-being by encouraging moments of mindfulness, practicing breathing techniques, and identifying favorite “ME TIME” activities.

And don’t forget to normalize the conversation around mental health and mental well-being. For all stakeholders, work to build a school culture where such wellness conversations occur openly and often. Share ways to support these types of dialog so that the other person can feel safe and supported.

“The mental health and well-being of teachers can have a really important impact on the mental health and well-being of the children who they’re spending most of their days with,” Green explains. “Having teachers feel safe and supported in their school environments is essential to students learning and being successful.”

– NPR.org

Start using these test prep strategies as support for teachers

There is no doubt that testing is a stressful time for students and teachers. However, there are forward-thinking strategies that school leaders can employ to ease the anxiety. The challenge is having a plan in advance that supports student and teacher understanding and mental health well ahead of all the details that go into administering the actual tests! As a school community, discuss which test prep strategies will provide support for your new teachers, your veteran teachers, your families, and your students.

New to Nearpod? Teachers can sign up for a free Nearpod account below to access these resources, interactive activities, and engaging lessons. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.

Darri Stephens

Darri Stephens is a dedicated LX (learning experience) designer, passionate about creating quality content and programs for kids, families, and educators. With MAs in Education from both Harvard and Stanford, and work experience at best-in-class ed tech organizations including Wonder Workshop, Nickelodeon, and Common Sense Education, she is steeped in the design thinking process and committed to agile and iterative project management, which has resulted in multi-award-winning programs and products.

The post How administrators can support teachers’ test prep strategies appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

What is personalized learning?

The definition of personalized learning can vary. However, the U.S. Department of Education (2016) describes personalized learning as “instruction in which the pace of learning and the instructional approach are optimized for the needs of each learner. Learning objectives, instructional approaches, and instructional content (and its sequencing) all may vary based on learner needs.” The shift is in making instruction less teacher-centered and more student-driven. Barbara Bray and Kathleen McClaskey outline in their Stages of Personalized Learning Environments (PLE), Version 5 how agency is developed through seven elements: voice, choice, engagement, motivation, ownership, purpose, and self-efficacy.

This notion of agency goes hand in hand with personalized learning. Agency speaks to someone feeling they have control of and influence over their behaviors and actions; they feel they have the capacity or the ability to “get there” on their own. Personalized learning is often indiscriminately exchanged with individualized learning or independent learning, yet the terms vary just a bit in terms of intention. With personalized learning, the goal of instilling a sense of agency is foremost in educators’ minds. Personalized learning starts with the learner.

What are the benefits of personalized learning for students?

Due to the varying approaches to and definitions of personalized learning instruction, the body of research is slowly growing yet promising. However, it is commonly believed that the benefits include improved student outcomes and changes in attitudes, motivations, and behaviors. Early research by RAND Corporation and the Gates Foundation found positive indicators of student achievement. By the end of the 2014-15 school year, students who participated in personalized learning experienced a 3% improvement in both mathematics and reading. Particularly, those who began below the national average made substantial progress, nearing and eventually surpassing the national norms within two years. Regardless of achievement level, all students passed their comparison students in reading and math performance.

The role of technology in personalized learning

Technology plays a key role in personalized learning. One of the benefits of today’s modern technologies is the platforms, products, and tools that remove barriers so teachers can reach each and every individual student. With technological advancement, instruction can follow the learner’s lead and support with more individualized materials. Plus, with a much broader access to content, learning becomes more personalized to address the learner’s interests and curiosities. Technology allows for continuous monitoring and modifications, empowering educators to make more data-informed decisions.

Nearpod, a comprehensive K-12 platform, gives teachers personalized learning technology through its tools to actively engage students across the curriculum through its vast library of lessons and activities and its interactive features.

New to Nearpod? Teachers can sign up for free below to access these resources, interactive activities, and engaging lessons. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.

How to create a personalized learning plan using student agency examples

1. Voice

Often, teachers may talk about giving students “voice and choice” in the classroom when it comes to personalizing learning. The voice aspect speaks (literally!) to allowing students to share opinions and perspectives on what they want to learn about. What do they want to dig into? What do they have questions about? How do they want to learn more? By tapping into a child’s passions and curiosities, educators take an interest-driven approach to education. A turnkey example is found in many elementary classrooms when teachers give their students time for “Free Choice Friday,” a block of time during which students can engage in one of several learning centers or activity options. Students become contributing participants in their own learning journey.

Nearpod is a comprehensive learning platform in part because of the wealth of lessons and activities it provides. You can use Nearpod’s interactive assessment features to gain insight into what students want to learn more about. Use tools like Collaborate Board, Polls, or Open-Ended Questions to ask this question and see student responses in real time.

Next, search the lesson library to find a lesson that aligns with students’ interests. Across the subject areas and grade levels, Nearpod has a robust library of content to support diverse interests. You can use these lessons as they are or use them as inspiration to create your own. Teachers can search by keyword or filter by standard or publisher, making it simple to find content on a particular topic to feed a child’s hunger for more knowledge. This high-interest, quality content can lead to further engagement and a sense of ownership, responsibility, and increased self-efficacy. This can also lead to improved self-regulation behaviors and practices.

2. Choice

Hand in hand with voice comes choice. By positioning students in the driver’s seat of their own academic success, you can further students’ sense of accountability. They become more invested when they can follow their passions and make and determine what they want to consume and when. Such “voice and choice” increases a student’s commitment to and investment in learning. They begin to employ higher-thinking skills to set higher expectations for themselves. With this deeper engagement, students are more likely to face and work through challenges and setbacks more successfully.

In personalized learning, the learner often chooses or even creates the customized learning activity. Through Nearpod, you can share lesson codes on a choice board and encourage the learner to pick one to pursue at a learning center. Through Collaborate Board, you can present open-ended assignments, focus on project-based learning strategies, or weave in authentic assessment strategies for students. Personalized learning can achieve the same learning objectives but in a variety of different ways.

3. Engagement

Ask any teacher, and they will say that student engagement is a daily goal for their instruction. Without it, teachers have an uphill battle to convince, cajole, and persuade students to be interested and involved. Active learning is a key ingredient to a successful recipe for classroom engagement. With student engagement comes intrinsic motivation to commit to becoming a lifelong learner. Such engagement increases when educators embrace the benefits of personalized learning.

Nearpod has features to create engaging quizzes to check for understanding, exit quizzes, or summative tests. These formative assessment techniques can help you take a more personalized approach to providing support and more challenges to those who need it. With Nearpod’s real-time data, you have insights into which concepts and skills students are grasping or still struggling with.

4. Motivation

While we as educators can provide gold stars and other forms of extrinsic motivation, we all aspire to build students’ intrinsic motivation. Personalized learning plans seek to discover and encourage individuals’ personal passions and interests. We try to find ways to let the student lead their own learning by delving into what they are curious about, seeking out answers to their own questions, and finding personal satisfaction by having that “aha” moment on their own. According to Ryan & Deci, 2020, a child who is more intrinsically motivated tends to be more participatory, more attentive, and more engaged. Such involvement can then lead to more enthusiasm as well as better performance.

Not only can teachers find a wide breadth of content, but the interactive content addresses multiple learning styles, encouraging students to consume, connect, and create in a way that speaks to their strengths. Nearpod offers gamification to help motivate students to do their very best. Interactive activities like the Time to Climb quiz game help increase engagement and friendly competition while assessing student understanding. Such interactivity can bolster intrinsic and extrinsic motivation by providing feedback, encouragement, or reinforcement for completing a task well. You can find premade Time to Climb quizzes in the Lesson Library or create your own.

5. Ownership

Student ownership is just as it sounds—it is when students believe that they are in control of their learning and have a say in their own education. A sense of ownership comes from an established relationship between teachers and students that is based on mutual respect and trust. Teachers work diligently to create such a safe and positive classroom culture. According to the American Psychological Association: “When students feel a sense of ownership, they want to engage in academic tasks and persist in learning.” Many teachers build such a culture by having regular check-ins and mini-conferences with the students. This helps them understand where students are in the learning process, what they need to work on, and how best to achieve success. This pride of ownership translates into a sense of autonomy and independence that has benefits far beyond the classroom’s walls.

Nearpod encourages ownership by helping students reflect on their own learning needs at their own pace with the Student-Paced mode. During any Student-Paced lesson, students can take their time completing formative assessments and exploring informational slides, videos, VR Field Trips, or PhET simulations to cement their learning. This flexibility celebrates students’ achievements as they reach them, unencumbered by time constraints or peer pressures. A student’s sense of ownership complements and plays into the other elements of a personalized learning plan.

6. Purpose

All individuals, young and old, aspire to have a sense of purpose. As kids grow developmentally, they want to make sense of the world and find their place in it. Purpose in the classroom can come through understanding how learned skills have applicability to the real world, today’s society, and tomorrow’s professional dreams. Every teacher has probably heard the resounding refrain, “Why do I need to learn this?” By showcasing how activities and projects can build one’s readiness for life outside of school, students will develop a more sound sense of purpose when it comes to learning.

To support students in defining a sense of purpose, Nearpod can support teachers in providing a continuous feedback loop. Nearpod eases the friction of providing diverse content and adaptive interactivity by offering many different assessment tools. Using tools like Polls and Multiple-Choice Questions, students can self-check their understanding of a topic and gauge their progress toward goals. Couple quantitative data with live teacher input, and students receive continuous feedback to help personalize their instruction. Timely feedback means a student can practice and implement the feedback as immediate next steps, with no gap. The new teacher-to-student feedback feature on Draw It permits teachers to intervene immediately, identify misconceptions, or provide additional support to boost student engagement and achievement. Students will begin to develop their own sense of purpose when it comes to learning.

7. Self-efficacy

Name that movie: “If you build it, he will come.” In Field of Dreams, Kevin Costner’s character exhibited great self-efficacy. At its core, self-efficacy is an individual’s belief in or perception of their ability to reach goals based on their own competencies and behaviors. Therefore, self-efficacy is closely tied to one’s sense of aspirations. However, there are many influencing factors such as past experiences, modeling by and feedback from others, and one’s own emotional state. Students need to develop a strong sense of self-efficacy for academic success and personal well-being. Such self-confidence will help them find success not only in the classroom but in life.

Nearpod offers a suite of resources called the 21st Century Readiness Program. Within this program, teachers can take advantage of social and emotional learning (SEL) materials from trusted organizations like Common Sense Education and more. Over 400 SEL lessons, activities, and videos underscore CASEL’s five core competencies. These SEL lessons and activities will encourage students to set lofty goals, build their confidence, and persevere through setbacks.

8. Targeted instruction

When it comes to targeted instruction, teachers align goals to students’ needs and vice versa. It is a continuous process in which educators must rely on data (in conjunction with a teacher’s intuition) through observations and assessments. Such intel then informs shifts and revisions to one’s learning plans. Targeted instruction is nuanced and requires a hefty dose of flexibility.

Nearpod supports targeted instruction because a wide range of content can be delivered to a whole class or individuals, all within the same instructional period. Nearpod’s real-time data and post-session reports give teachers a tangible dashboard of progress—or lack thereof—with a lesson and provide them with options for addressing the most diverse needs. As targeted instruction is a core pillar of personalized learning, do remember to celebrate even the small wins to develop that intrinsic motivation.

Start using Nearpod to create a personalized learning plan

As with most teaching endeavors, a hallmark of good personalized learning is getting to know your students, both academically and personally. Remember to ask a lot of questions and keep copious notes. This will help you hone your approach to reaching each and every child. Share personalized learning examples with your staff regarding voice and choice, engagement, motivation, ownership, purpose, and self-efficacy. Encourage students to become agents in their own learning pursuits. Showcase how such an investment in time and effort can yield exponential results regarding progress and enthusiasm for learning overall.

New to Nearpod? Teachers can sign up for free below to access these resources, interactive activities, and engaging lessons. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.

Darri Stephens

Darri Stephens is a dedicated LX (learning experience) designer, passionate about creating quality content and programs for kids, families, and educators. With MAs in Education from both Harvard and Stanford, and work experience at best-in-class ed tech organizations including Wonder Workshop, Nickelodeon, and Common Sense Education, she is steeped in the design thinking process and committed to agile and iterative project management, which has resulted in multi-award-winning programs and products.

The post How to create a personalized learning plan using student agency examples appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

Why do some students lack motivation?

Students may lack motivation due to various factors such as external hardships in their home life, a disconnect between learning and real-world applications, disinterest in the subject matter, potential undiagnosed learning challenges, and the developmental stage affecting their ability to foresee the consequences of disengagement.

Perhaps there are extenuating circumstances in their home, whether it be familial strife or lack of food, that can cause them to lack presence and connection to the classroom or instruction. Too often, we’re unaware of the many layers of a child’s life and the stressors they encounter daily. Lack of motivation can come from not understanding the real-world applicability of skills. Students need to learn the skills alongside the use cases – and that use case can’t just be for a test this coming Friday. Perhaps a student lacks motivation because the subject just doesn’t interest them.

Passion is a critical driver in learning, so many teachers aim to help students make personal connections so that the content sparks interest. Or, a child may be facing an undiagnosed learning disability that is constantly keeping them from feeling successful. Furthermore, developmentally, younger students live more in the moment. They don’t fully comprehend the longer-term ramifications if they don’t engage, since their prefrontal cortex isn’t fully developed – meaning they may lack the foresight for reasoning, judgment, and planning.

What is the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in the classroom?

In the classroom, teachers strive to personalize and individualize lessons to reach every child, and the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is crucial. There are two forms of motivation: Intrinsic motivation originates from within, driven by personal satisfaction, leading to increased persistence and enjoyment; extrinsic motivation relies on external rewards or pressures.

Intrinsic motivation speaks internally. In an ideal world, all motivation would be intrinsic. One’s drive and sense of purpose toward accomplishing a task or goal is done for one’s own satisfaction. Research shows that intrinsic motivation can lead to more persistence and more enjoyment. In a classroom, intrinsic motivation can be seen when a child chooses a title on their own because they want to dive into a book or when they keep their head down to solve a problem because they’re up for the challenge. A child who is intrinsically motivated tends to be more attentive, more participatory, and more engaged, and thus can perform better and realize higher achievement (Ryan & Deci, 2020).

When there is a carrot at the end of a stick or a brass ring, so to speak, the motivation becomes extrinsic. Extrinsic motivation comes from the desire for a reward or to avoid negative consequences. So, if a child is trying to earn a goodie from the prize box or please a parent with a good grade, that drive isn’t from within. Now, extrinsic motivation does have its place in the classroom: There are good forms of it when it can provide feedback, encouragement for something outside one’s comfort zone, or reinforcement for completing a task well. Grades are a form of extrinsic motivation, and most teachers use them to applaud students’ work or frame how they can do better. How they do or do not internalize such feedback is up to the students. Often, it can be helpful to look at the Motivation Matrix (internal-positive; external-positive; internal-negative; external-negative). While all the quadrants can lead to change, only internal-positive motivators tend to be associated with personal happiness.

How teachers can boost student motivation for academic excellence

According to Dr. Anders Ericsson, motivation is the most significant predictor of success. Those with motivation can make and manage change, prepare, take action, and persevere toward goals. There are several ways teachers can help encourage student motivation throughout the school year, day in and day out.

Foster a love of learning in every student with Nearpod. Interactive technology tools like Nearpod can support educators in boosting student motivation.

Teachers can sign up for free below to access the lessons in this post and create their own interactive lessons. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.

1. Spark their interest

At the beginning of each school year, take the time through surveys, interviews, and good old conversations to get to know each child. What do they like? What do they shy away from? Use the trick of asking five “whys” to drill down to the root cause of a child’s nascent opinion. Then, lead them to high-interest content to help them dive deeper into a topic or broaden their horizons on another. Such motivational activities for students can yield great results.

Nearpod offers a robust library of standards-aligned content, and you can let students pick their own paths and take an active learning approach when it comes to exploring subjects and working through levels of proficiency.

Additionally, Nearpod gives you the option to integrate high-interest multimedia content, catering to students’ diverse passions and backgrounds. Incorporate dynamic media such as Virtual Reality (VR) Field Trips and Interactive Videos into their lessons. Teachers can tap into students’ interests and connect classroom content to their real-world experiences. This not only captivates their attention but also fosters a deeper connection to the subject matter, ultimately fueling their motivation for academic success.

2. Let them drive

Another way to motivate students in the classroom is to empower them with a sense of agency through student voice and have them make choices based on their own personal interests. Research from Edward L. Deci and Richard M. Ryan in the 1970s and 1980s put motivation on a continuum. The self-development theory (SDT) ranges from amotivation, the lack of any motivation to engage students in tasks or activities, through layers of extrinsic motivation, to intrinsic motivation. Their early work highlighted the need for individuals to feel self-determined, self-directed, and autonomous, and to have a sense of control over their lives and destiny.

Curiosity is the engine of achievement.

Sir Ken Robinson

Nearpod supports student choice and voice through interactive features like Collaborate Boards and Open-Ended Questions, enabling students to share their perspectives, collaborate with peers, and engage in meaningful discussions. This fosters a sense of ownership and autonomy in their learning journey, as they can contribute their unique insights and learn from others.

By providing a platform for student voice and choice, Nearpod helps create a student-centered learning environment that values their opinions, promotes active engagement, and encourages student ownership in their learning experiences.

3. Encourage the “pleasantly frustrating” paths

Professor James Paul Gee has written seminal research on learning and video games. He’s known as the godfather of game-based learning (GBL). He touts several good “learning principles” that video game design has exemplified in terms of hooking and incentivizing students. By challenging kids with levels of achievement, you can help motivate students find an inner drive to keep moving ahead, one step at a time.

Check out Nearpod’s educational game Time to Climb to encourage students to push themselves a bit more under gamified conditions. Digital platforms like Nearpod allow for in-the-moment interactivity that is designed to push the child to try and try again.

Nearpod’s Time to Climb and other educational games contribute significantly to the promotion of active learning and student motivation. The competitive element, sense of achievement, and enjoyable experience provided by these games enhance student engagement and encourage active participation in the learning process.

For example, in a science class, a teacher can use Time to Climb to reinforce concepts related to the water cycle. The game can present questions with visuals and scenarios related to the topic, challenging students to apply their knowledge. Students can compete against their peers to climb the leaderboard by answering correctly and quickly. This not only encourages active participation but also creates a sense of achievement and enjoyment as students progress through the game.

4. Show the long-tail effect

Developmentally, many students struggle to think about the long-term future. Jim Taylor, Ph.D., writes that motivation to change often begins with the 3 D’s: direction, decisions, and dedication. So, teachers often become masterful storytellers who weave tales of the real world, future careers, and passions to encourage student motivation. They showcase subjects like math outside of drill-and-kill worksheets and word problems by sharing everyday practices or career-advancing (and enhancing) skill sets that rely on math proficiency. Students need to understand that they are not learning for learning’s sake alone; they are learning to whet their appetite to expand and hone their skills.

Learning isn’t confined to specific subjects; it’s about acquiring a toolkit of skills that empower individuals to analyze problems, make informed decisions, iterate on ideas, and share their insights effectively. By integrating crucial skills known as the 5Cs – critical thinking, computational thinking, collaboration, creativity, and effective communication – educators can show students the real-world relevance of their studies in their lessons. Nearpod’s interactive platform allows teachers to seamlessly weave these essential skills into their lessons, illustrating their long-term value in preparing students for success in any field they choose to pursue.

5. Provide feedback

Everyone likes a gold star once in a while. Extrinsic motivation isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as long as it’s not excessive to the point of having an overjustification effect, where the extrinsic cancels out any intrinsic motivation. Consider ways to give feedback that builds their confidence, encourages them to reach just a bit higher, and rewards them for taking chances. Remember that asking questions and modeling active listening is a way to provide authentic feedback.

Nearpod’s formative assessment tools provide you with real-time data on student responses so that you can plan your instruction not only for the whole group but for individuals as needed, just in time. The best feedback is given immediately.

The true power of feedback lies in its immediacy – addressing questions and misconceptions while they are fresh in students’ minds. Nearpod’s feedback features, such as stickers and writing options for teachers in Draw It and Drag & Drop learning activities, enable educators to respond instantly to each student, tailoring guidance to their specific needs and ensuring that the learning experience remains personalized. By harnessing Nearpod’s capabilities for real-time feedback, teachers can motivate students to thrive and excel academically, creating a supportive learning environment.

6. Talk about procrastination

Procrastination for many is not merely a time management issue, postponing a more important task in favor of a less important one. Often, procrastination is an emotional management conundrum when fear, frustration, anxiety, insecurity, or self-doubt thwart the best of plans. Students and adults alike battle with procrastination. Procrastination can cycle and build into negative thought patterns called procrastinatory cognitions (the Procrastinatory Cognitions Inventory (PCI) has 18 such items). Social and emotional learning (SEL) supports students’ development of self-awareness and self-regulation skills, which can help in such emotional management. SEL promotes a growth mindset and grit, too.

Nearpod offers over 400 SEL lessons, activities, and videos built on CASEL’s five core competencies in the 21st-Century Readiness Program. This program offers a simple method for incorporating SEL practices, such as fostering positive interactions, promoting gratitude, facilitating reflective moments into daily learning routines, and contributing to the establishment of safe, inclusive, and effective classroom environments.

Nearpod also offers free social and emotional learning (SEL) lessons and activities. Features such as Collaborate Board, Draw It, Drag & Drop, Time to Climb, and Interactive Video can be used for emotional check-ins and practices. Here are some examples of motivational activities for students:

• Time to Climb: Social Emotional Learning (Grades 3-5)
• Collaborate Board: Share Your Mood (Grades 6-12)
• Collaborate Board Check-In (Grades 2-12)
• Interactive Video: Mantras (Grades 3-8)
• Interactive Video: What Is Empathy? (Grades 6-8)

7. Show that you’re human, too

So much of what teachers do well is model. And modeling means showing the messy side of life, too. When motivating students to learn, share how you’ve failed forward and pushed through tough times or daunting tasks to inspire them. Talk about lofty goals you had and how you modified or broke them down into smaller goals that build upon one another. Illustrate how strong goals are reframed as SMART goals. Share future goals that you have and the power of “yet” – that you have yet to achieve it all.

Share some of Nearpod’s lessons and activities on goal setting to motivate them forward:

• Time to Climb: Goal Setting (Available for grades 3-6)
• Time to Climb: Time Management (Grades 6-8)
• Interactive Video: Growth Mindset (Grades 4-12)
• Lesson: Goal Planning (Grades 3-5)
• Lesson: Setting Goals (Grades 6-8)

Boost student motivation with Nearpod’s support

Staying motivated is a key goal not only for our students but for teachers, too. We are facing high teacher attrition rates due to factors that are overriding teachers’ intrinsic sense of pride and purpose in their careers. Teachers are lifelong learners who look to inspire the next generation. As Samuel Johnson wrote, “Curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first passion and the last.” Seek to motivate the curiosity in yourself and those around you! And just remember: “I thought I could, I thought I could, I thought I could!”

Foster a love of learning in every student with Nearpod. Interactive technology tools like Nearpod can support educators in boosting student motivation.

Teachers can sign up for free below to access the lessons in this post and create their own interactive lessons. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.

Darri Stephens

Darri Stephens is a dedicated LX (learning experience) designer, passionate about creating quality content and programs for kids, families, and educators. With MAs in Education from both Harvard and Stanford, and work experience at best-in-class ed tech organizations including Wonder Workshop, Nickelodeon, and Common Sense Education, she is steeped in the design thinking process and committed to agile and iterative project management, which has resulted in multi-award-winning programs and products.

The post How to boost student motivation in the classroom for academic excellence appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

The 4Cs in education are collaboration, communication, creation, and critical thinking, which represent the knowledge, skills, and expertise students need today to prepare for tomorrow’s workforce. The Partnership for 21st Century Learning (P21) claims that with the influx of technology and trends in our global economy, students need more interpersonal and intrapersonal skills to achieve professional and personal success. In its Frameworks for 21st Century Learning, P21 describes how the 4Cs of 21st-century skills are foundational for learning and innovation and are skills that everyone needs to practice and hone throughout schooling. These skills are not independent — they are entwined with one another when promoting progress in the classroom.

What is the importance of 4Cs in education?

The 4Cs approach to teaching and learning focuses on whole child education and makes it easier for a school to establish a positive school culture and build a common community among its stakeholders: students, families, and teachers. Most educators will not be surprised by this perspective, as whole child education has been a constant thread in schools for decades. In whole child education, teachers seek to support not just the academic but also the emotional and social skills of individual children. Since the days of Dewey, educators have sought to support children’s overall well-being while inciting their curiosity to become lifelong learners. In addition to a mastery of key subjects, P21 wove in interdisciplinary themes such as global awareness and civic literacy as part of their framework. But it was their learning and innovation skills that have taken hold. Many educators now lean on this idea of the 4Cs in constructing their curriculum and daily activities. Many have even personalized the 4Cs in education by adding a fifth, sixth, or seventh C—whether that C stands for Community, Citizenship, or Character.

Teaching the 4Cs with technology tools: Nearpod

When it comes to technology, nowadays, students can find an answer with a click of a button. The clout of memorization has lost its hold, as students are now challenged to apply their newfound knowledge and expand upon it—not just recite it. Educational trends have shifted, especially with the influx of digital technologies, and classrooms must step up to prepare students to be effective and engaging contributors. Start teaching the 4Cs with technology using Nearpod. Platforms like Nearpod support educators in providing rich content while also challenging students to analyze, apply, evaluate, and create through active learning strategies and formative assessment, all to drive student engagement. Nearpod encourages students and teachers alike to take a personalized approach to education by leveraging the 4Cs in education through working with the whole class, small groups, and individuals. Students are more actively engaged in learning when presented with media-rich content and interactive functionality. Plus, educators receive real-time assessment data from their classrooms, enabling them to pivot and be more responsive in their teaching methods.

New to Nearpod? Teachers can sign up for free below to access these resources, interactive activities, and engaging lessons.

Nearpod’s 21st Century Readiness Curriculum Program

Nearpod’s 21st Century Readiness Program includes over 400 SEL lessons, activities, and videos built on CASEL’s five core competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

Provide educators with an easy way to integrate SEL practices like positive interactions, gratitude, and reflective moments into daily learning to help create safe, inclusive, and effective classroom environments. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to explore Nearpod’s 21st Century Readiness Program and unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.

How to implement the 4Cs in education to teach 21st-century skills

1. Collaboration

From the early days of kindergarten, kids learn the importance of cooperation, which is fundamental to the notion of collaboration, which is when two or more people work together towards a common goal. Good collaboration takes trust and respect to work together, be heard, and make decisions. Traditionally, educators promote collaboration with active learning strategies such as think-pair-share or jigsaw. They build small group work into lesson activities so that students learn and practice such participation and team-building skills.

Nearpod’s Collaborate Board makes it easy for students to share their thinking, comment on their posts, and build upon each other’s ideas in real time. Whether in person or working remotely, students can connect with one another via the interactive board, and teachers can monitor and review all perspectives. Nearpod provides a safe space for such collaboration to occur, and educators can foster such an exchange of ideas in a productive manner.

See Collaborate Board in action through these science lessons about infectious diseases. Use this lesson in high school classrooms to deconstruct sophisticated ideas about transmission and outbreaks of communicable diseases to share in their own words via a Collaborate Board.

Here are some tips from this blog post sharing ways to create collaborative learning experiences in the classroom:

• Make collaborative classroom discussions part of every lesson
• Keep feedback at the center of classroom discussions
• Make collaborative learning visible
• Collaborate and contribute in multiple formats
• Build community and social emotional skills

2. Communication

Part and parcel of collaboration are strong communication skills. Today’s communication skills are more nuanced depending on whether communication is happening in person, in writing, or virtually online. There has been more of a focus on the 21st-century literacy skills of speaking and listening since we have more dynamic communication channels these days. From the science of reading to digital literacy and media literacy, students are schooled in ways to be not only effective but respectful communicators. Teachers strive to promote creative expression so students can find their own voice while appreciating others’. 

Nearpod promotes class discussions within the pre-made lessons to spark meaningful conversations. Polls can be used to initiate discussions. Open-ended questions invite diverse perspective taking for 4Cs education. Students can practice articulating and conveying their ideas, whether they seek to inform, instruct, motivate, or persuade others. Nearpod’s formative interactive assessments, which can be embedded into videos and slides, open up avenues of exchanges, whether in person or through written responses. Students can practice listening effectively and exercise flexibility to promote dialogue, which can occur 24/7 and not just within the hours of a school day.

3. Creativity

Creativity has finally clawed its way to the top of Bloom’s Taxonomy. The apex of higher-order thinking now culminates in creating something new via self-expression. Many teachers strive to take a cross-curricular approach to designing their learning objectives so that students can better digest and make connections with new knowledge; they can then find application in their real world and build upon their own skill sets. Improv and design thinking have long embraced the notion of “Yes, and …” to encourage risk-taking and innovation.

Regarding creativity, Nearpod celebrates all learning styles and provides various ways for students to read, watch, and interact with content. Teachers can add multimedia to their lessons, and in turn, students can use interactive tools like Collaborate Board to brainstorm ideas and respond to or build upon the lesson content. The Draw It tool provides a digital whiteboard for students to draw, type, and add images to communicate and refine their ideas and responses. For instance, when learning about Ancient Greece, students can dive into an article, watch a video, or take a Virtual Reality (VR) Field Trip related to architecture and then be challenged to map out a blueprint, or to draw their own interpretation of or enhance a famous relic. Students are able to “show what they know” in original ways in real time.

“Designing a City Zoo,” a 3-lesson experience built in partnership with Freckle, teaches elementary students about whole-number quotients through problem-solving. The lessons for grade 3 invite students to ask their own questions and to answer them creatively with tools such as Drag and Drop and Draw It:

• Designing a City Zoo: Part 1 
• Designing a City Zoo: Part 2 
• Designing a City Zoo: Part 3 

4. Critical thinking

Lastly, but underlining all tasks, is the importance of critical thinking skills. This focus on decision making and problem solving goes beyond mere mathematics by promoting high-order thinking across key subject areas. Critical thinking requires the ability to interpret, analyze, and evaluate information (facts and otherwise!) to refute arguments, make judgments, and think through solutions. Such logic skills also include developing a true willingness to listen to and consider others’ ideas. This iterative mindset is crucial in an ever-changing world that negates one-and-done solutions. Critical thinking skills are key to the other Cs in helping students become thoughtful questioners (communication), helpful participants (collaboration), and transformational contributors (creativity).

Nearpod lessons are built with scaffolded interactive activities designed to help students build toward higher-order critical thinking. Learning objectives are designed to have students analyze, evaluate, explain, problem-solve, and more, which are all components of critical thinking. Teachers can add reflective questions into their lessons, as such systematic thinking behooves us all regarding future personal and professional challenges.

Additionally, specific Nearpod features and content types are designed to encourage critical thinking, such as PhET simulations for math and science instruction.

5. Combining all 4Cs

Teachers and educators alike have common goals for preparing students today for success tomorrow. The 4Cs in education—collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking—have played a vital role over the last two decades and will continue to do so. Nearpod continues to prepare students for the 21st century by providing an all-in-one platform with interactive lessons, gamified learning, and formative assessments to challenge students’ 4Cs education. Our Corinth high school science lessons incorporate the 4Cs. In the Integumentary System lesson, students can individually explore a 3D model of this system before synthesizing complex information in order to answer a series of questions collaboratively.

Start teaching the 4Cs with Nearpod

We challenge educators daily to design learning experiences that build students into confident and curious learners (two other valuable Cs!). 21st-century learning should look and feel different than a more traditional classroom we might be familiar with and the landscape will continue to evolve so that students develop the knowledge and skills they need. Plus, Nearpod provides professional development to continue improving educators’ skills regarding the 4Cs. These real-world skills of collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking are ever-important as we all seek to be lifelong learners.

New to Nearpod? Make sure you’re signed up to access these lessons and activities!

Teachers can sign up for free below to access and create interactive lessons. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to explore Nearpod’s 21st Century Readiness Program and unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.

Darri Stephens

Darri Stephens is a dedicated LX (learning experience) designer, passionate about creating quality content and programs for kids, families, and educators. With MAs in Education from both Harvard and Stanford, and work experience at best-in-class ed tech organizations including Wonder Workshop, Nickelodeon, and Common Sense Education, she is steeped in the design thinking process and committed to agile and iterative project management, which has resulted in multi-award-winning programs and products.

The post How to implement the 4Cs in education to teach 21st-century skills appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

Early literacy requires exposure, practice, and repetition to help children learn and build their skills and make them lifelong readers and writers. A love of reading and all things literacy related cannot be cultivated early enough. We are a species that thrives on storytelling, from the early days of Homer’s orator skills to social media nowadays. Find ways to encourage partnership between your school’s teachers and families so that reading and writing are emphasized early and often.

Why is early literacy development important for students?

Developing early literacy skills is crucial for healthy brain development, and its importance extends far beyond success within a school’s walls. Obtaining basic literacy skills by third grade has been tied to higher academic success later in schooling and then in the workplace. Plus, there are physical and mental benefits, too. Reading 30 minutes daily has been shown to reduce heart rate and blood pressure. Lower reading scores in high school have been tied to health issues in adolescence and adulthood, partly because poor reading skills can affect informed decision-making about one’s health. Basic literacy and skills can help thwart the ills of poverty and even incarceration.

If a child is not reading at grade level by fourth grade, they are statistically likely to remain illiterate throughout their life.

LucyProject.org

Social and emotional wellness and strong literacy skills help support good mental health. Social and emotional learning can help support students in expressing themselves, their feelings, and their needs. SEL and literacy thrive in such supportive and nurturing classroom environments.

What are early literacy skills literacy skills examples?

When it comes to examples of literacy skills, the key areas are reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Then, the areas become more nuanced as we begin to look at awareness of sounds, relationships between those sounds and letters, awareness of print, building comprehension, gaining vocabulary, and learning how to spell. These skill sets are the foundational blocks for literacy proficiency and growth.

Nearpod’s instructional delivery platform helps educators connect with their students through meaningful interactive learning experiences. Engage every student in their learning through impactful features, from collaborative tools to formative assessments, and use data to inform your next instructional decision. Whether you’re looking to enhance existing resources or supplement your curriculum with 22,000 standards-aligned lessons, videos, and activities, Nearpod has everything you need to facilitate transformational learning experiences.

New to Nearpod? Teachers can sign up for free below to access these resources, interactive activities, and engaging lessons. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.

Teaching strategies for developing early literacy skills

Reading strategies

1. Embrace the Science of Reading

You’ve probably heard quite a bit about the Science of Reading (SOR). This newer movement relies on decades of research about the best strategies to employ for teaching reading. SOR is not a program but rather supports a return to a highly structured set of approaches rooted in decoding skills and language comprehension versus phonics, whole language, or balanced literacy.

Within Nearpod, you can explore the Nearpod library by standard or focus on one of the English Language Arts (ELA) strands for teaching reading: Conventions of Standard English, Vocabulary Acquisition and Use, Knowledge of Language, Phonics, Word Recognition, Fluency, Key Ideas and Details, Craft and Structure, Integration of Knowledge and Ideas, or Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity.

• CVC Words (K-1): In this lesson on CVC words, students will learn how to identify beginning, middle, and ending sounds within these fundamental three-letter words. This lesson can be a critical building block tool for young readers to explore phonemic awareness and sound-symbol relationships.

• Nonfiction Text Features (1-2): In this lesson on nonfiction text features, students will learn about text features that help readers understand the text they are reading. Students can gain an understanding of the various elements that assist in comprehending informational texts to help them effectively engage with diverse forms of nonfiction literature, reinforcing their journey to becoming proficient readers.

• Retelling Key Details (1-2): In this lesson on retelling key details, students can recognize and retell pivotal elements within a fiction story. This lesson underscores the importance of comprehension and narrative understanding.

2. Read aloud every day

It can’t be underscored enough that children reap countless benefits from reading every day—and from having someone read aloud to them. From an early age, kids who are read to can begin to understand concepts conveyed in books and other written materials before they can actually read independently. When you read aloud to kids, they not only lose themselves in stories but also learn to appreciate the lyrical nature and cadence of language. They begin to understand intonation and the rhythm and rhyme of the written word.

I still remember that my sixth-grade teacher used to read aloud to us for 20 minutes after lunch and recess. She called it “bulge” time. She would read a chapter or so each day, and it was a time for us to rest, recoup, and relax. I remember she even cried gently while reading Incident at Hawk’s Hill. Encourage your families to read aloud to their early literacy learners, as well as their older children, at home. Parents can read with their kids at bedtime or even record themselves reading aloud if they can’t be there in person.
In turn, with Nearpod, you can enable Audio Record for kids to capture their own read-alouds. Let them practice sounding out words, reading with punctuation, and bringing their personality to the storytelling. Additionally, Immersive Reader is available on Nearpod slides and activities. Have students use the text-to-speech feature to have the text read aloud to them.

3. Level up with chapter books

Don’t hesitate to read more sophisticated stories to children for developing early literacy skills. Often, a reader’s phonetic and comprehension skills don’t progress at the same pace. However, students can begin to appreciate concepts such as story elements and literary devices, and understand dynamic plot twists in stories that are above their reading level. Plus, they can engage their active listening skills and inferential reading skills as they hear more complex story arcs. If you’re interested in exploring reading material options, check out our list of 27 engaging books for beginner readers.

Nearpod’s Immersive Reader is an adaptive feature to help students unable to see text, those learning a new language, and even emergent readers. Early readers can employ the Immersive Reader to dive into a story or text that may not be at their current reading level.

Writing strategies

4. Hunt for letters

As students begin to correlate sounds and words with letters and better grasp the alphabetic principle, go Sesame Street-style and choose a letter of the day or week. Ask students to print the letter on a brown lunch bag and then focus on collecting items that begin with or contain that letter. Make a game of it, to engage a little extrinsic as well as intrinsic motivation.

Kids need to see letters and words, write them, and hear them to fully bring together the complex aspects of basic early literacy skills. Check out the vast library of Letter Lessons and letter-related songs, in which students focus on one letter in the alphabet, are introduced to the letter, and explore the sound that it makes.

5. Embrace invented spelling

Did you know that English has 44 phonemes, or individual sounds? English, however, does not have a 1:1 relationship between the written form (graphemes) and the spoken form (phonemes). Don’t let spelling get in the way of kids’ storytelling. Phonetic spelling, sometimes called invented spelling, happens as students try to make sense of sounds and letters. They may stumble on the many nuances of the rules of the English language, but make sure that this doesn’t hinder their overall progress. Sometimes, educators can use such non-words or pseudo-words as a tool to evaluate a student’s phonetic decoding ability. Likewise, looking for patterns in a child’s phonetic spelling can help you address which phonics rules should be readdressed or reinforced.

Here are some early literacy activities you can use:

• Phonetic Spelling (Grades K-1): In this Draw It activity, students learn about phonetic spelling by practicing spelling unfamiliar words.
• Spelling: Part 1 (Grades K-2): In this Drag & Drop activity, students learn about letter sounds by practicing their spelling through drawing.
• Spelling: Part 2 (Grades K-2: This is a continuation of the Drag & Drop activity mentioned above.

6. Highlight real-world examples of the written word

To support both reading and writing skils, point out everyday words not just in books but on the classroom walls and around the school. Make your classroom a print-rich environment with posters, signs, teaching aids, and student work to emphasize frequent sight words or words they may see frequently in the real world (like “EXIT”). Such sight or word recognition is a key skill alongside phonological awareness and decoding. Showcase the different types of writing as well—not just fiction and nonfiction, but also instructions, advertisements, signs, and newspapers. At home, encourage families to read what is written on cereal boxes, in comics, and out and about on the town. Children will begin to better understand not only the purpose of writing but also what kind appeals to them most. Forming early opinions around reading and writing empowers them to own these literacy processes.

Nearpod offers a Skill Builders series for early learners. Lean on the interactive Draw It feature to explore the lessons (Part 1 and 2) for Write and Draw Sight Words and Trace and Write the Missing Letters. Additionally, this lesson scaffolds for first and second graders with Identifying Sight Words (see Part 1 and 2).

Speaking strategies

7. Play with expressive language

Expressive language, aka, speaking, develops post-receptive language (listening). Early learners will often mimic what they hear; that’s why you hear quite emotive babbling from babies. Give kids the opportunity to play with language through pretend play, cooperative activities, and singing songs. Play a simple rhyming game so they can begin to understand the rules of phonics (and the exceptions!) and expand their vocabulary in the interim. Find several ways to incorporate songs or poetry into your classroom with creative ideas for teaching poetry to use as examples of literacy skills.

For early childhood education, specifically K-2 grade levels, consider using songs. After all, songs are poetry! Here are some video lessons with songs that can help teach about creative and expressive language, including letter knowledge:

• Frog On A Dog: In this fun and educational video lesson from Alphablocks, students learn about rhyming three-letter words with the word “dog.”
• Rhyming Songs: This engaging video lesson from Alphablocks teaches students about different letters from the alphabet, their sounds, and vocabulary words.
• The Letter S Song: In this cartoon video lesson from ABC Mouse, students learn all about the letter “S.”

8. Ask open-ended questions

Think of Bloom’s Taxonomy. In order to appeal to students’ higher-order thinking skills, ask questions that do not have a yes/no answer. Encourage them to form their own opinions and articulate their own perspectives through open-ended questions. Ask for supporting details and arguments. Open-ended questioning can involve asking kids how they feel, so that they begin to expand their vocabulary to define how they are doing or feeling.

With Nearpod, you can add open-ended questions to activities and lessons to help check for understanding. Additionally, such questions can be used to facilitate creative writing, using text or images as a prompt. To focus on the learning objectives for speaking, ask students to provide their answers using the interactive Audio Recording feature.

9. Encourage student-to-student conversations

Oral language development is a process involving semantics, phonological skills, pragmatics, syntax, and morphological skills (Moats 2010). It’s important to make time for meaningful conversations in the classroom between you and your students, to model how to listen, respond, and ask related questions. Then, encourage student-to-student conversations by creating collaborative activities where they have to take turns participating and articulating their ideas to each other. Encourage shared reading, where they can build comprehension skills while they converse about the characters and plot line. Students can practice retelling a story, too—this will give you a sense of how well they listened and how well they can recall the shared details and incorporate new vocabulary.

In addition to supporting emergent literacy learners, Nearpod also supports oral language skill development for English language learners (ELL) and English as a second language learners (ESL). Nearpod’s EL K-12 Program includes thousands of lessons, activities, and videos available to schools and districts. Check out this sample lesson!

Listening strategies

10. Encourage receptive language

Active listening differs from plain ol’ listening. I used to tell my students that they may be able to hear, but I’d question whether they could listen. Listening comes down to whether or not a child can make sense of the language they are hearing. And often, there can be aggravating factors, whether developmental, cognitive, or even health-related. Mitigate early literacy development obstacles by modeling what it means to be a good listener; ensure your students are positioned well within the classroom; remove noisy distractions and/or provide fidget toys to help with inattentiveness.

Check out this Nearpod interactive video lesson about Active Listening. In this one-minute video, a host explains what active listening looks like, and students consider the steps they can take to show speakers they are listening.

11. Give step-by-step directions

One way to encourage active listening is to give students directions and see if they can follow the instructions step by step. In the first two years of life, kids usually can follow a one-step instruction. But by 3-4 years of age, kids can begin to follow three-part directions, and most kindergartners can follow four-step instructions. Consider prefacing or adding numbers to the steps (e.g., “I’m going to ask you to do three things”) to support their working memory. Your words can be supported by visual examples or gestures, as well. These basic literacy skills will also encourage executive functioning and critical thinking. 

Once students can follow directions well, they can try their hand at giving clear and precise instructions. Using Nearpod, they can use words, images, and drawings with the Draw It interactive tool to give sequential steps to someone else. Take it one step further with Drag and Drop to have students sort and sequence images and text.

12. Play games

Try a simple Google search and you will find a plethora of classroom games and activities that require active listening. Most don’t even require special resources or expensive props. Try games that require students to follow directions, like Hokey Pokey. Similarly, they will need to listen well to succeed at activities like musical chairs, musical statues, or stop/go games. Introduce popular games such as Follow The Leader, Simon Says, or I Spy. Bring music into your classroom games to further underscore basic literacy skills such as sounds, words, rhythms, and basic comprehension.

Consider using Nearpod’s Time to Climb to create your own creative way. It’s a favorite for teachers and students!

Teach early literacy skills with Nearpod

There are many factors that contribute to a child becoming literate—not all of which are within teachers’ control. However, teachers model a love of learning each and every day, and most will admit to being avid readers, maybe even writers as well. At the very least, they appreciate the art found in literacy and extol its lifelong benefits. Nearpod can help support teachers in instructing early literacy learners and partner with families to continue developing early literacy skills 24/7 throughout a learner’s first years.

New to Nearpod? Teachers can sign up for free below to access these resources, interactive activities, and engaging lessons. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.

Darri Stephens

Darri Stephens is a dedicated LX (learning experience) designer, passionate about creating quality content and programs for kids, families, and educators. With MAs in Education from both Harvard and Stanford, and work experience at best-in-class ed tech organizations including Wonder Workshop, Nickelodeon, and Common Sense Education, she is steeped in the design thinking process and committed to agile and iterative project management, which has resulted in multi-award-winning programs and products.

The post Essential teaching strategies for developing early literacy skills appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

What is ChatGPT?

In November 2022, OpenAI developed and made available an advanced chatbot, which is a natural language processing tool that uses artificial intelligence to provide human-like conversations and high-quality content. However, this chatbot was unlike its predecessors. The “GPT” stands for generative pre-trained transformer. ChatGPT uses both supervised learning as well as reinforcement learning.

While generative AI focuses on generating output based on data gathered from a wide array of information available on the internet, it is the RLHF, or Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback, that adds the human-like component since human AI trainers modeled conversations of both the user and the AI assistants. Based on OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 language models, you can question ChatGPT to provide an answer, or complete a task like generating specific content, say an essay or code. ChatGPT is free to the public since OpenAI is still in the phase of collecting research and feedback on this tool, and there is a paid subscription model currently available, ChatGPT Plus.

Why are people worried?

With any new technology, people tend to worry. It’s often a fear of the unknown. In the early 1900s, actress Mary Pickford stated, “Adding sound to movies would be like putting lipstick on the Venus de Milo.” In 1984, Columbia University Teachers College Research questioned the role of computers in education, insinuating that computers were “bad.” Technology is changing at such a rapid pace that it can be hard to know what is the latest and greatest.

Richard Kurzweil’s Law of Accelerating Returns theorizes that the rate of change is exponential—instead of 100 years of progress in the 21st century, we probably will experience 20,000 years of progress. With ChatGPT being able to create content, the old fear of humans being replaced by robots has resurfaced. Some fear that their jobs will be replaced by artificial intelligence education. Others fear human intelligence may suffer since users can “cheat” to have answers provided or essays written for them. Plus, since ChatGPT does not provide sources, there’s the threat of spreading misinformation. ChatGPT does not ask clarifying questions, so the AI can provide content whose words may be in the right order and therefore be “plausible-sounding” but actually lack meaning, resulting in nonsensical or inaccurate text.

“My responses are not intended to be taken as fact, and I always encourage people to verify any information they receive from me or any other source.”

ChatGPT (ZDNET)

Additionally, ChatGPT relies on internet-based information up to 2021, so it’s not the most up-to-date in today’s real-time data world. And since Chat GPT is one of the fastest-growing apps of all time, hitting 100 million in two months (for comparison, TikTik took nine months to accomplish the same feat), many, young and old,  are concerned over the lack of oversight or protocol. As with all technology, will it be used as the creators intended?

What are examples of artificial intelligence in education?

As with tech in general, there is so much potential with new tools. ChatGPT helps generate solutions to problems, answers to questions, and suggestions to inquiries. In our always-on world, there’s instant gratification in having information at your fingertips in real time, which optimizes efficiency, whether professionally or personally. Since Chat GPT culls the vast internet, it provides different perspectives, various points of view, and original ways to digest information, factual or subjective.

What does AI technology, such as ChatGPT, mean for teachers and schools?

Quite simply? It’s to be determined! Many schools and universities have proactively banned ChatGPT, while others cry that it’s too reactive of a move. While cheating is always a concern in education, ChatGPT will continue to force us educators to think about our means of assessment. If AI can answer a question, is that the right question we should ask our students? Think back to the initial concerns over calculators in children’s hands—seems almost laughable now, right?

If you haven’t already, do listen to Sir Ken Robinson’s TED Talk on changing education paradigms.

ChatGPT examples teachers can use in the classroom

1. Combine AI ChatGPT with pedagogy

Similar to when the internet became more widely used in schools, teachers shifted away from students memorizing information—since they could Google to find factual answers—and instead focus more on the application of such learned knowledge. Teachers’ roles shifted from being importers (or, some say, gatekeepers) of information to facilitators or guides. ChatGPT will encourage educators to continue focusing on those higher-order thinking skills of Bloom’s Taxonomy. Instead of the A, B, Cs, and 1, 2, 3s, P21’s Frameworks for 21st Century Learning touts that today’s classrooms must focus on skill sets based on the 4 Cs: creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.

And although not research-based, the Learning Pyramid illustrates the levels of knowledge retention, with “teaching others” as the most active and most effective method. So instead of having students write a persuasive essay on a topic, how might they use ChatGPT to craft? And then, how might they use their critical-thinking skills to analyze the construct of the AI ChatGPT-generated argument and craft feedback as a teacher would?

 2. Administrative work and instructional planning

ChatGPT has a practicability that’s hard to dispute. For example:

• In terms of efficiency, it aids teachers in many administrative tasks such as writing emails, developing instruction, generating examples of solutions, crafting a poster, or providing word problems. 
• It can streamline instructional planning, whether outlining a unit, crafting formative assessment questions, curating slides on a topic, forming rubrics, or generating discussion questions. Teachers can still put their artist’s mark on these materials and their methodologies, but they won’t have to “recreate the wheel” as often.
• Students can create flashcards with questions and answers, generate practice quizzes, ask for summaries, and even debate with the chatbot to understand various points of view. Companies like Quizlet and Duolingo have already integrated the chatbot into their apps.

3. Ask the right questions

Part and parcel of critical thinking is being able to ask well-formulated and carefully constructed questions. As Albert Einstein said, “It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question.” Such an art goes beyond the 5 Ws (who, what, when, where, and why). Good questioning is a practice for organizing thinking about what one doesn’t know. Questioning speaks to curiosity, a hallmark of a lifelong learner. With technology like ChatGPT, today’s students will learn how to craft the right questions to spark their own quest for exploration and discovery. Questioning also requires empathy, and in asking questions, we improve our emotional intelligence, which then begs more questioning.

Before the assignment, give students an introduction to Chat GPT with these lessons and activities:

• ChatGPT & the Rise of AI-Generated Content (Grades 6-12): In this Current Events lesson, students learn about recently released AI tools such as ChatGPT. They learn about AI and discuss the possible impacts of these tools on schools and society.
• Artificial Intelligence (Grades 6-12): In this 6-12 technology activity, students demonstrate their understanding of artificial intelligence concepts using Nearpod’s interactive game quiz, Time to Climb.

• The Future of Artificial Intelligence (Grades 9 – Higher Ed): In this Interactive Video from Crash Course, students learn about the future of artificial intelligence.
• AI in Schools (Grades 6- 12): In this Current Events lesson, students learn about the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in education. They explain how some schools have embraced generative AI and assess ethical concerns around the use of AI in classrooms.
• How Will AI Change the World? (Grades 6-Higher Ed): In this video, students are introduced to data types and variables in programming.

4. Personalized learning

Probably one of the most intriguing aspects of ChatGPT examples to explore will be how it can help personalize learning for individual students. ChatGPT can create content with constraints or specifics in mind, whether it’s differences in learning styles, abilities, or even language. Imagine asking for a summary of the March on Washington in only images, a breakdown of the laws of gravity for a first grader, varied explanations for the causes of World War I, or the steps to solving an algebra problem in Korean. The ease of differentiation of content comes from asking a question. For both the teacher who needs to personalize lesson plans and the student who needs to personalize studying strategies, ChatGPT could be a game changer.

Start exploring artificial intelligence in education

Change is hard. There will be bumps in the road, as with any learning process. While in its infancy (and ergo nascent on accuracy), OpenAI and others have already released text detectors to identify what content was written by a human versus an AI-written source. Such transparency will be helpful in understanding potential risks and pitfalls in using said content. With such advancements, we must keep ethics, integrity, access, and equity top of mind. As educators, consider how you may need to rethink the learning goals for your students and redesign your instructional strategies. Consider how to make your students co-pilots in learning about this new technology to advance learning and be clear on your expectations with them. And keep asking questions!

If you’re interested in exploring an edtech tool that can support you in creating interactive lessons, keeping students engaged, and tracking real-time insights into student learning, sign up for Nearpod below for free.

Darri Stephens

Darri Stephens is a dedicated LX (learning experience) designer, passionate about creating quality content and programs for kids, families, and educators. With MAs in Education from both Harvard and Stanford, and work experience at best-in-class ed tech organizations including Wonder Workshop, Nickelodeon, and Common Sense Education, she is steeped in the design thinking process and committed to agile and iterative project management, which has resulted in multi-award-winning programs and products.

The post ChatGPT examples to use artificial intelligence in education appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

What are primary sources?

Primary sources are documented evidence of our past, serving as clues from our history. These types of sources and artifacts include items such as letters, diaries, and newspaper articles that provide firsthand accounts of events or periods in time. Primary sources showcase diverse perspectives across the ages, helping to illustrate the human experience. Primary source analysis helps us broaden what we consider history by understanding past contributions and providing additional context. Students, researchers, scholars, and enthusiasts have long relied on primary sources to round out a more comprehensive understanding of what happened in the past.

What is the value of teaching with primary source analysis?

To be agents of change in the classroom, we must foster a culture that encourages our students to stay well informed and continually engage in questioning and reflection to develop their critical thinking abilities. Primary sources represent diverse and often marginalized voices that tend to be forgotten. Such sources are representations of ourselves and others. They challenge our own point of view and encourage us all to grapple with contrary viewpoints. They represent the complexities and dynamic nature of our societies and cultures, and many claim that interpreting primary sources supports a fair and equitable democracy. History primary source analysis can reflect roots and values, changes in ideology, and shifts in common culture.

Examples of primary source analysis in history instruction

Nowadays, it is easier than ever to access primary sources and analyze such assets and artifacts. No longer are we limited by geography or even the fragility of documents. As educators, we can help our students understand the value of primary sources to help them cross-reference their research when learning about the past. Students today can engage in examples of primary sources by practicing how to sift through digital archives when they are looking for a variety of resources.

Examples of primary sources include:

• Photographs
• Newspaper articles
• Books
• Letters
• Survey data
• Census
• Diaries
• Songs
• Interviews
• Oral histories
• Treaties
• Household items
• Speeches
• Posters
• Cartoons
• TV shows
• Radio broadcasts
• Brochures
• Reports
• Court documents
• Polls
• Memories
• Auto biographies
• Sound recordings
• Video recordings

Nearpod Social Studies Curriculum

Nearpod offers a supplemental social studies curriculum teachers use in conjunction with their current programming for a more immersive social studies experience. Social studies teachers use Nearpod as a tool for students to analyze primary sources across a wide range of lessons covering 18 subjects. Each lesson applies dynamic media features to primary sources, enabling students to explore and evaluate perspectives in a hands-on manner. Through a hands-on, guided inquiry model, students annotate primary sources using Nearpod’s Draw It feature and gather real-world content through virtual reality with VR Field Trips – all while benefiting from collaborative discussions around lessons created by Nearpod, iCivics, and the Smithsonian. Plus, Nearpod Social Studies can qualify for Federal Title I and IV funds to support social studies initiatives.

New to Nearpod? Get started with a free Nearpod account to witness the impact Nearpod can make with your students. If you’re an administrator looking to further support social studies teachers, schedule a call with us to explore Nearpod Social Studies.

3 Essential strategies for teaching history with a primary source analysis tool

1. Site the difference

One of the first skills for students to learn is how to differentiate between primary and secondary sources. Working with primary sources provides firsthand accounts via original thinking or reporting. Secondary sources, on the other hand, provide second-hand information or accounts. Often, they are summaries of sorts. Tertiary sources are what students often interact with the most – these are textbooks or encyclopedias, which are a summary of primary and secondary sources or a curation of accounts. Helping students determine and identify whether a source is primary, secondary, or tertiary is key to their evaluating the credibility and validity of a source. It may sound simple, but your educators should have students constantly asking themselves: Does this author have first-hand knowledge of this subject or event?

The Nearpod Social Studies program includes lessons to support this strategy. For example, in Nearpod’s Ancient Rome lesson, students learn about the key figures, innovations, and the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. It explores primary sources, such as historical sites from a first-person point of view through an immersive VR experience, and has students complete activities, such as map annotations, Draw It assessments, and more.

2. Be a detective

From an early age, we need to teach our students how to read and consume information through a critical lens. They need to be detectives and form habits of mind to always ask a lot of questions about a source, beginning with who wrote or created it and for what purpose. Allow history to be brought to life in a “show, don’t tell” manner by revealing nuances, quirks, and personalities of the past. Effective readers and researchers need to piece the puzzle of the past together and go beyond the textbook to form their own conclusions. One strategy to share with teachers is “Zoom” (not the video conferencing tool). “Zoom” is a concept from the Library Congress where a teacher can reveal a historical photograph – a primary source – bit by bit, asking students to use deductive reasoning and inference skills to make educated guesses as to what they are seeing. Often, their guesses are quite different from the reality, which will encourage them to reflect on their own biases and assumptions in considering others’ perspectives and experiences. Students will be encouraged to read, write, and think – a trifecta!

You can find primary sources through the Library of Congress, Google Scholar, Google Books, Google News Archive, the Archival Research Catalog (ARC), and research libraries within universities and historical societies.

For example, in The Roaring Twenties lesson, students listen to jazz music, view architecture, read poems, and learn about sports during the 1920s, allowing them to explore the period firsthand. Additional resources include Nearpod’s Egyptian artwork activity, where students view a piece of Egyptian art and use the Drag & Drop activity to draw conclusions. These lessons not only make history come alive but also cultivate critical thinking and investigative skills, enabling students to unravel the past and connect with historical events on a deeper level.

3. Take an inquiry-based approach

Another strategy for educators is to try the SOAPSTone Technique. To encourage deeper and more comprehensive knowledge, students should look at a source’s Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject, and Tone. Newer variations of SOAPSTone include an “E” for “Evidence”: SOAPSETone. This acronym encourages higher-order thinking skills as students take an inquiry-based approach to better understanding the circumstances of who, what, when, where, why, and how. Once students begin to ask these questions as part of their primary source analysis, they can then work to interpret multiple primary sources in order to look for answers to a particular research question or topic.

Nearpod’s Why do we need maps? lesson utilizes original maps and thought-provoking questions to actively engage students in critical thinking and exploration, fostering a deeper understanding of the topic through inquiry-based learning. Using historic evidence and this approach encourages students to ask questions, analyze historical maps, and take an active role in their own education.

Start using Nearpod for teaching history

Our students today need to build critical thinking skills when it comes to learning about our past and thinking about our future. Primary source analysis tools supports their understanding of complex topics by giving them direct evidence to interpret. They can analyze points of view, evaluate context and bias, and develop their own opinions and arguments. Primary sources not only reflect thoughts, they also reflect language and stories that can help students make personal connections and form unique perspectives. This will help students internalize what has happened in the past and take ownership of what can happen in the future. We need to help our educators and students engage with history in order to be inspired by history, so that history does not “just” repeat itself.

New to Nearpod? Get started with a free Nearpod account to witness the impact Nearpod can make with your students. If you’re an administrator looking to further support social studies teachers, schedule a call with us to explore Nearpod Social Studies.

Darri Stephens

Darri Stephens is a dedicated LX (learning experience) designer, passionate about creating quality content and programs for kids, families, and educators. With MAs in Education from both Harvard and Stanford, and work experience at best-in-class ed tech organizations including Wonder Workshop, Nickelodeon, and Common Sense Education, she is steeped in the design thinking process and committed to agile and iterative project management, which has resulted in multi-award-winning programs and products.

The post Curriculum tools for teaching history with primary source analysis appeared first on Nearpod Blog.

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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.

How has COVID impacted technology in the classroom?

While a March survey by the EdWeek Research Center reported that almost half of the 386 teacher respondents felt that their ability to use technology during the 2020-2021 school year had “improved a lot,” many laments noted that it was a bit of a firehose of “new” due to the dire situation. Teachers reported being tech-fatigued between personal and professional use. Whether referred to as screen fatigue, digital fatigue, or technostress, the burnout was real as teachers faced exhausting and stressful hours adjusting to the parameters of hybrid and remote learning. As a result, it’s important to prioritize supporting teachers’ well-being.

For too long, tech companies have focused on what was defined as “early adopters,” educators who traditionally were more likely to jump into “the new.” Now, ed-tech providers are becoming more cognizant of reaching all educators to provide a deeper, more meaningful experience with said tools and platforms as they look toward the future of technology in the classroom.

Peter LaCasse of Carnegie Learning recommends, “Teachers’ familiarity with technology has opened the door for better integration of these tools into their daily lesson-planning and instructional strategies. However, we, the tech developers, don’t want to make the mistake of immediately developing super-sophisticated tools because we will once again leap ahead of what our teachers truly want.” In addition, 78% of K-12 administrators are considering increasing their investments over the next five years to sustain existing technologies versus 55% investing in new ones, according to a survey by the EdWeek Research Center. With the rapid evolution, the learning curve will continue to be steep, so now is the time to consider how best to go deeper, not broader, in adopting technology in the classroom while also preventing tech fatigue.

Does technology get in the way of learning?

Sure, digital technologies can make a lot of “noise,” literally and figuratively, with the pings and beeps and ever-steady input of multimedia. However, like any diet, screen time is most impactful when quality is considered over quantity. As digital technologies are introduced, educators and families alike need to reiterate the skill sets around digital citizenship; how to be responsible, respectful, and safe when online. Too often, kids aren’t developmentally ready for the access that the Internet provides, so kids need “rules of the road” so that they are thoughtful and intentional when using technology for learning (and fun!) While no longer remote, classrooms can still embrace technology to complement the teacher, not substitute. Educators need continual training to ensure that technology is being used to make their pedagogy more efficient, more engaging, and more effective.

In this digital age, the benefits of technology in education are evident. Technological tools empower educators to personalize lessons and adapt to individual learning styles, creating a dynamic and effective learning environment. Therefore, the use of technology in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms continues to play a pivotal role in enhancing the educational experience.

5 Benefits of technology in education

What is less of a debate is the many benefits of technology in the classroom when used well — from increasing student engagement to adapting to multiple learning styles and needs to individualizing and personalizing learning, to developing future career and life skills, technology has found a permanent place in our learning infrastructure.

“Integration of technology in education simply refers to the use of technology to enhance the student learning experience. Utilizing different types of technology in the classroom, including a virtual classroom, creates learners who are actively engaged with learning objectives. The implementation of technology also creates pathways for differentiated instruction to meet the unique needs of students as individual learners within a broader classroom climate.”

Drexel University School of Education

1. Streamline workflows by keeping resources all in one place

Let’s start with the logistics. Technology in the classroom provides ample opportunity to streamline workflows for both you and your students. Nearpod offers multiple solutions in one streamlined platform. You can create slide-based lessons or videos with embedded interactive activities and assessments. Students can follow along on their own devices while the teacher has access to their responses in real-time.

Additionally, Nearpod has 22,000+ premade standards-aligned lessons, videos, and activities for all K-12 subjects, featuring trusted publishers. By digitizing worksheets, lessons, and assignments, you no longer have to depend on loose sheets of paper, grade everything manually, and use multiple websites at once. Teachers can organize and categorize content so that you and your students have quality connections “just in time” and “on the go.” Being such an inclusive platform means that you can house and manage activities, content, and resources with just a few clicks, all from your single account.

Bringing back an old favorite from virtual learning…@nearpod!! We got back into the groove during our math practice with Draw It, a “quiz,” and Time to Climb. You may have heard these mathematicians cheering from down the hall!! @lisa_minutoli @cveschargers #cvesbettertogether pic.twitter.com/Ri0EJkuC4p

— Jen Roney (Kreis) (@MrsRoneysRoom) March 16, 2022

2. Increase student engagement and participation

Then there is the teachers’ main goal – student engagement. Through the benefits of technology in the classroom, including those in the back of the classroom and the quieter students. With Nearpod, you can ensure all students are on task and participating. Students can feel comfortable responding to questions by answering digitally while the teacher encourages class discussion. Students have the option to submit responses by typing, selecting images, or submitting voice recordings. This helps promote inclusion and accessibility in your classroom. Using Nearpod’s interactive activities, formative assessments, and dynamic media, such as Draw It, Matching Pairs, Drag & Drop, VR, and more, students will be engaged and responsive throughout the instruction.

3. Access student feedback in real-time

As a teacher, Nearpod provides the benefit of real-time data so that you can swoop in and help redirect or support a student in the moment, which also means added opportunities for student-teacher connection. Many of Nearpod’s interactive learning activities can be used as formative assessments during a lesson or at the end of a lesson, allowing you to modify your instruction mid-lesson or for the next day, Plus, Nearpod’s individual and small-group data reporting saves you time and helps direct where more instruction time might be most needed. This ongoing differentiation again bolsters the idea that every child has their own learning journey. The benefits of technology in education allow teachers to understand which students need support and what topics to spend more time teaching.

4. Create fun learning moments with gamification

Similarly, when it comes to incentives, gamification has found an interesting niche in education. Gamification can aid in learning, whether it be in aiding physical and/or cognitive development or increasing engagement and accessibility. Based on video games, learners can engage in active learning by competing with one’s self or classmates with Nearpod’s Time to Climb, which provides a bit of friendly competition. Educational games help build community in the classroom, boost students’ social and emotional skills, and increase motivation.

In Time to Climb, students choose a character and race together to the top of the mountain depending on how correctly and fast they respond to the questions. Teachers can create their own gamified quiz within just a few clicks, or use premade Time to Climb activities. If you haven’t watched already, take 8 minutes and watch James Paul Gee on Learning with Video Games or download his Principles of Good Learning for a cheat sheet on how gamification can play a role in your classroom.

5. Prepare students for future careers

Lastly, all of this digital literacy means that students are better prepared for future careers. They are building a growth mindset toward failing fast and forward, as tech is not always turnkey (“pleasantly frustrating” learning, as James Paul Gee puts it). While a balance is needed, we are preparing our children to be forward-thinking innovators. This can be done with 21st-century skills like P21’s 4Cs: critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication. The endless options in Nearpod and its interaction, like the VR field trips, help illustrate the possibilities of our rich, multimedia world.

So, can technology enhance learning?

Technology can enhance student learning through streamlining workflows, student engagement and participation, real-time feedback, gamification, and digital literacy skills. Teachers’ tool belts have always been impressive, stocked with manipulatives, supplies, prizes, and tools to help them pivot at the moment to reach a child through the benefits of technology in education. Although the learning curve can be steep at times, teachers are recognizing the short and long-term effects of having technology in the classroom. With the landscape evolving rapidly, it is a shift for teachers to stay up to date. By encouraging students to be part of the solution to troubleshoot or find new resources through initiatives like MOUSE Squads or pineapple charts, the effort can be a collective learning venture.

Start today with Nearpod today by creating a free account in just three steps:

• Start by signing up for a free account.
• Check out the many on-demand training resources available.
• And join a global educator community to learn more about best practices with tech alongside a supportive community.

New to Nearpod? Make sure you’re signed up to access these lessons and activities!

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.

Darri Stephens

Darri Stephens is a dedicated LX (learning experience) designer, passionate about creating quality content and programs for kids, families, and educators. With MAs in Education from both Harvard and Stanford, and work experience at best-in-class ed tech organizations including Wonder Workshop, Nickelodeon, and Common Sense Education, she is steeped in the design thinking process and committed to agile and iterative project management, which has resulted in multi-award-winning programs and products.

The post 5 Benefits of technology in the classroom appeared first on Nearpod Blog.