I know that there are MANY different free interactive presentation tools available and everyone has their own special preferences. Me…I look for the unusual or will give the biggest bang for my buck (even if it is free) that is user friendly and helpful.
Recently I came across NearPod. It has been featured in many different blogs and sites but what makes this one special is its platform independent and allows the teacher to control the speed at which individuals see the information.
As I am in higher education and many of the tools that are available are geared for K-12 environment, finding applications that are user friendly and not “childish” is sometimes of a challenge. However NearPod provides that ability for higher education to use the BYOD concept (students bringing their own devices) and using them for learning rather than for surfing.
Since NearPod provides the ability to share the presentation and control the student’s activity in real time is a boon. How many times have you presented your presentation at the front of the class only to lose those in the back or who could not see the screen? Now students can access your presentation on their own device and move forward when you do. More than that…how about you embedding an activity in the middle of the presentation (to check for understanding, right?) that students must complete and submit before you move onto the next slide. How about you embedding a set of slides that demonstrate a process that students can move through at their own speed and thus reinforcing what is being taught? These are things that can be accomplished with NearPod.
As an instructional designer and trying to find ways in which to get Faculty to embrace the use of technology in the classroom, I look for apps like NearPod. No longer can the instructor tell me that he/she is going to banish technology from the classroom because all the students do is surf, text, or play on them and not pay attention to the instructor. My philosophy is provide activities that preclude that option and get them into the mindset that this technology that they have in their hands can be a useful tool, not always a play toy.
What are you thoughts?
techtipsnteach 
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