Richard D. Solomon's Blog on Mentoring Jewish Students and Teachers

Our hope is that this blog will become a forum in which people can exchange ideas on how to recruit, develop and retain exceptional Jewish educators through mentoring and e-mentoring students, teaching candidates, and teachers in our day and supplemental schools. The present focus of this blog is to empower Jewish teachers, administrators, teacher trainers, consultants, and staff developers to integrate web technology (i.e. web tools and apps) into their teaching and teacher training.

Monday, July 28, 2014

Introduction to Nearpod, a free screen recording Apple app and desktop application that is designed for the flipped classroom

Before we explore how Nearpod functions, let's discuss the construct, 'the flipped classroom'.

What is the flipped classroom?

In a typical classroom, the teacher presents information (e.g. a new idea, procedure or way of solving a problem) to his or her students and then assigns students homework based on the information presented. In the flipped classroom the reverse process occurs. The teacher presents information (e.g. a new construct, process or procedure to solve a problem) to students via a video recording or audio podcast which the students review at home. Then students return to class to apply the knowledge they had received via the teacher's video or audio presentation, and apply that knowledge in the classroom. The role of the teacher is therefore transformed in at least two ways:

The teacher presents information via a screen recording or audio podcast that can be accessed via a link on the internet.

The teacher and his/her aides provide whole group, small group and individualized instruction to students while they are working on applying the knowledge they received online. The degree to which the teacher and his or her instructional aides use whole group, small group or individualized learning modalities is dependent upon the instructional needs of his or her students.

What is Nearpod?

Nearpod is a free screen recording Apple app and internet web tool that is specifically designed to be used in a flipped classroom.

Where is Nearpod located on the internet?

http://www.nearpod.com (for a desktop or laptop computer)

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nearpod-teacher/id523540409?ls=1&mt=8 (Apple App)

Nearpod can also be found in the Google App Store

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.Nearpod&hl=en

http://ws.nearpod.com/index.html#

Where can I find tutorials demonstrating how to use Nearpod?

Click on the links below to find tutorials on how to use Nearpod in the flipped classroom:

 On the next blog post we will discuss how Nearpod, a free screen recording Apple app and internet web tool, can be used to promote instruction in the blended learning classroom.