Vocabulary tasks don't have to be boring! Through the use of technology, you can easily increase the rigor of vocabulary instruction in your classroom by promoting deeper thinking and analysis of new words. These type of tasks help students build meaning and understanding of complex vocabulary. With a little help from Keynote, you can turn that drab dictionary retrieval activity into a creative, fun and fab task! Vocabulary Animations Students use Keynote to add a definition of a vocabulary word and then use shapes to represent the word
Visual Vocabulary Students use Keynote to animate a word to represent to provide a visual representation of the word
Scavenger Hunt Students use place holders in Keynote to add examples or videos of different vocabulary words
Want more ideas on how to use Keynote in your classroom? Click this link for 20 Keynote Creations written by the SDOLTECH team!
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Full disclosure. Limiting this list to just five reasons was a real struggle. To be honest, I could go on and on. I've been using Nearpod for a few years now and the benefits of this platform are undeniable. I went from exploring and using Nearpod occasionally, to launching multiple lessons a day. If you are struggling for ways to not only engage, but empower your students, I challenge you to give Nearpod a try. Our district currently has a district account and it's been worth every dollar. Keep in mind, however, Nearpod also offers a free silver version with unparalleled benefits compared to its competitors. In no particular order, let's explore five reasons why Nearpod is an absolute game-changer in classrooms across all grade levels and content areas. 1. Built-in Content and Activities So, maybe this is two, but it's so hard to limit this list to just five. There's no other way to put it — Nearpod's built-in content and activities are next level. When exploring the content, you will find anything from virtual field trips to PHET simulations. Let's talk about equity for a second. In a matter of minutes, you can have your students explore various parts of the world through virtual field trips that they otherwise wouldn't get to be a part of. Exploring landforms or bodies of water? There's a trip for that. Diving deep into a historical site? There's a trip for that. In water or on land, Nearpod has you covered. Empower your students with the built-in activities ranging from drawings to open ended questions to collaborative boards. Check them out below! 2. Reports Tab There's very little benefit of using digital tools if you aren't able to get a glimpse into student understanding. Thankfully, Nearpod has a detailed reports tab that allows you to gain insight into student work and their progress. The reports are so detailed that you could analyze each activity that students complete, download the results as a spreadsheet or PDF, and even share with parents or other staff members who have an interest in your students. Tip: If you have students working through a student-paced lesson, have the reports tab open to check in on their progress in almost realtime. 3. Lesson Library Don't have time to recreate the wheel? Lucky for you, Nearpod and many amazing educators have done that for you! Within the Nearpod Lesson Library, you will find thousands of lessons that can be used to differentiate and meet the needs of all learners. Nearpod collaborates with amazing platforms which provides you lessons from Readworks, Quill, Cricket Media, Newsela, Education.com, Desmos and so much more! Tip: Once you add a lesson to your own library, you can edit, add or take away from the lesson to make it extremely specific to your students. Consider sharing it with a colleague or grade level partner as well! 4. Search By Standard One of the best parts about Nearpod is how specific you can get when searching for a lesson. Search by standard with Common Core, Next Generation Science Standards, or National Council for Social Studies. Even narrow it down to your respected state, subject, grade level, or resource type. The possibilities are endless! 5. Live AND Student-Paced Lessons
While the features above probably dropped your jaw, I saved the best for last. We know that direct instruction can only take our students so far. It's not always differentiated, and most times it doesn't necessarily tap into specific student learning styles, interests, or passions. However, it's needed in many scenarios, especially when introducing a new concept or skill. This is where a LIVE lesson is perfect for your students! Want to differentiate or use Nearpod in small or collaborative groups? Launching student-paced lessons allows students to work through a lesson at their own pace and master the skills on their own time. With student-paced lessons, you can have students work from home or a remote location! Tip: Worried if students are staying on task during a student-paced lesson? Open the reports section to keep tabs on your students even from across the classroom! Don't take my word for it, check out Nearpod and start exploring today! Follow #SDOLTECH on Twitter to learn more about how we're empowering creative digital learners! |
Wes EmletCoordinator of Instructional Technology Gidget Dejesus Instructional Technology Coach
@MsGMDeJesus Tara Morcom Instructional Technology Coach
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