Best Practices

When building lessons and launching lessons as a teacher, it is best to use the Chrome browser.

• • Build and design your lessons using the Google Slides Add On tool.

  • When you launch your Live Nearpod lesson with your students while in Zoom, the best way to get your students to join your session is to share the link in the Zoom chat. This is easier than using the code to join as students can accidentally type in the incorrect code.

  • Have students use Nearpod through the Safari browser on their iPad, rather than using the app. This makes using the link to share the lesson via the Zoom chat the easiest way for students to join your Nearpod lesson. If you use the app, students will not be able to access your lesson via a link in the Zoom chat; they would be required to use the code. This poses some challenges for students in a distance learning scenario.

  • Cool Advice! You do not need to share your screen any longer because your students will see your slide presentation on their iPad! Through Nearpod You can, however, choose at some points to share your screen when you want the entire class to take a look at something in particular, for example, you want them to see all the open responses at once.

  • You need to teach your students to toggle back and forth between Zoom and Nearpod OR teach your students to multitask by opening up side by side viewing on their iPad.

  • It is a great idea to create a fun Nearpod activity at the beginning of your Nearpod lesson so students have something to do while you help get everyone into the lesson.

  • Always check to see who is your Nearpod lesson. If you see that a student has entered a name that isn't their own or if you do not recognize a name. be sure to delete that student from your session (here is a video showing you how to do that). You should check this list throughout your lesson.

  • You may want to enable students to log in via their Google account. This will autofill student names so they don't need to type their name in. This also will require students to use their login credentials (which may be challenging for young students) but is highly recommended for our older students. Follow these instructions to set this up in your Nearpod settings.

  • Be careful not to add too many Nearpod activities! Be intentional in your use of this tool. Use lesson activities to help guide instruction, formative assessments, and metacognitive reflections.

For additional specific help using apps and tools, create a Web Help Desk ticket.