Creating Your Own Nearpod Lesson

1.On the Nearpod home screen, click Create.

2.  Select one of the four options:  A) Lesson:  Create your own content or use pre-made Nearpod activities.  B) Video:  Start with one of the Nearpod videos, upload your own, or use a video from YouTube.  Then you can embed questions to check for student understanding.  C) Activity:  Choose one of four Quick Start Activities and create a lesson.  D) Google Slides:  Create a lesson with Google Slides while using Nearpod activities and features.  We will briefly show you how to use each option below.

A) Lesson:  

Select one of three options:  1) Add Content and Activities-Use one of Nearpod's pre-made activities, 2) Add Quick Slide-add an empty slide to start your own content, or 3) Upload Your Own Files-upload a file you have already created.  

1st Option:  Add Content and Activities:  Create content using Slides (similar to Google Slides), Sway (Microsoft Sway program), PDFs, Images, Interactive activities:  Use videos or a virtual field trip, Quizzes and Games:  Create activities such as matching pairs, Fill in the Blank, or Drag and Drop, and Discussions:  Incorporate a Flip, Collaborate Board, a Poll, or an open-ended question for discussion.  

2nd Option:  Add Quick Slide:  This is very similar to the format of Google Slides.  

3rd Option:  Upload Your Own Files:  You can upload your own created files from your computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, or Microsoft.

B) Video:

Create a lesson by uploading a video from YouTube, from My Videos (these are videos from the Nearpod Video Library that you can save in a group for quick access), or Upload a Video of your own from a computer or other device.  You can also scroll down the page and search for a video by Subject and Grade Level.  Those videos will appear in the center of the screen.

C) Activities:

Create a lesson using a Quick Start Activity:  Matching Pairs, Time to Climb, Draw-It, or Drag & Drop.  With each option, you can use the template (Matching Pairs for example) and create your own questions or select one of Nearpod's pre-made activities from a list of options and incorporate this activity into your own.  Scroll down to see how each Quick Start Activity works.

Matching Pairs:  You can add your own content by clicking the Add Pair button at the center of the page or by clicking on one of the Nearpod activities on the right side of the screen.  The Nearpod activities are listed by subject and grade level.

Time to Climb:  Climb a mountain in this activity by answering questions.  You can add your own question content by typing a question in the box at the center of the page or by clicking on one of the Nearpod activities on the right side of the screen.  The Nearpod activities are listed by subject and grade level.

Draw-It:  You can draw your own content using the box at the center of the page or select one of the Nearpod activities on the right side of the screen.  The Nearpod activities are listed by subject and grade level.

Drag & Drop:  You can type your own content using the box at the center of the page or select one of the Nearpod activities on the right side of the screen.  The Nearpod activities are listed by subject and grade level.

D) Google Slides:

Create an activity using Google Slides and Nearpod features combined into one place.  To create this activity:  1) Open and install the Nearpod add-on, 2) Add Nearpod features to the slide show by clicking the Nearpod icons (Audio, 3-D Objects, etc.), and 3) Save your slideshow and go to Nearpod to access it.  Follow the prompts on the screen to guide you through each step.

     As you can see, Nearpod has a variety of options for creating your own lessons, using Nearpod's pre-made activities, or using a combination of the two possibilities.