Reflection on Nearpod 101:
When I started discussing with my academic coach at Dade Middle possible topics for a one hour technology workshop, she mentioned to me a variety of applications that the school was considering to purchase in the next year. After much discussion and deliberation, we decided to pursue Nearpod and present it to the facility on a teacher workday before spring break. When I was creating the online application for the presentation, I referred to the ADDIE Model which includes the following steps: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. The analyzing the needs of the teachers in our school had already been completed from a previous assessment. Our school system has just gotten to become a 1:1 campus with the Chromebooks and it has been determined there needs to be more efficient ways of presenting information to students that can be engaging by using the new technology. THe training will be helpful because even if the school does not purchase the application, there is a free application that can be used and it is pretty easy to understand. After consulting the A in the ADDIE model, it was determined the behavioral change was to have more teachers implement technology into their delivery methods and this is an easy way to incorporate this idea.
When I started designing the Nearpod for the presentation, it was a great opportunity to see how it it could be used and implemented in the classroom. One perspective I had to consider was the likelihood of adaptation of this application so therefore I had to plan with different strategies in mind for presenting to my audience. According to Jim Knight (2007), by using different listening strategies it has allowed me to plan for the presentation by including elements that the teachers are familiar with but add a few different elements from listening to previous conversation (64). One strategy I wanted to include was to allow have the teachers have time to collaborate and dissect the website to see what they like or dislike about it. When creating the Nearpod, I discovered how using Microsoft Powerpoint will not easily transport into the Nearpod and how to create slides by using their tools. Therefore the original prototype had to be changed and I was able to create the agenda for the training.
The development for the training included searching for videos of application of Nearpod in the classroom, creating the evaluation tool, looking and reviewing the website to see how easy it can be used by the teachers, and creating an email to entice the teachers to come. Overall, the development of this training was very easy, once I knew what I wanted to incorporate into an hour session. There was so much information to be shared but it had to be condense down to a sensible explanation and time for exploration of the application. When creating the Nearpod, I used friendly fonts and colors that would gather the participants attention and would be easy to explain how to use. There was even a gif of a basketball game that would be a fun addition of the teachers to see. Overall the nativiation of the activity was considered and redone to incorporate other elements such as the LoTi Checklist.
When I actually presented the training to the teachers, I had a great time presenting and sharing the information with my colleagues. It was a great opportunity to have discussion and explore the website. There were a few things that I noticed that I will do differently when presenting at another PD, I would make sure everything in the presentation is correct. I am a Kentucky Basketball fan and the funny gif I placed in the presentation was when another team made a shot against Kentucky, I did not intend for that to happen. Overall the implementation of the training went great, but it would have been better if there was more time allowed for it.
The evaluation process includes looking and reflecting back on the evaluation template and understanding the feedback.By using the E in the ADDIE model and looking at Guskey’s Five Critical Levels of Professional Development Evaluation, it was easy to determine how the evaluation model would be for the presentation. It was four simple questions and there were very easy to understand and straight to the point. There could be room for improvement with the evaluation tool but I wanted something simple for the teachers to answer and be simple to understand. The overall concsusince was Nearpod was a great tool and they would be interested in purchasing the application.
Overall, I really enjoyed creating a training opportunity for the teachers and look forward to using Nearpod in the future!
References:
Culatta, Richard. (2018). Addie Model. Retrieved
from:http://instructionaldesign.org/models/addie/
Guskey, Thomas. (2002). Does it make a difference? Evaluating Professional
Development. Educational Leadership. 59(6), 45-51. Retrieved from
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar02/vol59/num06/Does-It-Make-a-Difference%C2%A2-Evaluating-Professional-Development.aspx
Knight, Jim. (2007). Instructional Coaching: A Partnership Approach to Improving
Instruction. Thousand Oaks. Corwin Press.
When I started designing the Nearpod for the presentation, it was a great opportunity to see how it it could be used and implemented in the classroom. One perspective I had to consider was the likelihood of adaptation of this application so therefore I had to plan with different strategies in mind for presenting to my audience. According to Jim Knight (2007), by using different listening strategies it has allowed me to plan for the presentation by including elements that the teachers are familiar with but add a few different elements from listening to previous conversation (64). One strategy I wanted to include was to allow have the teachers have time to collaborate and dissect the website to see what they like or dislike about it. When creating the Nearpod, I discovered how using Microsoft Powerpoint will not easily transport into the Nearpod and how to create slides by using their tools. Therefore the original prototype had to be changed and I was able to create the agenda for the training.
The development for the training included searching for videos of application of Nearpod in the classroom, creating the evaluation tool, looking and reviewing the website to see how easy it can be used by the teachers, and creating an email to entice the teachers to come. Overall, the development of this training was very easy, once I knew what I wanted to incorporate into an hour session. There was so much information to be shared but it had to be condense down to a sensible explanation and time for exploration of the application. When creating the Nearpod, I used friendly fonts and colors that would gather the participants attention and would be easy to explain how to use. There was even a gif of a basketball game that would be a fun addition of the teachers to see. Overall the nativiation of the activity was considered and redone to incorporate other elements such as the LoTi Checklist.
When I actually presented the training to the teachers, I had a great time presenting and sharing the information with my colleagues. It was a great opportunity to have discussion and explore the website. There were a few things that I noticed that I will do differently when presenting at another PD, I would make sure everything in the presentation is correct. I am a Kentucky Basketball fan and the funny gif I placed in the presentation was when another team made a shot against Kentucky, I did not intend for that to happen. Overall the implementation of the training went great, but it would have been better if there was more time allowed for it.
The evaluation process includes looking and reflecting back on the evaluation template and understanding the feedback.By using the E in the ADDIE model and looking at Guskey’s Five Critical Levels of Professional Development Evaluation, it was easy to determine how the evaluation model would be for the presentation. It was four simple questions and there were very easy to understand and straight to the point. There could be room for improvement with the evaluation tool but I wanted something simple for the teachers to answer and be simple to understand. The overall concsusince was Nearpod was a great tool and they would be interested in purchasing the application.
Overall, I really enjoyed creating a training opportunity for the teachers and look forward to using Nearpod in the future!
References:
Culatta, Richard. (2018). Addie Model. Retrieved
from:http://instructionaldesign.org/models/addie/
Guskey, Thomas. (2002). Does it make a difference? Evaluating Professional
Development. Educational Leadership. 59(6), 45-51. Retrieved from
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar02/vol59/num06/Does-It-Make-a-Difference%C2%A2-Evaluating-Professional-Development.aspx
Knight, Jim. (2007). Instructional Coaching: A Partnership Approach to Improving
Instruction. Thousand Oaks. Corwin Press.