8 Ways NearPod Can "Draw" Your Students to Engagement

NearPod has changed the way that information is presented and how students are engaged. Teachers can provide students with interactive polls, short answer questions, the chance to draw their answer, and learn at their own pace (Homework).

My last post focused on how you can use the new Virtual Field Trips feature in NearPod to engage students. Today I would like to share with different ways you can have students use the Drawing feature in NearPod to engage students and help them demonstrate their understanding. 

1. Go Beyond the Dots

Multiple choice questions often benefit great test takers, but discriminate against students who need to show what they know in different ways. Why not use the drawing feature to help all students show what they know? Ask a question and give students a choice in how they respond. The Drawing feature provides students with the flexibility to show what they know through drawing, writing, or typing their answers.

2. Grammar Practice

Take a screenshot of a sentence and use the drawing feature to have students diagram sentence structure. For example, have students use red to underline verbs, green to underline nouns, etc. Take a screenshot of a paragraph and have students practice their editing skills.

3. Solve Math Problems

Use the drawing feature to have students solve math problems. The CCSS emphasizes word problems. Why not use NearPod to see what strategies your students are using to solve problems? For example, you might want to take a screenshot of a word problem and have students analyze and solve the problem. I used to hate when my teachers sent me to the board to solve a problem and I got it wrong; however, NearPod lets students take risk. Their answers can be shared anonymously with the class. This is a great way to show what worked and what did not work when solving the problem.

4. Diagramming Tool

Upload a picture of the human body, an insect, or computer. Have students use the drawing feature to label and diagram each part. 

5. Adjective or Noun Practice Anyone?

Upload a picture and have students identify all of the nouns in the picture. Practicing adjectives? See if students can identify the adjectives in your photo.

6. Activate Background Knowledge

Are you starting a new topic? In the past, I have often had my students do a graffiti activity, writing down everything they know about a particular topic. This is a great way to see what they already know, make connections, and even identify misconceptions. 

7. Graphic Organizers

Are you trying to have students understand how everything ties together and relates? Why not have students use the drawing feature to create their own graphic organizer? You may even want to take a screenshot of the graphic and post it to your website. 

8. Prediction Tool

Are you going through a story, history lesson, or science experiment? A certain element of surprise almost always engages students. Why not use NearPod as a way for students to predict what will happen next? Have students draw, write, or come up with solutions to problems as a way to enhance your lesson.

Conclusion:

These are only a few ways that you can use this tool to engage students. Do you have other ways you like to have students use the Drawing feature? I'd love to hear the creative ways that you use it in your classroom.