Evaluation

 Evaluation

Academic engagement and classroom management strategies exists in a symbiotic relationship. Nearpod can combine hands on engagement with formative assessment. This summary utilizes the classroom management software evaluation rubric posted below to evaluate Nearpod's suitability as a classroom management tool. 

Why use a rubric?

The justification for utilizing rubrics when assessing any academic work or in this case software is simply found in its usefulness for  identifying the features and capabilities of the selected work in a systematic way. 

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE EVALUATION RUBRIC

Evaluate the classroom management software by rating the features listed below.  Give a score that best reflects your opinion and record the total.

Software: Nearpod

Description: Nearpod is an EdTech website and app-based digital tool that lets teachers create slide-based learning resources that are interactive for students to engage with and learn from.

Vendor: Renaissance Learning

Notes on Use: Nearpod helps educators make any lesson interactive, whether in the classroom or virtual. The concept is simple. A teacher can create interactive presentations that can contain Quizzes, Polls, Videos, Collaborate Boards, and more. You can access thousands of premade lessons or upload your existing lessons and make them interactive using Nearpod in the classroom. Nearpod makes teaching easier with the interactive tools, resources, and content teachers need, all in one place.

Name of Participant: Lisa Greenidge

Total Score 50/50

  

EVALUATION CRITERIA

SOFTWARE FEATURES	1 Poor	2 Below Average	3 Average	4 Above Average	5 Excellent	Score
Installation Instructions	Minimum or missing installation instructions	Instructions are difficult to follow	Instructions fairly clear and complete	Clear and user-friendly instructions	Step by steps instructions available online	5
Site Licensing Provisions	No licensing available	Somewhat expensive and/or  limited site licensing	Site licensing available at reasonable cost	Low licensing rate for educators	Multiple educators may use without a fee	5
Technical Provisions	No toll free telephone or online support available	No local support or online support. Phone support available for an hourly rate	Local support and phone support available for moderate fee. Limited online support	Local tech help is available for a few hours per day, no-charge phone support. Online support is available	Local help and to free phone support readily available at no charge. 24 hours online support	5
Ease of Update	No provision for updates	Must purchase new versions; most data will transfer to new version	Updates for less than cost of new versions; data transferable	Minimal fee for updates; data fully compatible	Free updates available online; seamless transfer of data	5
Tutorials	No tutorials provided	Tutorials may be ordered for free	Limited tutorial provided online	Online tutorials provided	Extensive online and video tutorials provided	5
Multiple Platforms	Works on only one operating system	Although purchased for one platform, versions for other platforms may be purchased	Program will run on multiple operating systems; features may vary with platform	Program will run on multiple operating systems; features may similar but not identical	Program will run on multiple operating systems with consistent features across platforms	5
Student Report Capabilities	Can record and report out data only in form they were entered	Reports can be modified so only the data re reported out	Using templates, reports can be generated; minor modifications can be made	Customizable reports and forms can be easily created and printed	Data may be reported out in any format desired	5
Notation Capabilities	No provision for notations	Can attach brief notes on problems but cannot add action taken at a time	Notes can be entered and added	Data entry forms include provision for unlimited comments on the problem and the action taken	Call up record by name; click on problem type; appropriate report appears on forms automatically	5
Special Needs Report Capabilities	No capabilities for notes or reports	Notes limited to 10 words; may be reported out on templates provided	Notes may be made up to 50 words and printed out; supplied templates may be modified by user	Limited of 100 words; both templates and instructor-designed forms may be used for reports	Unlimited notes may be made, and desired reports can be designed and printed out	5
Nonacademic Information Capabilities	Cannot record or report any nonacademic data	Limited provision to record and report nonacademic data in the same form they were entered	Numerical and text data up to 50 characters can be entered and then selectively printed out	Numerical and text data may be entered; multiple field size available; various templates for reporting	Unlimited data entry capabilities; customizable reports can be printed as desired	5

Extracted from myeducation kit- Teaching and Learning with Technology

 

Evaluative Summary

It was determined that step by step installation instructions are available online. In fact Nearpod.com as well a numerous online sources and YouTube videos offer clear and thorough instructions re the installation of the app on varying types of devices. A quick click of the link below or a visit to google play store and you will have access in seconds. 

https://nearpod.com/install-mobile-app?l=1&pin=649CE81EE538905EA7453D3C0F180E9D-1&fbclid=IwAR1CjOGhXORpGX3cx6ZpfPJ1iXCWsrQvB8ZBe8zCOrBv58OwQLYHtqvRgus&_branch_match_id=857175144616930745

Liedtke and Ross (2023) posting on the official Nearpod Blog state that Nearpod is free and always will be. They refer to the Nearpod Silver tier which was explained in the first post which is a free license that you can utilize in the classroom and features all of the basic features that are needed to get started with the platform. 

As it relates to technical support whilst Nearpod does not utilize phone support it has replaced that with email and live chat feature. According to Nearpod.com this support is available from 8 am to 8 pm Monday to Friday. Additionally, the community support feature is available to all educators and is connected to the Resources Hub for webinars, how-to videos, articles, and more.  

The multiple sources and YouTube videos posted on this blog give testament to the ease of updates, widely available tutorials and provide evidence that the platform will run on multiple operating systems.

Over the years Nearpod has improved and modified their data collection and entry, reporting and notation capabilities and specifically student report features. With each update, Nearpod is known for fixing bugs and improving functions to keep those backend and daily functions running at their optimum performance.

Recommendation

Nearpod checks all the boxes, simply put. Therefore it was easy to recommend this platform as a classroom management tool. This recommendation is evidence based and can be supported by the expanse of information that was shared on this blog. It must also be noted, that the information presented only represents a snippet of the capabilities and support for classroom management that can be accessed through Nearpod. 

It is recognized that they are some limitations, including the restrictions associated with the free account and the cost to access additional features but they pale in comparison to the support and resources that are offered to educators and facilitators across the world. Nearpod does not rest on its laurels and past success as it continues to conduct beta testing of other components and over the years have adapted where necessary to support educators through its many classroom management features and the accommodation of varying learning styles of students in order to foster greater collaboration, interaction and student performance.