Item #10 :: "New" Lesson Reflection

The students were much more engaged with this style of the lesson versus the "old" lesson, it had technology!  The previous lesson had all the students gathered on the carpet facing the rocking chair and a paper easel.  The lesson usually took place on a hot day and the kids were exhausted from the heat and other parts of their day.  I remember only a few students actually catching on to the concept, one of the reasons I wanted to update it.  

I think their understanding increased immensely!  The Nearpod allowed for so many different ways to learn such as the Time to Climb and quiz like questions.  They also really liked the flocabulary video that was embedded.  Some of the students were trying to sing along and dance in their chairs, it was fun to see them engaged with music on a point of view lesson!

For the future, I think it's so awesome that the Nearpod is created and in my online library.  When going back to this lesson next year, I don't have to find the file folder in my filing cabinet and make copies.  All I have to do is pull up Nearpod and share the code! Easy as that!

1)  With nearpod, it's easier to tell who is engaged and who isn't.  The reports option is really valuable.  I especially like it this year when I don't have all of the kids in my classroom.  When I looked at the report, I would say there was more engagement from my weaker students than usual.  The stronger students remained the same as with the "old" lesson.    
2)  I do believe student understanding went up with the lesson.  It was a nice refresher before the quiz. If students didn't know the answer, they were more likely to care and then look it up with the competition element in Time to Climb.

3)  A nice side benefit is that I can recognize some artistic talent with the Draw Its.  I try to pick on a different student's work to share each time so they get a little motivation.  

My new lesson on Latin Roots was by far more engaging on Nearpod.  In the past, we would brainstorm words and maybe play a BINGO game, which was fun for the students but did not demonstrate understanding.  With the Nearod lesson, I am able to look at reports showing me the speed at which they answered the match word-to-meaning questions or the accuracy of their Time to Climb questions.  This informs me of their knowledge acquisition.  

I have also begun incorporating 3-D models in the lesson.  For Greek Roots, it's the Parthenon, and for Latin Roots the Colosseum or the Pantheon.  I give some background information on the structure we are observing as well, and the students enjoy learning about something that may be recognizable but not identifiable from their schema.

1. Students were more engaged with this lesson because it was an interactive and game-like approach. In my survey, students stated that they liked it more because it was "like a competition," they liked "the games," "it was competitive," "it was fun to do," "we got to play a game with other people." Students were excited throughout the nearpod activity! 

2. Since this was vocabulary review, it is hard to know if their understanding levels truly increased. The worksheet they originally completed for vocabulary review was done with a partner or independently. Students with a partner were able to work together to come up with an answer, or in some cases, rely on the other partner for the answer. This nearpod was done independently, so I was able to see which students really understand the vocabulary and which students need more practice.

3. I think nearpod has many benefits. One in particular is the nearpod report. The nearpod report provided data for each student individually which showed their understanding levels. I was able to easily look at each question to break down what students are understanding and not understanding. Yes, I can do this with a worksheet too, but the nearpod report saved a tremendous amount of grading time and immediate data. Another benefit is the fact that students were provided feedback immediately. This was something one of my students also liked and stated, "On a worksheet, you don't get your score right away like you do on Nearpod."

Students were significantly more engaged with this lesson compared to reading, then answering questions. i used you tube videos and a flocabulary video and they reacted to each one, sometimes with laughter, which was the point, then sometimes with groans, typical of third graders, but they watched them all. I did teach controlled, so they could watch as they and their peers answered the questions, first with names showing then without names. It is a small group and that worked well.Each student needed to answer because if they did not, we waited for them.

I do believe student levels of understanding increased because as I walked around the room, I could help struggling students, or read directions if they were making a mistake, so that they could correct their work as we went along.

The benefit was that the students were learning as they went along and didn't have to wait to get a graded paper from me, which they probably would have just recycled! They remained engaged the whole time.

1.  I think students were more engaged in the "revamped" lesson because I added a song and Time to Climb to the Nearpod.  My data (google form survey) shows that students think Nearpod is engaging.

2.   It's hard to know.  This is was a review lesson.  This is a lesson they've done already.  I would say the lesson served it's purpose as a review. 

3.  I love Nearpod and how much it has to offer.  I love that lessons can be teacher led or student paced.  I also like that Nearpod has lots of tools such as quiz, poll, time to climb, or videos that you can add to your lesson to make the lesson more engaging. 

According to the 5th grade students polled, they prefer the in person assembly. 75% percent referred the assembly! I believe that this is because it was an "assembly". They got to go down to the cafeteria with hundreds of others and have time outside of the classroom. I believe that the Nearpod lesson provides students with the material more effectively and efficiently. I think completing this in classrooms will help to control the messaging and students will only be presented with the necessary information.