May 1

Making Learning Accessible and Interactive

Interactive Read Aloud during eLearning

In this time of eLearning we are all attempting to do our best to use best practices in our instruction while being distant from students.  We want to engage students’ thinking and keep them in an instructional rhythm they have come to expect. Students need us to recognize their variablity and instructional needs, which brings in UDL guidelines.  We also need to be able to utilize our Learning Managment Systems, like Canvas, so students can get to assignments with ease.

One of my favorite components of language arts instruction is the interactive read aloud.  There is nothing better than when a group of students is into a book with you and responding with their thinking, connections, and inferences on what will happen next.  In my twenty years of education, the groan when you close the book has made my heart burst with joy.  You have them hooked. You are making books one of the best choices they can desire.  We build lifelong readers one page, one book, one reading experience at a time.

How can I make this happen during this time?  I mean…really make it happen!  I started off the time by just creating YouTube videos of our read aloud. However, it just did not give me the response back from kids that I am accustomed to receiving.  A next step was to add in Flipgrid, which allowed me to gain a verbal response and did help. Could there be an even better way? Then it occurred to me that I might be able to make Nearpods for each interactive read aloud.

Nearpod Features that Improved my eLearning Sessions:

  • polls: Example-Would you make the same choice as the character? Yes or No. (DOK 1)
  • YouTube Video Embeded: allowed for fewer links that need to be shared.
  • Open-Ended Questions: students could respond with audio or typed response to a higher level question. (DOK 2/3)
  • Collaboration: students could respond and see their classmates responses (DOK 2/3)
  • Matching: students could match characters to their traits; vary by direct traits or inferencial traits (DOK 1/2)
  • Flipgrid: is embeded into the Nearpod so students can have videos for shared thinking and collaboration. Higher level (DOK 3) questions can be debated in this forum.

Adding Nearpod to Canvas Integration

Nearpod can be integrated into many learning management systems.  Since my district is using Canvas the remainder of my blog will feature Canvas.

 Guide for Adding the Nearpod App to your Canvas Course. You will get a unique app code to add to your settings for external tools.  The guide is clear and easy to follow.

Features in My Interactive Nearpod & Canvas Integration

Setting Expectations

Students will have the Nearpod open right in their assignment on Canvas.

A teacher can create Nearpods or use a presentation from the Nearpod library. For my sessions, I created slides on Google Slides or Power Point and added the visuals into the Nearpod session.

This slide shows that I am establishing the tone and objective of the lesson.

Providing Video/Audio of Text

My strategy was to read a chapter and record a video of that chapter for students to be able to listen to me read. Then Nearpod allows you to add the web url for your YouTube video right into your Nearpod.  The video plays right within the session and student stay on the same Canvas assignment page.

Virtual Turn and Talk or Thinking Spots

After students listened to a chapter, I was able to give them thinking space just like we did with our reader’s notebooks or a turn and talk to a partner moment. On Nearpod students may choose whether they want to respond by typing their response or they may respond orally.  Students are able to decide which action and expression fits them best.

Accessibilty

Some students with an IEP need questions read to them. However, all students have the option of using Immersive Reader if they need to have the question read in order to process what it is requiring them to do. This is option is especially important during this time of eLearning so our students can meet their needs and feel independent.

Collaboration

Nearpod has a new feature that allows students to have a virtual bulletin board.  You can pose a question and students can see how their classmates respond.  Students are craving typical connections to each other.  This feature allows a bond between students to continue.  We do not want our learners to feel isolated in their thinking.

We love for students to answer open ended questions and debate.  Adding Flipgrid to the Nearpod allowed for virtual turn and talk discussions.

(It also allowed me to hear and see my students.  I could listen in and give them feedback.)

Adding in a poll allows for “Would you rather..” type thinking.  Also, you can reveal yesterday’s poll results in next session on Canvas. Later, students can see if they agreed.  We must look for ways to keep kids engaged.

 

Settings Necessary in Your Nearpod Account

Please use the visual below to make sure you have all of the settings turned on in your Nearpod Account.  To do this go to your settings and switch the buttons on that you see below.

Grading & Assessing

When you integrade Nearpod into your Canvas assignment, it allows you to use Speed Grader for assessing your individual student’s reports.  This process is much faster than having to go back to your Nearpod account and access a report.  Plus, you can offer specific feedback to each student within the LMS and keep students in one location.  Parents will also be able to see the feedback in their observers view.  Often apps that we use are difficult to go back to for record keeping and completion details.  We are all on our screens a lot right now!  Make it easy for yourself too!

Video Support

To help you in your own development, please use my video to help you with this process.  Reach out if you have any questions.

 

 


Posted May 1, 2020 by Laura Christie in category Uncategorized

About the Author

Laura Christie is an educator in her 21st year who desires to see all kids engaged in classrooms where learning is the most exciting activity on the planet. She believes in developing bonds with students and helping them find their passion. Higher-level thinking grows when students are problem solvers and active in the learning process. Laura also has a passion for literacy instruction and feels that being a lifelong learner is the only way to live. Her passion is curriculum and helping lead educators to grow in their craft. Laura earned a Masters in Educational Administration at Butler University while teaching 5th Grade Humanities at Sand Creek Intermediate. @MrsChristie21

1 thoughts on “Making Learning Accessible and Interactive

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*