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About mobile learning
Twenty-first century learners are digital natives who interact with the world with mobile technology on a daily basis. Smart phones and tablets are part of their daily lives and they use them for different purposes such as communicating through social media, listening to music, watching videos, playing games and learning (sometimes).
To date, enabling these learners to use their mobile devices for learning is a must, because mobile learning is gaining ground in the evolving field of English Language Teaching where most courses are becoming technology enhanced.
From a pedagogical perspective, Kearney et al highlight 'three central features of mobile learning: authenticity, collaboration and personalisation' (2012: 1) which fall under the socio-cultural theory of learning as a socially mediated process. Engaging our learners with the piece of technology in their pockets is therefore worth considering as they can enhance collaborative learning with authentic tasks that can be personalised to fit any teaching context.
To date, enabling these learners to use their mobile devices for learning is a must, because mobile learning is gaining ground in the evolving field of English Language Teaching where most courses are becoming technology enhanced.
From a pedagogical perspective, Kearney et al highlight 'three central features of mobile learning: authenticity, collaboration and personalisation' (2012: 1) which fall under the socio-cultural theory of learning as a socially mediated process. Engaging our learners with the piece of technology in their pockets is therefore worth considering as they can enhance collaborative learning with authentic tasks that can be personalised to fit any teaching context.
About Nearpod
Nearpod is an up-to-date and must have online mobile application that will offer you the dreamed opportunity to implement mobile learning in or out of your classrooms. It can be used on mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, PCs and MACs with internet connection. Nearpod allows teachers to create lessons and design the content by creating or adding powerpoint slides, videos, pictures, polls and different types of quizzes. It is a flexible tools, therefore you can personalise the content according to your learners needs and levels. By sharing the code of a lesson with your students, you can manage the content on their mobile devices and have a control over each of them.
The best way to learn about a tool is to explore and put it into practice, so download the app on your mobile device or computer and make the most of it. Click HERE for more information or watch the tutorial.
Why Nearpod?
There is often too much hype over the use of technology tools in English language teaching but Nearpod is so far one of the best educational application that I have ever come across. It promotes collaboration, authenticity and personalisation, thus fosters learner motivation, engagement and interactive learning. I personally think that teachers who wish to bring variety in the classroom and engage their learners should give it a try because:
- it offers synchronous learning opportunities where teachers can give real-time assessments and feedback by sharing answers with all their learners after each task.
- It works on mobile devices, hence the possibility to give homework or project work that can be carried out outside schools for the sake of flipping the classroom
- Creative teachers can design engaging lessons that can develop their learners' skills in listening, speaking, writing and reading.
- The tasks are authentic and students can make interactive presentations using their smart-phones or tablets.
- The explore tab displays ready-to-use lessons that were designed by other teachers.
- It facilitates distance learning as students can use a code and access the lesson anytime anywhere.
- You can add web content, youtube videos and activities such as open ended questions and several other captivating activities.
Example of lesson made with Nearpod
Some limitations
Using Nearpod requires mobiles devices connected to internet so schools or classrooms must be well-equipped before implementing it. Even though the free version offers interesting features for creating engaging lessons and tasks, the access to the core features is limited unless you upgrade your account. Some schools have banned the use of mobile devices at school, so it is your role as a teacher to collaborate with the administration and set up clear rules.
