• Nearpod

     
  • Getting Started

    All PISD educators have access to the premium features in Nearpod! 

    What is it? Nearpod is a presentation tool that allows for synchronous (teacher controls live sessions across student devices) or asynchronous (student-paced mode) interactive content acquisition.

    Why use this tool? Use Nearpod to synchronize and control lesson pacing across all student devices, evaluate student responses live or with post-session reports, give every student a voice, allow students to take control of their learning, and take student engagement to the next level by using game-based learning.

    Signing In

    1. Go to webdesk.pisd.edu and add the "PISD Nearpod (Library)" app. 

    Teacher app: nearpod webdesk app

    Student app: pisd nearpod student webdesk app  

    Students don't need to sign into Nearpod. They open this app and enter the Nearpod code. Or the teacher can post the Nearpod to Google Classroom and the students just launch it from there. 

    2. Click the Sign In button on the top right of the webpage. 

    3. Click Log in with Google and enter your district email address and district password.

    4. Click on My Library and grab another device (e.g. iPhone, iPad, Chromebook, laptop). 

    5. Click on the Getting Started Nearpod lesson in your Library. Use your second device to answer the questions in this self-paced lesson. 

  • Teachers: First time using Nearpod?

    Check out these amazing resources for getting familiar with and using Nearpod in your classroom.

    First Launch

    Nearpod 101 (for beginners)

  • Nearpod for Administrators

    See our page on the left "Nearpod for Campus/District Admins". 

  • District Library

    District Library

    Locate Nearpods created by your curriculum department in the District Library:

    1. Click the Plano ISD library in the left panel.

    nearpod plano isd library

    2. Open the department folder that you want. 

    3. Find the lesson and add it to your library. 

    Doing this creates a copy of the Nearpod presentation just for you!

     

    District/School Library Workflow

    District Library

    1. Classroom teacher shares editable Nearpod lesson with District Administrator.

    2. District Administrator makes changes (if necessary) and adds the Nearpod to the correct folder in the District Library.

    Done! Anyone in the district can now add a copy of this Nearpod lesson to their personal Library. 

    School Library

    1. Classroom teacher shares Nearpod to the School Library.

    2. Campus Administrator puts the Nearpod in the correct folder as designated by the campus level stakeholders. 

    Done! Anyone on campus can now add a copy of this Nerapod lesson to their personal library. 

    nearpod workflow

    See the page Nearpod for Campus/District Administrators

  • Nearpod & Google

    Let Nearpod work its magic with Google Classroom and Google Slides. 

    How to use the Nearpod Google Classroom Extension

    1. Install the Nearpod for Google Classroom Extension.
    2. Create a Google Classroom assignment and click on Nearpod Assignment button.
    3. It opens your Nearpod account. You may be prompted to sign in to your Nearpod account.
    4. Choose the Nearpod that you would like to assign to your class. You have the option to choose Live or Student-paced.
    5. The assignment appears as a draft in your Google Classroom.
    6. Click on the three vertical dots to the right of the draft and click “Edit”. Make the desired edits (enter student instructions, assign a due date, etc.).
    7. Click Save.
    8. Students will see it in their Google Classroom Classwork tab. They will open the assignment and click the Nearpod link to begin.

  • Classroom Management with Nearpod

    https://nearpod.com/blog/classroom-management-benefits/

  • Student Notes

    How to Enable Student Notes

    Did you know that your students can take notes during your Nearpod presentation!? You just have to be sure to enable this feature before launching your lesson. Here's how!

    1. Click on your user profile on the top right

    2. Select the settings gear by your name

    3. Click Advanced on the left

    4. Under "Enable Student Notes", click to toggle it on. 

    How Student Use Notes

    After you have enable student notes and then launch a lesson, students will see the notes icon to the right.

    See video below. Note that the email feature will not work for students as they cannot receive emails from outside of our organization. Advise students to use the Google Drive option. 

  • Auto-fill Student Names

    Enable Student Names to Autofill

    Are you tired of students using incorrect or inappropriate names in your Nearpod lessons? Nearpod now lets you enable the student name validation feature.

    Click on your image on the top right, Lesson Settings, and turn it on. 

    enable students names to autofill

     

    Click on this link to learn how to verify student names using single-sign-on (SSO). 

  • Sharing

    Sharing an editable copy (from a PC)

    1. Click the three horizontal dots on the top right of your Nearpod lesson. 

    2. Click Share.

    3. Select the mail icon on the bottom right. This will launch the Outlook client (won't work on a Chromebook). 

    4. Enter the email address(es) in the Outlook email and hit Send. Done! Recipients will receive two links: one to download the lesson to their library and one to preview the lesson. 

     

  • Merge Nearpods from your former school district

    Are you new to Plano ISD and want to bring your Nearpods with you from your former school district? 

    Email support@nearpod.com with your name, old email address, and new email address. 

    They will merge your Nearpod accounts to be on your PISD account. 

  • Support & Updates

    Nearpod Support Pages

    Instructional Support

    Contact your Digital Learning Team with questions. 

  • Become a Nearpod Coach 

    Plano ISD is not affiliated with the Nearpod Coach or Certified Educator programs. They are managed by Nearpod.  

    See their Nearpod Coach information here bit.ly/3Ke92VQ and fill out their form. 🎉Good luck!

    Become a Nearpod Certified Educator

    Consider applying to become a Nearpod Certified Educator! Learn more here: https://nearpod.com/certified-educator

    nearpod certified educator