Using Drawing on Nearpod

Type of technology: iPad App

SAMR Model Rating: Modification

Grade level: All

Subject area: Any

Cost: Free App

Nearpod is an amazing app that allows you to broadcast a lesson to your students on their individual devices. It is interactive, easy, and fun. I want to share about one specific tool in Nearpod: the drawing feature. I find this feature to have endless possibilities for student learning and teacher assessment.

I began using the drawing tool when teaching math, specifically how to solve word problems. My students and I had been working extensively on how to draw out problems in order to understand which operation was needed to solve them. When we got Nearpod, the process became a lot more useful and a lot more fun.

I created lesson with varied word problems. I was able to easily engage my students by using their names, including their likes and having high interest pictures. Right from the start, my students were hooked in.

We discussed the problem and then came the part they were truly excited about. I asked them to draw and submit pictures on the iPad to illustrate how they would solve the problem. My students were excited and could use their creativity to show how they personally solved the problem. As they submitted their drawings it was easy for me to see how my students were thinking about the problem, who was on the right track, and who needed more help. I could easily share one of my students drawings with the class and have them explain what they did to solve the problem, or where they made a mistake. My students loved having their work on display to others and were the most excited I’ve seen them about word problems.

Students solving a division problem using drawings.

Students solving an addition problem using drawings.

Some correct and incorrect approaches to a division problem.

My screen as a student shares how he solved this subtraction problem.

There are other ways to use the draw function, too. You can, for instance insert a picture and have students draw their answer over it. This worked especially well for beginning to cover the concept of area.

I see so many possibilities with this function, anything you would have students write or draw on a whiteboard could be submitted within a lesson and it could also make a great exit ticket.

If you are new to Nearpod, or using the app already, take the plunge and try the drawing feature, you won’t be sorry!