Case Study 1: Nearpod
Image 1 
Overview
Nearpod is a useful site that allows teachers to present live to students. Students are able to access their own copy of a presentation/lesson where there are interactive components to encourage communication amongst peers as well as formative assessments for teachers. Nearpod, while allowing an educator to create their own presentation from scratch, also provides users with a significant number of premade resources touching upon a variety of subject matter. This platform is undoubtedly a positive learning experience for learners when direct instruction is a necessity.
User Engagement
Image 2
Influence on Communication/Information Consumption
Image 3Information is accessed in various ways through Nearpod. The most used feature is the live presentation feature that allows for digital communication between students during class on top of oral communication amongst one another. Nearpod, as shown above in Image 3, has a bulletin board feature that creates such communication amongst peers with live postings to the main presentation. This platform has limited use outside of the classroom aside from continuous access to the presentations/videos/lessons.
The ways in which students access information is through the above ways of communication described. Most of the communication that I would use in this setting is the digital communication supported by oral communication. Information is shared through "posts" which may further engagement when students may see this opportunity as a chance to create a social media-like post. Students who engage in Nearpod as an active user (Kaye, 2023) will receive the most from a learning experience through this platform.
Impact on Learning
Nearpod provides a way to cohesively support learning in an organized manner that allows the students to see the progression throughout the lesson, not only on a bard far away, but on their own device as well. This feature allows for less distractions when there are two ways to see what is going on both as a viewer and as an active participant. As described earlier, Nearpod presentation lessons will usually be mostly teacher-directed, but having the ability to encourage a type of participation that is unique to Nearpod is engaging for students. As Zacho said in her TedTalk, the educational climate is shifting and in order to enhance student learning, we must meet students at the contemporary standards they now hold (Zacho, 2021). With all platforms, come a negative effect as well and if students do not use the Nearpod tool as designed to, the student will not reach the learning goals.
Privacy and Safety
Nearpod overall meets all security and privacy requirements, however as with all school media platforms, there are risks involved. One of the glaring for me is the fact that Nearpod can be linked with Google logins, Google Classroom, or Microsoft Teams which may create a risk of data being shared between these apps. Teachers who create content on Nearpod should also be aware that the presentations/lessons they create may be accessible to other educators on Nearpod. This can be resolved if unwanted by examining privacy settings to match the needs of the individual.
Required Literacies
Digital literacies are required here as there are many functions to be use to proceed through the presentation or the video. Students may also use informal communication via digital messages on boards similar to the one represented above in Image 3. Students are still gaining valuable information to one another when responding in informal ways that they decode regularly and feel more natural. Nearpod also encourages technology and informational literacies (Robinson, 2021) due to the nature of the lessons.
Implications
Nearpod is an extremely useful tool to supplement daily curriculum. Educators may use this platform to engage learners and ensure formative checks throughout the lesson in a smooth and natural way. There are also opportunities for media and collaboration within Nearpod lesson from various interaction functions or through the use of the videos the program enables. On the other hand, Nearpod takes more extensive practice to truly receive the benefits which takes time on the teachers part. According to the Common Sense Education review, a few educators have noticed that the reliability of the platform is occasionally spotty which may have implications on day to day plans. This platform also lacks a direct parent connection, however the work can be accessed after completion meaning students can show their parents what was completed at school.
Case Study 2: Class Dojo
Image B
Overview
Class Dojo is a way to reward students and encourage/reinforce positive behaviors. The platform also offers teachers a way to communicate with families or have families involved with their student's reward system. Class Dojo now holds an AI feature to aid teachers with various tasks and the creation of specific documents with the classroom at the heart of the creation. The other resources Class Dojo has to offer (Image C and D) can keep timing of lessons on track with the timer, noise levels under control with the noise management tool, and work through a math game on Dojo Islands. Although games are a bit controversial in the educational world, it has been proven time and time again that students who are connected to their knowledge through digital and media technologies, they are participating in more authentic learning opportunities in today's day (Ledgerwood, 2022).
User Engagement
Image C 
As we have read about at length this semester, new media and digital literacies are engaging for students. This platform keeps students engaged as ever due to the platform's ability to engage the student in learning, communication with their peers, games, and positive behavior reinforcement all in one place. The digitally appealing set up of this platform engages students in ways that Classroom may not due to the more formal set up.
Influence on Communication
Image DInformation Consumption
Class Dojo offers a supplemental artificial intelligence, which although not a direct use of the program daily, is influential on the educator side of things regarding the way we take in information from this platform. The AI feature is not demonstrated from the student view of things, but may impact students in terms of material if the teacher uses the feature to generate plans or activities. Otherwise, students consume the information presented to them in engaging and game-like ways.
Impact on Learning
Image FAs a positive behavior intervention, Class Dojo reinforces positive and appropriate behavior through a reward system. While some students do not adapt well to Dojo points that they cannot hold tangibly, others responsd well and will do anything to hear the little "ding" from the SmartBoard when someone receives them. The other resources Class Dojo has to offer can keep timing of lessons on track with the timer, noise levels under control with the noise management tool, and work through a math game on Dojo Islands.
Privacy and Safety
Similarly to Nearpod, Class Dojo connects to other platforms like Google and there is always the worry of shared data amongst the platforms. The other issue is the messages section although positive for student/parent communication, it is not out of the realm of possibilities for situations in which messages are placed in a group contact chain thought to be private. When using the chat features of Class Dojo, users must be extra cautious and ensure the messages are being sent and received with the proper settings.
Required Literacies
Class Dojo requires both digital and media literacy to navigate the platform as well as the various ways to communicate. A student's ability to analyze media and the workings of a game system will also aid them in the Dojo Island piece of the platform. The parent should also possess digital literacy skills as they navigate the parent portals. Similarly to Nearpod, the technology and informational literacies required for productive use of this platform must be developed by all parties over time (parents, students, and educators).
Implications
With Class Dojo, as well as any reward system, if used punitively or as a public embarrassment, may come negative effects. In a perfect world, no educator would use such a great resource in this manner, but it unfortunately does happen and is a risk with any systematic reward platform.
References
Classdojo review for teachers. Common Sense Education. (n.d.). https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/classdojo
Ledgerwood, K. (2022). Using social media to promote 21st-century learning. Pressbooks.pub. https://pressbooks.pub/techcurr20221/chapter/using-social-media-to-promote-21st-century-learning/
Nearpod review for teachers. Common Sense Education. (n.d.). https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/nearpod
Robinson, Z., Robinson, P. (2021). Using social media tools for promoting critical literacy skills in the classroom. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED611606.pdf
Lis Zacho. (2021). How playing gives children digital empowerment. Ted.com; TED Talks. https://www.ted.com/talks/lis_zacho_how_playing_gives_children_digital_empowerment
Hi Arianna,
ReplyDeleteI have actually never heard of Nearpod so I am glad I got to learn about it from you! It seems a bit similar to Pear Deck if you are familiar with that. I can definitely see how using this platform would make the lesson more engaging for the students. I considered doing Class Dojo for one of my case studies because I have seen it used by so many teachers, but I have never used it. I really like how easy it makes parent/teacher communication, but I am unsure about the behavior management. I would have to hear more I think. Great job on diving into these two platforms!
Hi Arianna!
ReplyDeleteI have used Nearpod before and found it very engaging for students. It is a great way to check for understanding during the lesson and assess if concepts need to be reviewed. Using technology during a lesson is a great way to engage students. I agree that learning how to use it effectively can be time-consuming, but if integrated appropriately, lessons may go more smoothly. I have heard of ClassDojo, but I have never used it. Personally, it seems very time-consuming and difficult to keep up with compared to other classroom rewards. Connecting with parents is a great feature and can build a stronger classroom community.