Levittown Community Learns How Students Use Chromebooks, Nearpod

LEVITTOWN, NY — Members of the community learned how Chromebooks and Nearpods are replacing traditional methods of teaching — joining students in the classroom with those at home — in Levittown school classrooms, according to a news release.

The video presentation, which was played during a Board of Education meeting, featured administrators, students and staff from Jonas E. Salk Middle School and Wisdom Lane Middle School explaining how Google Breakout Rooms are used to connect remote and hybrid students during class, district officials said. In the video, teachers discussed the different lessons and activities that they have used Breakout Rooms for and students shared their positive experiences with it, district officials said.

Wisdom Lane Principal John Avena said Google Breakout Rooms are important to the process of education because they simulate the small group instruction of past years. “The Breakout Room allows teachers to have remote and hybrid students participate in the same activity in a small group,” he stated.

Nearpod, a platform that allows teachers to make their lessons more engaging and interactive, was also highlighted at the meeting. Students are able to follow PowerPoint presentations on their Chromebooks while their teacher discusses and controls the slides, district officials said.

“This helps to make sure that students in school and those working remotely are on the same page at all time,” stated Jonas E. Salk Middle School teacher Michele Sovinsky.

Nearpod also helps teachers assess student progress with interactive slides featuring tasks such as open-ended questions for students to answer and classes can take virtual field trips on the platform without leaving their homes or the classroom, district officials said.

“This gives us a bit of a glimpse into our classrooms and some of the wonderful things that are going on with the various tools that the board has approved for use,” stated Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Todd Winch.