PearDeck vs NearPod

[MBlackwell_GCA]

My school is interested in using either PearDeck or NearPod. In researching which would be better for teachers and students, I thought the Canvas Community could share some insight on pros and cons. 

Our school serves students in K-12th grades. We are completely online - a public charter school where students and teachers attend class online. Our online classroom is Jigsaw Interactive and our LMS is primarily Canvas. Traditionally, our teachers will create a lesson plan via PowerPoint or Google Slides, upload this into Jigsaw interactive to present and work with students. These lessons will include media such as music and video. Teachers also create lessons with the intent to have interaction such as matching, drag and drop, etc. 

[shellysmith · Accepted solution]

Hi Michelle,

I can only speak about Nearpod since my teachers use Nearpod.  We have the premium version for 30 users at my high school. We have the College & Career, EL, and Digital Citizenship added to the subscription.  We also have the Flocabulary subscription that easily integrates with Nearpod and Canvas.  I love the interactive content that Nearpod has, the ease of use in and out of Canvas, the seamless integration into Canvas, and the vast amount of resources that Nearpod has available.  I hope that helps a little.

Thanks.

Shelly

[alopez · Accepted solution]

If your teachers are using Google Slides, I would use Pear Deck because any slide can be made interactive since it is now a Google Slides add-on. If you use GAFE, your teachers can publish "takeaways", which creates a Google Doc for each student co-owned by the teacher and student that they can then go back and revisit and add reflections.  

[MBlackwell_GCA · Accepted solution]

I wonder if teachers have tried embedding these Pear Deck slides into Canvas? Does it embed and if so, is it still interactive?

[chillman · Accepted solution]

There are pros and cons to each of these.  Pear Deck works really well with Google Slides with the interactive elements, but is limited in the amount of interactions.  Nearpod has a lot more options for interactives, such as VR and adjusting lessons on the fly without re-syncing during a presentation.  Nearpod also works really well in the integration with Canvas.  

Just my two cents.

[MBlackwell_GCA · Accepted solution]

Mmmm, good to know! TY!

[emilyl · Accepted solution]

Hi! Actually Nearpod also added a feature that has a Google Slides Integration:) 

[akendall · Accepted solution]

My district just required all teachers to use Canvas as their platform and I was  already using Google slides with Peardeck add ons for all learning presentations.  Can anyone help me figure out how to embed my Google slides into Canvas while also allowing students to use the pear deck add on so it is interactive?  

[kyliecanvasuser · Accepted solution]

As far as I know, there is no integration with Canvas when using Peardeck.

If you want a better alternative, Nearpod also has a Google Slides integration BUT has a fantastic integration that includes grade book passback in the Speedgrader!  Here's a guide of videos that can help with that integration! NCT 103 (Canvas and Nearpod) on Vimeo 

I hope this helps!  

[shellysmith · Accepted solution]

Hi Michelle,

I can only speak about Nearpod since my teachers use Nearpod.  We have the premium version for 30 users at my high school. We have the College & Career, EL, and Digital Citizenship added to the subscription.  We also have the Flocabulary subscription that easily integrates with Nearpod and Canvas.  I love the interactive content that Nearpod has, the ease of use in and out of Canvas, the seamless integration into Canvas, and the vast amount of resources that Nearpod has available.  I hope that helps a little.

Thanks.

Shelly

[alopez · Accepted solution]

If your teachers are using Google Slides, I would use Pear Deck because any slide can be made interactive since it is now a Google Slides add-on. If you use GAFE, your teachers can publish "takeaways", which creates a Google Doc for each student co-owned by the teacher and student that they can then go back and revisit and add reflections.  

[MBlackwell_GCA · Accepted solution]

I wonder if teachers have tried embedding these Pear Deck slides into Canvas? Does it embed and if so, is it still interactive?

[emilyl · Accepted solution]

Hi! Actually Nearpod also added a feature that has a Google Slides Integration:) 

[chillman · Accepted solution]

There are pros and cons to each of these.  Pear Deck works really well with Google Slides with the interactive elements, but is limited in the amount of interactions.  Nearpod has a lot more options for interactives, such as VR and adjusting lessons on the fly without re-syncing during a presentation.  Nearpod also works really well in the integration with Canvas.  

Just my two cents.

[MBlackwell_GCA · Accepted solution]

Mmmm, good to know! TY!

[kyliecanvasuser · Accepted solution]

Nearpod also has a Google Slides integration (plus like you mentioned- advanced interactivities ;-)) !  Nearpod + Google Slides Add On 

[akendall · Accepted solution]

My district just required all teachers to use Canvas as their platform and I was  already using Google slides with Peardeck add ons for all learning presentations.  Can anyone help me figure out how to embed my Google slides into Canvas while also allowing students to use the pear deck add on so it is interactive?  

[kyliecanvasuser · Accepted solution]

As far as I know, there is no integration with Canvas when using Peardeck.

If you want a better alternative, Nearpod also has a Google Slides integration BUT has a fantastic integration that includes grade book passback in the Speedgrader!  Here's a guide of videos that can help with that integration! NCT 103 (Canvas and Nearpod) on Vimeo 

I hope this helps!  

[chrish]

Peardeck is working on a Canvas LTI and should be operational by start of school. Here is what they sent me. 

• Pear Deck will support integrations with Canvas for district customers beginning with the 2020-21 school year. 
• Key features: 

○ Administrators must authorize the integration with Pear Deck 

■ Benefits to administrators: 

• Pear Deck becomes a seamless part of your digital ecosystem through Canvas integration 
• Simplify the process of installing and authorizing Pear Deck district-wide 
• Simplify the experience of logging in for Teachers and Students 
• Enhanced security for remote classes: Assignments will be locked to that class roster meaning no one outside the class will be able to join 

○ Once authorized, teachers can assign a Pear Deck activity from Canvas 

■ Teachers will be able to: 

• See the Teacher Dashboard from within Canvas 
• Understand the status of assignments for their class (i.e., not started, started, completed, updated) 
• Comment on Pear Deck work with Student Feedback 
• Leave a Grade for Pear Deck assignments 
• Leave a Grade with Speed Grader 

○ Students open the assignment from within Canvas and navigate through the Pear Deck activity 

■ Students will be able to: 

• Stay within Canvas, no need to login with Pear Deck. 
• Access their Pear Deck assignments easily from a platform they use daily and with other classes 
• Turn in work for grading / assessment 
• See teacher’s comments so they can adjust and make corrections