Interactive Technology Tools for Teaching

Interactive presentation tools like Nearpod, Mentimeter, and Pear Deck are changing the way teachers share content—and how students experience it. These tools go beyond traditional slides by turning presentations into dynamic, student-centered experiences that promote engagement, interaction, and real-time feedback.

Instead of passively watching a lesson, students interact directly with the content on their own devices. This creates a more inclusive classroom environment and keeps learners involved from start to finish.

Here are just a few ways these tools can enhance your teaching:

• Student Devices Become Part of the Lesson
  Content is delivered straight to student screens, keeping them focused and involved.

• Built-in Breaks for Thinking and Reflection
  Interactive slides and questions break lessons into manageable parts, giving students time to process and respond as they learn.

• Real-Time Formative Assessment
  Tools like polls, quizzes, and open-ended questions let you check for understanding and adjust your instruction on the fly.

• Continuous Engagement
  Ongoing interaction between teacher and students fosters participation and keeps energy levels high.

• Low-Stakes Participation Opportunities
  Students can contribute answers or ideas anonymously or without the pressure of being called on—building confidence in a supportive environment.

These tools aren’t just great for live teaching—they can also be used in asynchronous settings, helping you create flexible and accessible learning experiences.

Explore the tools below to find one that fits your style and needs.

Nearpod is an interactive presentation tool that allows teachers to create engaging, student-centered lessons with ease. Whether you're teaching live in the classroom or leading a remote session, Nearpod brings your lesson content directly to student devices and encourages real-time participation through a variety of interactive features.

Features

• Easy Lesson Creation
  Build presentations directly in Nearpod or import existing PowerPoint or PDF files.

• Interactive Slide Elements
  Add features like:

  • Discussion boards

  • Polls

  • Collaborative whiteboards

  • Quizzes

  • Drag-and-drop activities

  • Embedded videos

  • Virtual Reality (VR) experiences

• Student Response Sharing
  Highlight student answers or examples in real time to promote discussion.

• Content Library
  Access a wide range of pre-made lessons and activities across subjects and grade levels.

• Live Formative Assessment
  Collect student responses instantly and adjust your instruction based on their needs.

• Post-Session Reports
  Get detailed class reports to review participation and performance after the lesson.

Considerations

• Storage Limits

  • Free accounts include 100MB total storage

  • Each lesson file is limited to 40MB

• Participation Cap
  Free accounts support up to 40 students per session
  (More storage and higher participant limits are available with paid plans)

• Slide Design Limitations
  Slide creation tools are fairly basic compared to advanced presentation platforms.

• Import Restrictions
  PowerPoint animations and transitions are removed when uploaded to Nearpod.

Tip: Nearpod is ideal for quick checks for understanding, making lectures more interactive, and getting students involved without putting them on the spot. It’s especially useful in classrooms where keeping attention high is key!

Pear Deck is a Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint add-on that transforms your regular presentations into interactive learning experiences. Designed with classroom engagement in mind, Pear Deck lets students respond to questions and activities directly from their devices—making it easy to check for understanding and promote active learning.

Features

• Integrates with Google Slides or PowerPoint Online
  Add interactive elements to the slides you already use.

• Interactive Slide Types Include:

  • Text response

  • Multiple choice

  • Draggable responses

  • Drawing/annotation

  • Web links and embedded content

• Student-Paced or Instructor-Paced Modes
  Teach live or assign a lesson for students to complete on their own.

• Teacher Dashboard
  View individual student responses privately while projecting anonymous answers to the class.

• Templates and Ready-to-Use Content
  Access a library of pre-made templates designed to build community, check understanding, and encourage reflection.

• Real-Time and Post-Session Feedback
  Track engagement and understanding during and after the session.

Considerations

• Requires Google or Microsoft Account Integration
  Works best in environments already using Google Workspace or Office 365.

• Free vs Paid Access
  Many advanced features (like the Teacher Dashboard and draggable responses) require a Premium account.

• Limited Standalone Functionality
  Pear Deck is not a standalone app—it relies on Google Slides or PowerPoint to build and run lessons.

Tip: Pear Deck is ideal for educators who already use Google Slides and want to build seamless, interactive lessons without learning a new platform.

Mentimeter is a user-friendly presentation and polling tool that makes it easy to create interactive lessons, class discussions, or quick polls. With a focus on simplicity and real-time engagement, Mentimeter is perfect for gathering input, checking for understanding, or sparking discussion with live results.

Features

• Easy Presentation Building
  Create slide decks and polls within Mentimeter or import from PowerPoint.

• Engaging Slide Types Include:

  • Word clouds

  • Multiple choice polls

  • Open-ended questions

  • Scales and rankings

  • Quizzes with leaderboards

  • Q&A sessions

• Anonymous Participation
  Encourages all students to contribute—especially helpful for shy or hesitant learners.

• Live Results
  Instantly display student responses in engaging visual formats.

• Exportable Reports
  Download results to track student input and class trends.

• No Account Required for Participants
  Students can join sessions via code—no login needed.

Considerations

• Free Plan Limitations

  • Max of 2 question slides per presentation

  • Max of 50 participants per session
    (Paid plans expand these limits)

• Not Designed for Full Lessons
  Best used as a supplement to instruction (e.g., check-ins, quick activities, or warm-ups).

• Limited Slide Design Features
  Focuses more on interaction than on detailed presentation formatting.

Tip: Mentimeter is perfect for quick formative checks, icebreakers, or collecting opinions in real time—whether you're teaching in person or online.

Poll Everywhere is a versatile, live polling tool that brings interactivity to presentations through quick polls, Q&A sessions, and instant audience feedback. It integrates with PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Keynote, making it easy to add polls directly into your lessons. Students respond using their phones, tablets, or laptops—no app or login required.

Poll Everywhere is a great fit for teachers looking to gather input, spark discussions, or check for understanding in a low-stakes, student-friendly way.

Features

• Presentation Integration
  Works seamlessly with Google Slides, PowerPoint, and Keynote.

• Interactive Poll Types

  • Multiple choice

  • Open-ended questions

  • Word clouds

  • Clickable images

  • Q&A and upvoting

• Anonymous Participation
  Encourages honest input without putting students on the spot.

• Live Results Display
  Responses appear instantly in visual formats for the whole class to see.

• Flexible Response Options
  Students can respond via web, text message, or mobile app.

• Response Reporting
  Download results or use reports to review engagement and learning trends.

Considerations

• Free Plan Limitations

  • Max of 25 participants per session

  • Limited customization and reporting
    (Paid accounts expand audience size and features)

• Not a Full Lesson Tool
  Best used to enhance presentations rather than replace them.

• Requires Reliable Internet
  All responses depend on a live connection for real-time results.

Tip: Poll Everywhere is a solid choice for quick check-ins, exit tickets, or starting conversations in both small and large classroom settings.