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Nearpod Updates

Rhianon Gutierrez Updated by Rhianon Gutierrez

What is Nearpod and who has access?

Nearpod is a student engagement platform with ready-to-run lessons that can be delivered through both live and student-paced formats. Teachers can also upload and make any of their favorite resources (PowerPoints, Google Slides, videos) interactive by incorporating real-time checks for understanding and collaboration opportunities as well as media like virtual reality, simulations, and more. During a lesson, teachers get real-time insights into students’ learning. Teachers can also view post-session reports of student response data. 

How do I access Nearpod?

Beginning November 1, 2026, Boston Public Schools will no longer have districtwide access to Nearpod.

If you are interested in a school license, contact Jen McGinty at jen.mcginty@renaissance.com.

To access the free version of Nearpod, log in to Clever at www.bostonpublicschools.org/backpack using your BPS email and password - look for the Nearpod icon under Collaboration, Creation, and Student Voice.

Nearpod Account Changes for SY 26-27

What will stay the same:
  • Nearpod Add-On for Google Classroom
  • Students can access lessons from Google Classroom without a join code
  • Uploading from Google Slides
What will change:

Library storage:

  • Library storage will be reduced from Unlimited to 300 MB
  • Maximum lesson size will be reduced from 250MB to 40 MB
  • Any lessons, videos, and activities in your account that exceed this limit will be archived in reverse-chronological order

School and District Library:

  • School and District Library access will be removed

Access to the following features will be lost:

  • Student Notes
  • Nearpod for Sub Plans
  • Individual Student Reports
  • Multiple concurrent Live sessions
  • Building lessons with the Google Slides add-on
  • Co-teaching
  • Live Annotation
  • AI Create
  • Math Manipulatives
  • Drag & Drop
  • Maximum number of student joins per lesson will be reduced from 250 to 40

What devices is it compatible with?

Nearpod works on laptops, desktops, Chromebooks, iOS devices, and Android devices. 

How does Nearpod work?

  • Teachers can launch lessons for live or student-paced participation in Nearpod for synchronous and asynchronous learning.
  • Teachers can launch lessons for students directly in Google Classroom.
  • Students can join lessons with a 5-letter code or with a single click on a direct link in Google classroom.

Where can I learn more about Nearpod?

How did we do?

My students cannot login to an app in Clever

What is a Clever School Tech Lead and what can they do?

Contact