Please watch the video below before submitting your demo lesson.

Step 2: Submitting Your Pre-Recorded Teaching Demo

The next step in the Shields Scholars application process is completing a pre-recorded demo lesson.

Your demo lesson helps us evaluate your teaching style, communication, student engagement, ability to follow directions, and comfort using the technology required to teach with Shields Scholars.

Please read all instructions carefully before recording. Following these directions is part of the evaluation process.

Demo Lesson Requirements

Please submit one continuous 10–15 minute demo lesson recorded through Zoom.

Your demo lesson should begin with a brief introduction about yourself before transitioning directly into teaching.

Begin With a Brief Introduction

At the beginning of your demo lesson, spend approximately 2–3 minutes telling us about yourself.

Please include:

• Your name
• Your education and relevant qualifications
• Your teaching or tutoring experience
• Ages and/or grade levels you have worked with
• Subjects you have experience teaching
• How you would describe your teaching style
• Why you are interested in teaching with Shields Scholars

Please speak naturally. You do not need to memorize a script or prepare a formal presentation.

Teach Your Demo Lesson

After your introduction, transition directly into teaching your selected Nearpod lesson.

Please teach as though you have a real student or small group of students attending your class.

Although students will not actually be present, we want to see how you would:

• Introduce a lesson or concept
• Explain material clearly
• Ask students questions
• Allow time for students to respond
• Check for understanding
• Respond to correct and incorrect answers
• Provide encouragement and feedback
• Keep students engaged
• Transition between activities
• Use your personality to create an engaging online classroom

Most importantly, actually teach the lesson rather than explaining how you would teach it.

For example, instead of saying, “Here I would ask students what sound this letter makes,” ask the question exactly as you would during a real class, pause for an imaginary response, and then continue teaching.

Required Technology

Your demo lesson must:

• Be recorded using Zoom
• Use Zoom's Share Screen feature
• Use an interactive Nearpod lesson
• Show you actively teaching from the Nearpod lesson
• Be approximately 10–15 minutes total

Zoom, screen sharing, and Nearpod are regularly used when teaching with Shields Scholars. Your ability to independently navigate these tools is part of what we evaluate during your demo lesson.

Choosing Your Nearpod Lesson

You may choose any age-appropriate Nearpod lesson that allows you to showcase your teaching style.

The specific topic you choose is not particularly important. We are much more interested in how you teach.

You may choose an existing lesson available through Nearpod/Renaissance.

You can either:

• Create your own free Nearpod account, or
• Use the Shields Scholars demo Nearpod account provided below.

You will not receive access to Shields Scholars proprietary curriculum or course materials during the application process.

Shields Scholars Demo Nearpod Account

Website: Nearpod.com
Username: shieldsscholarsorg@gmail.com
Password: SSorg22!

Please use this account only for purposes related to your Shields Scholars demo lesson.

Recording Your Demo Lesson

Your entire demo lesson should be submitted as one continuous Zoom recording.

1. Start a Zoom meeting.
2. Begin recording.
3. Introduce yourself.
4. Open your selected Nearpod lesson.
5. Use Zoom's Share Screen feature to display Nearpod.
6. Teach your demo lesson as though students are attending your class.
7. End your Zoom meeting and allow the recording to process.

You do not need to edit your demo lesson.

We are not evaluating video production or editing. We want to see how you teach, communicate, engage students, and navigate an online classroom.

Upload Your Demo Lesson

Once your recording is complete, upload your demo lesson to a cloud-based platform that allows you to create a shareable link.

Examples include:

• Google Drive
• Dropbox
• OneDrive
• Zoom Cloud
• YouTube

If using YouTube, you may upload your demo lesson as Unlisted.

Other cloud-based services are also acceptable as long as we can access the recording through the link you provide.

Check Your Sharing Permissions

Before submitting your link, make sure your demo lesson is set so that anyone with the link can view it.

We strongly recommend opening your link in an incognito/private browser window before submitting it. If you can view the recording without signing into your account or requesting permission, we should be able to view it as well.

Submit Your Demo Lesson Below

Once your demo lesson has been uploaded:

1. Copy the shareable link.
2. Confirm that viewing permissions are enabled.
3. Paste the link into the submission form below.

Please do not email your video file directly to Shields Scholars.

Your demo lesson must be submitted through the form below so that it remains connected to your application.

Before You Submit

Please confirm:

☐ My demo lesson is one continuous Zoom recording
☐ My demo lesson is approximately 10–15 minutes
☐ I included my introduction at the beginning
☐ I used a Nearpod lesson
☐ I used Zoom Share Screen
☐ I taught as though students were actually attending
☐ I uploaded my demo lesson to a cloud-based platform
☐ Anyone with the link can view my recording
☐ I tested my link before submitting it
☐ I submitted my link using the form below

Please Follow All Instructions Carefully

Following directions is an important part of working successfully in a remote teaching environment.

Demo lessons that do not follow the required format—including those that do not use Zoom, Zoom screen sharing, or Nearpod, or submission links that cannot be accessed—may not move forward in the hiring process.

Upload

Upload your video to Google Drive, Dropbox, Zoom Cloud, or YouTube, etc. and submit the link below.

• Please do NOT email a video to us. Failure to follow these directions will results in your application being automatically denied.