Increasing pre-teacher engagement in university instruction using Pear Deck

Pear Deck is an online active learning presentation tool designed to aid teachers in creating impactful lessons. As higher education continues to evolve by implementing various course formats, there is a great need to discover which technology tools have the potential to increase student engagement. In this qualitative study, the authors examine 37 preservice teachers’ perceptions regarding the usefulness of Pear Deck in increasing engagement, and its potential use in their future classrooms. Eighty percent of the participants agreed that they felt more engaged with their instructors and peers while using Pear Deck. Participants shared that the use of Pear Deck in their future classrooms would allow them to incorporate various best practice techniques during instruction. Implications for practice and research are discussed.