Polling and Backchanneling

Student Feedback

“I like how we can immediately evaluate our thoughts and also give us a good idea of what everyone else is thinking”

“Allows us to be engaged in discussion anonymously”

“It helps keep me engaged without talking out loud because i'm embarrassed”

“It provided an incentive to read and also were an interesting addition because I felt like I was in a quiz show”

"It's interesting to see where my views lie in relation to others"

"They are fun!"

“I felt like my voice is heard”

Polling in the classroom is a wonderful way to engage students. They love it!

I now use Poll Everywhere in my classrooms.

It uses standard web technology, integrates well with Google Slides or PowerPoint, and students can use a vast array of mobile technology to communicate in the classroom.

Many of the lessons I learned in my first experience with iClickers still apply today.

Polling is one part of my strategy to encourage students to actively participate in class... one part, but a good part! It makes the ‘large classroom feel small’, it gives students a ‘voice’, it helps me gauge their understanding of the material, and it helps to incorporates those with nonverbal learning styles into the the classroom discussion.

I do not use it to take attendance or participation or assign grades to it in any way. Doing this is a recipe for disaster. In my opinion, you want the students to participate in the discussion because they want to, not because they have to. When used for the wrong purposes (e.g. tied to a grade) you will start to see cheating... and that opens another whole can of worms!

I currently use Poll Everywhere for its superior user experience, nice interface with Powerpoint and... that being said there are others out there that are worthy of investigation:

  • Sli.do This is one I am currently investigating

  • TAMU AI support REEF (https://www1.iclicker.com) (the next generation of iClickers)

  • Socrative (https://www.socrative.com ) Free up to 50 students. $29.99 for Pro version. I haven’t used it, but have heard good things…. Worth checking out!

  • A simple Twitter feed (maybe best for back channeling), but requires students to have a twitter account and understand hash-tagging and stuff

  • … or a Zoom Public Chat!

  • Use a simple Google doc and/or Form included as part of Google Drive. Forms will generate graphs and compile input instantly): I have used this for group work in writing intensive classes --- works GREAT!

  • Kahoot (https://getkahoot.com ) “a web tool that delivers online quizzes and surveys to your students. My students have used this when facilitating class discussions, but I find it a bit childish and because it is based on time (quickest wins), often there is a very little reflection or thinking involved.

  • MentiMeter https://www.mentimeter.com I saw this first at a university wide presentation.… free with limited audience size (but fantastic visuals)… costs more with more functionality. I bought a license and it is a great --- you just have to be careful not to use too many of the fun addins at once!

  • Loads of others: Nearpod, Padlet, Verso, Plickers, Polldaddy, Infuse Learning….