PollEverywhere

Poll Everywhere - Encouraging Real-Time Engagement in Classrooms

Introduction:

Learner engagement is a key element of effective learning and is especially important in adult learning environments where facilitation is used as the preferred andragogical approach.  Poll Everywhere provides a great way to support live interactions through polls and quizzes. This blog explores Poll Everywhere’s features and its applications in education (Poll Everywhere Inc., n.d.).

Information:

App/Tool Name: Poll Everywhere

Poll Everywhere is a live polling platform that allows users to create interactive activities such as polls, quizzes, and open-ended questions. Participants can respond via web browsers or mobile devices.  Limited paid plans start at $120 annually. Their recommended plan is $49.00 per month and it offers features like advanced reporting and larger audience capacities (Poll Everywhere Inc., n.d.). The platform integrates with PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Zoom, making it a flexible tool for in-person and virtual learning environments. The platform is easy to use and requires minimal setup time. Educators can embed live polls directly into their presentations and display responses in real-time (Bruff, 2009).  This supports immediate feedback and discussion (Bruff, 2009). I've used some of these in my presentations for this course if you'd like to see examples.

Summary:

Poll Everywhere can be used for active learning and real-time assessment. The tool supports real-time quizzes and real-time engagement and can also be useful for brainstorming sessions and icebreaker activities (Bruff, 2009). As an adult educator, I’ve used Poll Everywhere for in-person and online presentations. The free version's participant limit (25 participants) poses a challenge for large classrooms. Schools can address this by investing in premium plans or grouping students for participation. Another issue is ensuring all students have access to internet-enabled devices. I like to embed QR codes on slides that allow participants to use their cell phones. Poll Everywhere is an innovative tool that promotes real-time engagement and active learning. Its versatility and ease of use make it a valuable addition to any educator’s toolkit (Poll Everywhere Inc., n.d.).

Example:

https://pollev.com/jamescastleberry590Links to an external site.

For more information:

https://www.polleverywhere.com/videosLinks to an external site.

Tags: engagement, real-time feedback, polling, interactive learning