Instant Engagement and Conversation Starter!

As a teaching tool, I think that Poll Everywhere is very effective for gaining formative feedback from students, and students are often very engaged in this activity. However, it is not always user-friendly and can take a bit of time to figure out how to set it up. Many features also require subscriptions, although for occasional use the free subscription is sufficient. This tool is simply a convenient way to see where your students are at in their understanding of concepts. It may serve students better if there was a collaborative feature where students could make constructive comments on constructed responses and submit any questions or uncertainties they may have. Adding those features would make distance learning easier using this tool as well.

I consider this a "necessary and proper" app. It has become an essential part of my classroom, but like many tools, the value of Poll Everywhere depends on how the teacher chooses to use it, as well as parameters established for student use. I started using the free Poll Everywhere version about seven years ago and have been using it ever since, regardless of grade level or content of my classes. I can even look back to the very first question I posted, as well as the students' responses (who are probably graduated from college by now). Poll Everywhere is something I find myself constantly pulling out of the "teacher tool kit" because of the high level of engagement and critical thinking that it can encourage. I love that it makes every student feel like their voice is safely being heard, even if only for a few seconds. Of course, insightful responses are not always guaranteed, as that often depends on the question generated by the teacher. Poll Everywhere spices up lessons with a "hook" for students and provides me insight on student understanding that I otherwise may not have obtained in such a fast and efficient manner. Acknowledging that not every student carries a cell phone, I would use it more if I were in a classroom where every student had a laptop in front of them. Of course, the anonymity has allowed some inappropriate responses which have dampened a few lessons, but that can also be akin to someone verbally blurting out an inappropriate remark; it happens. With Poll Everywhere, however, I feel positive engagement happens a lot more.

Overall, I like the tool. I feel that it can work in any setting and with any demographic from advanced to special needs students. It is the educator's responsibility to use the tool in a manner that it will meet the students where they are academically.