Gamification Tool Kit: Poll Everywhere

I wanted to include this post as it shows some of the tools I have been discovering throughout my studies. This time it is a free to join and use website called Poll Everywhere. This is an online service in which polls can be taken live at any time as long as you have an internet connection and the answers can be submitted via text message. In terms of gamification, technologies such as iPad's and other text or web browser devices can be used in the class room to submit answers to open questions. A plugin for Microsoft Powerpoint is also available which when installed automatically opens polls which update in real time. The free account I have set up is limited in how it can be used but I will run through the basic functions below and then elaborate on what the paid service can offer.

First of all head over to www.polleverywhere.com to set up an account. After that you can start setting up poll questions. First of all is a basic poll. as shown below:

Wright a question, choose the answers and click create

Viewers can then follow the on screen instructions to submit an answer. Settings can be changed to enable multiply submissions or restrict it to one per user. Short keys and usernames can be customised if you have a paid subscription.

Then there are Open Ended polls where viewers can post any text they like. This can be used for ideas and statements relating to a question or problem posed. Submissions can be organised in the four above ways.

Responses are displayed on screen like this using the Cluster format. With a paid subscription you can automatically censor text input to omit foul language or have responses entirely monitored and not displayed on the screen until authorised by the presenter.

Brainstorms can be used in the above ways. Q&A can be used for an audience to submit questions for a panel to answer or for Brainstorming any ideas can be posted on the board.

Responses can be seen above and once posted other users/viewers can up or down vote the ideas to show who agrees etc.

And finally there is the picture poll. This can be used to select individual pictures OR can have a single picture with checkable areas. In learning this can be used to identify elements of a diagram for example. 

Through this tool a lot of doors open for use in the class room. I plan on using this service in upcoming events and also including it within my final product if its use is positively received in testing.

References

Text message (SMS) polls and voting, audience response system | Poll Everywhere. 2015. Text message (SMS) polls and voting, audience response system | Poll Everywhere. [ONLINE] Available at:https://www.polleverywhere.com/. [Accessed 13 December 2015].