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Poll Everywhere

Materials required
Implementation procedure
Strategy in practice

  • Devices (computer, tablet, or mobile)

  • Internet connection

  1. Navigate to polleverywhere.com and create an account.

    ​Note: You aren’t required to create an account, but doing so will ensure that your polls are saved. Polls created without an account will be discarded after two weeks.

  2. Once you’ve logged in, you’ll find the option to create multiple choice or free response questions. 

  3. When you finish authoring your questions, you will be prompted to activate the poll.

  4. The app will then create a unique web page link and mobile text number to the poll. Post both of these options somewhere in class where students can see.

  5. Students with computers or tablets should navigate to the web page. Students with mobile devices can respond via the text number.

  6. Responses may be private or public, depending on how you wish to use the feedback (e.g. for in-class discussion or for your own use only).

    1. If public, display the results page to the class on a large screen.

    2. If private, simply don’t display the poll web site on any class-facing materials, since the web site will visually represent the results.

University professor Karen introduced a new reading into her course this semester and wanted her students’ advice on whether to keep it in for next year. The class is comprised of 150 students, so soliciting feedback in person would be time consuming. Instead, she used Poll Everywhere.

 

Karen’s university has an institution-wide plan. She logged on with the credentials distributed by her department and created a two-question poll: 

 

  • (1) I vote to keep this reading in the syllabus.

    • Strongly agree

    • Agree

    • Disagree

    • Strongly disagree

    • Neutral

  • (2) Write one word that comes to mind when you think of this reading.

    • Free response​

Things to keep in mind

  • Cost: free and paid options, depending on number of users and desired features

  • Pros

    • Many different question types supported

    • Simple, intuitive user interface

  • Cons

    • For single classrooms, you can get by with a free account. If you plan on using this for larger classrooms (e.g. higher ed lectures), you’ll likely need to upgrade.

Karen created the poll and copied the web link and mobile text number onto her class slides. Karen wanted to discuss the responses in class, so she projected the web page in the lecture hall and watched as the results updated in real time. Based on the results to the first question (67% agreed to keep the reading), Karen was pretty confident she’d use the reading next year.

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