This month we had a small but engaged group for a workshop focused on the advanced features available on Poll Everywhere. In particular we explored two functions: the use of clickable images and interactive competitions in the classroom.
Image Slides
Clickable images are an interesting new function that allows instructors to upload pictures from the Internet and use them within interactive polls. Instructors are able to choose settings to allow students to click on the image and select outlined boxes on the screen to choose specific answers. For example, if students were shown a map of Canada and asked to choose which province or territory they think has the highest incidence of breast cancer, boxed choices around each of the provinces would be appropriate. Another option for instructors is to give students the ability to click anywhere on the picture to answer freely. This might be appropriate in an anatomy review. For example. an instructor can ask students to click on a picture of an adrenal gland where they think the adrenal medulla is located.
Competitions/Quizzes
To form a competition within the class, students can be split into groups or teams. Some friendly competition can infuse fun into the class. Rewards (such as chocolate) can make this more fun, and the friendly competition encourage students to come to class prepared and stay engaged.
1. The instructor should group the slides they want to include in the competition/quiz into a group on Poll Everywhere. The question slides must be MCQ format and must have the “graded” option selected. The correct answer must also be selected on the question.
2. The first slide is used as a “Team selection” slide to get students to register for a specific team (I.e. Select Team, A, B, C or D). Instructors can split students up by clinical groups or by the location they are sitting within the lecture theatre.
3. The instructor then opens the first question slide up, asks the students to answer it to the best of their ability and then either immediately shows them the answer (or can keep the answers hidden until the competition is complete – but this option is probably best only used in small groups with limited questions to prevent frustration).
4. Finally when the competition is over the instructor selects the “Report” tab and then creates a Segmented Report which is grouped by the competition group (using the “all slides” option. Then the instructor selects segmented by the “Team” slide (just typing in the word team will find the slide for you, if you used this word in its title). The winning team is then displayed.
Forthcoming Journal Club
Please join us in two weeks for a controversial discussion with students and faculty members at our journal club. Our topic on November 18th will be failure to fail in nursing programs. Click here for the article and please RSVP to Allana if you can attend.
