Classroom Response/Audience Polling Systems

You can use these systems to collect anonymous or identified responses from an audience in real time. Instructors typically use them for quizzing students to check comprehension, for exam review sessions, and to gather anonymous feedback or responses for class discussions. Early systems required specialized hardware (aka "clickers"); modern systems are completely web-based systems and enable participants to respond using their own devices over a WiFi or cellular Internet connection.

Getting Started

There are many web-based classroom response tools. Most have a free tier, support basic question types (short answer, numerical response, multiple choice), can display results on screen and allow you to export results in an Excel-compatible format.

We recommend:

• Microsoft Forms, part of your BMC Microsoft 365 account, for basic polling and quizzing. Respondents DO NOT need an Microsoft 365 account. Responses are recorded in an Excel file and encrypted in transit and at rest.
• Poll Everywhere (free for audiences up to 25 people) if you need more diverse question types or text/SMS responses. Responses are encrypted in transit and at rest. 
• Piazza (free with Bryn Mawr's site license) for instructors who already use it, IF privacy is not a concern (Piazza does not offer encryption). See live Q&A session and the polling post type for info.
• For online meetings​​​​​​, use ​Zoom's built-in polling. 

Respondents will need a smartphone, tablet, or laptop with a web browser and Wifi or cellular Internet access to participate. (Over 90% of Bryn Mawr students report owning a smart phone and over 95% report owning a laptop.)

For best results:

• Ask your audience in advance to bring devices to the class/meeting.
• On-campus guests must use devices cellular data plans or set up visitor accounts in advance to access Wifi. 
• Have participants pair up or form small groups to respond. Small groups include those without devices, reduces WiFi/Internet demands and bottlenecks, and can increase engagement and deepen learning (PDF). 
• Have a non-digital back-up plan, such as raising hands or the 1-2-4-All technique from Liberating Structures.   

Support

• Click Request a Consultation or book an appointment with an educational technology specialist for help selecting or implementing a polling solution.
• Ask individuals having trouble connecting to WIFI to contact the Help Desk (in person during open hours, 610-526-7636, help@brynmawr.edu).
• If you notice widespread or repeated wireless/Internet connectivity problems when polling in a particular classroom or meeting space, please report this to the Help Desk so we can investigate.
• For help troubleshooting polling software issues, please consult the company's support resources. LITS staff do not necessarily have the resources, expertise or power to fix problems with third-party software.

What happened to the iClickers? LITS no longer maintains a loan pool of iClicker base stations and response units for classroom use. Faculty or departments who want to use iClickers can purchase their own base stations and arrange for students to rent or buy the response units through the Campus Bookstore. Contact Jim Huang (jhuang2@brynmawr.edu) for more information.