Step+6+-+Using+Polls+in+Your+Classroom

Step 6 - Using Polls in Your Classroom

There are numerous ways that you can use polling in your classroom. We will give a few simple examples here, but the sky is truly the limit. Before you start to use cell phone polling in your classroom, make sure you complete the following steps:

1. Warn your students one and two days before so that they will remember to bring in their cell phones. Students are typically very excited about this, so make sure you actually follow through on your promise. 2. Confirm with your administration that it is acceptable to use cell phones in your classroom. Many schools prohibit the carrying of cell phones in classrooms. Your students will probably bring this up with you. 3. You can put the texting numbers on your chalkboard or whiteboard, but if you plan on using the same quiz over and over (multiple choice, free or goal), you may wish to create a template like this:

Multiple Choice Template

Multiple copies of this can be made and taped to each classroom desk for quick reference.

4. The template that you create in Step 3 can be used in conjunction with any quiz. For example, say you wished to quiz your students on simple fraction operations. You could create something like the following:

Simple Fraction Quiz

You can give this quiz as a warmup or as a spot-check in the middle of class.

5. Determine how you wish to show the poll. In my experience, you want to hide the poll from the class. If students see everyone choosing one answer, they may also choose that answer just to go along. If you can, use the 'freeze' button for your projector to show the quiz, and then you can use your computer to start and monitor the poll without the class seeing. Show the class the results after a reasonable amount of time. 6. If you wish to use a free text poll, you would have to use a different texting template. Since this one only involves two numbers, it is recommended that you simply write these two numbers on the board. 7. The question for the free text poll can truly be anything. You could create something like the following:

Free Text Poll

This can also be used as a warmup or as a spot-check in the middle of class.

8. For the free text poll, you may wish to let the class see the answers as they arrive. Students will often race to see who can answer the quickest. It can bring a lot of positive energy to the class.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">That's it! You are now on your way to creating a more interesting and energetic classroom in which you will have a much better idea on what your students are and aren't learning. We would love to hear how you use cell phone polling to increase student learning, so send us an email with any ideas by clicking on the link below:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">jtitterton@carmelhs.org

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">and also, please give us your feedback on the Wiki by filling out the survey by clicking on the link below:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Wiki Feedback Form

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">A final note: most teachers use cell phone polling in the classroom to make sure that students are achieving a basic level of understanding. This is fine, but you should strive to get your students to achieve higher order thinking. In that light, cell phone polling should also be used with open-ended questions that help illustrate links between concepts. If you are working on two units with similar structures, ask an open-ended question to see if your students can make that connection. If you have completed a unit that teaches skills