Boost student engagement with the Poll widget

4 min

In this guide, we’ll walk you through setting up the Poll widget, share its key benefits, and provide ideas to use it for formative assessment, student check-ins, and fun learning games.

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Polls are a powerful way to encourage participation, check understanding, and create a dynamic learning environment. With the Classroomscreen Poll widget, you can set up real-time classroom polls in seconds, making it easy to give every student a voice.

How to create your first poll

1️⃣ Select the Poll widget from the widget bar.
2️⃣ Choose from three question types: multiple-choice, smiley faces, or true/false.
3️⃣ Customize your question, answer options, and voting method (students can vote remotely and/or by clicking the on-screen buttons).
4️⃣ Run the poll and see real-time responses instantly!

note:

All answers on our Poll widget are anonymous.

Why use polls in the classroom?

Increase student participation

Giving students a chance to express their opinions fosters engagement and makes them feel valued. Polls create an inclusive learning environment, ensuring every student—whether outspoken or shy—has an opportunity to contribute.

example:

Ask, "Which character do you relate to most in this story?" to spark class discussions in literature lessons.

Engage shy or quiet students

Not all students feel comfortable speaking in front of the class. Anonymous polls allow every student to participate without fear of judgment. This can be especially helpful for introverted learners or those who need extra time to process their thoughts.

Do they understand the material?

Using a real-time poll, you can identify who is grasping the material and who may need extra help. This immediate feedback enables you to adjust your teaching on the fly, ensuring no student is left behind. For example, you can ask a quick question like 'Which of these is a primary producer in an ecosystem?' with anonymous voting to assess how the class has absorbed your lesson.

Check in on how your students are feeling

Polls are a formative assessment tool, helping teachers gauge comprehension instantly. Whether you’re reviewing key concepts or preparing for a test, polls provide quick insights into student learning.

example:

After a science lesson, ask, "Which of these is a primary producer in an ecosystem?" and adjust your teaching based on responses.

Conduct emotional check-ins

Emotional well-being plays a crucial role in learning. The Smileys format in the Poll widget allows you to check how students are feeling with a simple question like: How are you feeling today? This information helps foster a supportive learning environment and enables teachers to provide emotional support when needed.

tip:

Try out our Wellbeing check-in!

Make learning more fun with games & quizzes

Polls aren’t just for assessments—they’re also great for classroom activities! We've created lots of ready-made screens with Polls that teachers around the world use in their teaching.

🎲 Would you rather? – Start the day with a fun, thought-provoking question.
📖 Two truths and a lie – Let students vote on which they think is the lie.
Odd one out – Play this brain teaser with your class!

Try all of these benefits out in our library

tip:

Explore the Poll widget in our Library of ready-made screens.


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