Technology Advisory Group

The CTLE has been exploring student response system software – that is, instructional technology for teaching with real-time classroom feedback/polling (like clickers, but using students’ phones instead of proprietary hardware). They’d like to know if faculty are interested in this, and whether they should set up product demonstrations or a faculty workshop on this topic.

Below is a brief write-up on two popular options for student response, Top Hat Monocle and Poll Everywhere, that CTLE TechCon Justin Kearns wrote after researching several student response products.

If you’re interested in using either Top Hat Monocle, Poll Everywhere, or some other student response system in your classroom, please let us know (or talk to CTLE directly).

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Student Response Systems

Student Response System software creates a wireless audience response and voting system that enables educators, trainers and presenters to develop and administer real-time assessments of participants.  These software tools allow instructors to confirm participant understanding, increase participant attentiveness, and gather, rank and report critical information simultaneously in real-time.  Most audience response systems provide reporting functions that will help instructors analyze data after the presentation and have the ability to export into Excel, Word or other common formats for more in-depth analysis.  Other features include student tracking and grading.

The CTLE recently evaluated Student Response System software and found the following two options that appear to be suitable for teaching and learning purposes.

Top Hat Monocle

Top Hat Monocle is a cloud based Student Response System founded in 2009 and based at the University of Waterloo Research and Technology Park in Waterloo, Canada.  The system can be used with cell phones, smartphones, computers, iPods, iPads, etc.

Top Hat Monocle has an extensive database of interactive questions and problems that can be used by an instructor on a range of topics.

Pricing – Instructors can use this tool for free, while students have to purchase a license costing $20 a semester or $38 for 5 years.  For more information on pricing for Top Hat Monocle, click the link below:

http://www.tophatmonocle.com/tour/pricing

For a video demo of Top Hat Monocle click the link below: http://www.tophatmonocle.com/tour/features

Poll Everywhere

Poll Everywhere is a quick and easy way to create stylish real-time experiences for events using the cloud.  Similar to Top Hat Monocle this system can be used with cell phones, smartphones, computers, iPods, iPads, etc.

Poll Everywhere is free for up to 30 responders but subscriptions for larger groups and extended features can be purchased.  In the Poll Everywhere free version question types are limited to Multiple Choice, Open Ended, and Goal Poll.

Pricing – There are two pricing structures available; one in which students pay $14 a year and another where instructors pay $399 per semester.   For more pricing information on Poll Everywhere click the link below: http://www.polleverywhere.com/plans/classroom_response_system_higher_ed

For more information on Poll Everywhere click the link below:

http://www.polleverywhere.com/how-it-works