Features for Instructors

• Gradebook integration: Grade the recorded poll results in the Canvas Gradebook.

• Anonymity option: Students can participate in polls or surveys anonymously.

• Reusable: Polls can be set up once and used across multiple meetings or class sections.

• Zoom Surveys: Use built-in surveys to gather feedback during or after meetings.

• Free: No additional cost.

Features for Students

• Mobile accessible: Allows use on mobile devices for convenience and flexibility.

• Time flexible: Zoom Surveys can be completed at any time.

• Free: No additional cost.

Not Optimal For

If you already have another polling software or iClicker that you’ve purchased.

Dealbreakers

• Complex or open-ended questions: Zoom polls are best suited for simple, multiple-choice or rating scale questions. They may not be optimal for capturing nuanced or open-ended responses that require detailed explanations or free-form text.

• Lengthy or frequent polls: Overusing polls or presenting lengthy polls with too many questions can disrupt the flow of the class or meeting, leading to disengagement or fatigue among participants.

• Sensitive or personal topics: While anonymous polls can help address this issue, some participants may still feel uncomfortable responding to polls on sensitive or deeply personal topics in a virtual setting.

Ways to Incorporate

• Formative assessment: Use Zoom polls to gauge students’ understanding of key concepts or topics covered during the class. This can help instructors identify areas where students may need additional clarification or reinforcement.

• Icebreakers and engagement: Start a class or meeting with a fun or thought-provoking poll to engage students and encourage participation from the beginning.

• Real-time feedback: Gather instant feedback from students on various aspects of the class, such as the pace, clarity of explanations, or the effectiveness of instructional methods, by using polls during or after the session.

• Reviewing and reinforcing: Incorporate polls to review and reinforce key concepts or ideas covered in previous classes or readings.

• Midpoint check-ins: Conduct polls during longer classes or lectures to check students’ engagement levels and make adjustments as needed.

• Exit tickets: Use polls at the end of a class as “exit tickets” to gather students’ reflections, questions, or overall feedback on the session.

• Gamification: Incorporate polls as part of gamified learning experiences, awarding points or badges for correct answers or participation.

• Attendance and participation tracking: Use polls as a way to track attendance and participation in virtual classes or meetings.

Accessibility

• Inform participants verbally when launching a poll. This practice is particularly beneficial for users of assistive technology and those who might not be focused on their screen. 

• Provide ample time for participants to locate and engage in the poll. 

General Information

If your instructor administers a poll during a Zoom meeting, you’ll see the poll pop up in a new window. Submit responses before the poll closes. Poll results may or may not be shared.

Features

• Mobile accessible: Allows use on mobile devices for convenience and flexibility.

• Time flexible: Zoom Surveys can be completed at any time.

• Free: No additional cost.