What are some effective ways to use polls, quizzes, and games in your presentations?

These kinds of activities are great for immediate recall activities. They can help to create long term recall of the information being presented. I have also had success using games and quizzes as pre-learning tools. If participants get the answer right they know they don't need to focus as much on that portion. Things they get wrong, they will focus more and retain better when they hear those items come up.

Polls, quizzes, and games are fundamental activities for learning. As children we learned the alphabet by singing it; we learned how to negotiate rules and interact with peers through games. By incorporating these tools into a presentation or for other educational purposes, retention of the material is increased, a sense of familiarity is created which reduces stress and worry, which also increases learning outcomes, and a climate of inclusion is created. All of these factors increase learning outcomes and enhance the student's overall sense of accomplishment and engagement.

Polls, quizzes, and games transform passive listening into active participation, making your presentations more engaging and interactive. 1) Help gauge audience understanding: a quick quiz knows what they understand so far, it helps you to decide the depth of teaching during class 2) Reinforce key concepts. using a quiz mid-presentation can assess retention, 3) Break the monotony, a poll can solicit opinions, making the audience feel involved. Generally Games add a fun element, increasing attention and motivation to learn. Platforms like Kahoot! has individual competition and group collaboration, love using it.

Polls, quizzes, and games are excellent tools for creating an interactive learning environment. They not only make lessons more engaging but also provide immediate feedback to both students and instructors. This real-time interaction helps in identifying areas where students might need additional support or clarification. Additionally, incorporating these tools can foster a sense of competition and achievement, which can be motivating for learners. By varying the formats and incorporating elements of fun, you can cater to different learning styles and keep students actively involved. Balancing these activities with more traditional methods can help ensure that the learning experience remains comprehensive and effective.

Polls can be strategically used to capture audience opinions, preferences, or understanding on a topic. For example, using Slido, you can start your presentation with a poll asking, "What do you hope to learn from today’s session?" This helps tailor your presentation to audience needs. During the session, you might ask, "How confident do you feel about this concept?" to gauge understanding and adjust your pacing. However, poll itself is not enough to gather understanding and feedback, do prompt further to understand in more depth to bridge expectations and gather data.

For instance, using Kahoot!, you can insert a quiz after explaining a key concept, such as asking, "Which of the following best describes X?" This immediate check helps solidify the information. For longer presentations, break up the content with short quizzes using Quizizz to keep the audience engaged and ensure retention. At the end, a comprehensive quiz can review all major points, personally I like Kahoot!'s collaborative game at the end as the questions are repeated but reinforced.

When using polls, quizzes, or games, ensure they align with your presentation goals and don’t distract from the core message. (These are not necessary to be used for every single lesson) Test your tools beforehand to avoid technical glitches, and be mindful of time—interactive elements should enhance, not overshadow, your content. Do note that for Kahoot account that's not premium there's limit to no. of users. Additionally, consider your audience’s preferences and tech comfort level to choose the most effective platforms, ensuring everyone can participate smoothly. Example, Kahoot's puzzle question type is not that friendly when using a mobile phone.