New uses for a familiar technology: introducing mobile phone polling in large classes

Abstract

We have introduced a real-time polling system to support student engagement and feedback in four large Level 1 and 2 modules in Biological Sciences. The audience response system makes use of a technology that is ubiquitous and familiar to the students. To participate, students send text messages using their mobile phones or send a message via their smartphone, and poll results are immediately displayed within a Powerpoint presentation during the lecture. In this case study, student evaluations indicate that mobile polling has been very well received and been of real value to students in helping them to gain increased awareness of their strengths and weaknesses. Students also report increased engagement during lectures that has provided an additional incentive to attend classes. Importantly, this innovative approach has the potential to be widely disseminated with minimal training and technological requirements.

Keywords:

• mobile phone
• audience response
• clickers
• SMS
• text messages
• feedback
• engagement

Acknowledgement

We are grateful to Peter Kahn (Centre of Lifelong Learning, The University of Liverpool) for his helpful comments on this manuscript.