Polls & Surveys

Owned by Matthew Harrington
Last updated: Oct 20, 2023
2 min read

Feature Description

Polls are used to gather information from course participants from a list of preset options. Depending on the purpose of the poll, they are often used as a way to spark discussions, capture opinion-based answers to questions without single correct answers, and to allow staff to gather feedback on their course materials.

Polls typically consist of a single question - more than one question would typically be called a survey. From a software perspective, it honestly makes very little sense to divide the two into different tools, as both have similar requirements, and the defining characteristics of the two typically only differ in number of questions and the intent of the questioning, which is entirely defined by the poll or survey’s creator. This is why most third-party polling tools are actually survey tools unless the tool is designed to be used in a live event context.

In classroom-based training, exit polls are a commonly-used tool to allow students to anonymously share how they felt about the class and their understanding of the content that was just taught, as well as a way to help learners demonstrate their mastery of content without completing yet another quiz.

In distance learning, polls also provide a simple, yet valuable way for learners to feel connected to the wider cohort with minimal stakes. They can see that other people are studying with them and sharing their opinions with each other, without necessarily requiring them to enter a full-blown discussion, which can be intimidating to some learners with accessibility needs, social anxiety, or simply not a lot of time to spend studying that can be dedicated to engaging with online discussion forums. On a more practical note, it also allows this semi-social engagement without need for moderation and monitoring, as the answers shared with the wider cohort are typically limited to those that are made available on the poll.

Participation in a poll used as a social learning tool is typically different in intent from that of a multiple-choice question, in that the point of a learner participating in a poll is not typically whether they get a “correct” answer, but more that they think about the question and vote for the option that most accurately matches their opinion. You would not ask the question “What does 2+2 equal?” in a poll, but you might ask “What was the author trying to convey in this piece?”. By asking questions which require critical thinking from the learner, their understanding of content can be augmented, at the same time as providing valuable data and a conversation starter for learners.

General Notes & Resources