Sending text messages, or SMS, is the most widely used form of communication among individuals. These days it appears as though everyone has a cellphone. Why not make use of that technology to receive immediate feedback from your audience, whether it be a classroom or a business presentation? Audience Response Systems are a very useful way of getting immediate feedback from your audience during and after a presentation or lesson. Below are the best audience response systems that do not need any clickers. All you need is a web connection or a cellphone.
What is an Audience Response System?
An Audience Response System is often reffered to as a real time voter response system. The ability to get real time responses makes them a very effective way to quickly and seemlessly gather feedback from your audience.
Who can benefit from using Audience Response Systems?
Both the presenter and the audience. Any activity that involves presenting information would find this type of technology useful, especially under business and other professional settings. Teachers can make effective use of this technology to gather feedback from students, parents, and the community. So, students who may feel shy about asking questions in class can get in on the action. Basically any event or situation can make use of audience response systems. However, the type of system that you use should be carefully selected. Some schools understandably have cellphone restrictions. In the upper grades and college, certainly they can be used. This would save districts a lot of money, rather than buying clicker-based voting or audience response systems.
Here is a list of the best text message (SMS) polls, voting, and audience response systems.
Poll Everywhere
Polleverywhere.com is definitely my favorite text message(SMS) poll, voting, and audience response system. It works by allowing users to respond via the browser, twitter or through SMS. This version of the software allows for up to 40 votes, however, you will not be able to identify the participants. There is no need for clickers which makes it much cheaper than traditional clicker based audience response systems.[visit]
SMS Polls
The free version is much more limited compared to polleverywhere.com. It allows only 15 polls per vote and 300 votes per month, and it allows no SMS results with the free package.[visit]
Celly
Celly allows for the creation of private Text message (SMS) interactions. These private messages are within what are called cells. Members can join instantly with one text message and exchange group messages, reminders, and web alerts. It is definitely a great way to get audience responses and accomplish group coordinations. [visit]
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