1) Multiple choice poll: This allows the class discussion to be built around the percentage of students who made each choice, without identifying them. Cute trigger. I only allowed them one vote per phone, but that can be changed if you want to allow them multiple votes.
2) Tested answers: This allows students to list various answers on the board in real time. I chose here to allow them to submit as many answers as they liked, and after they explained what they meant we discussed them.
3) Question bar: I used the same setting to keep an open bar on the side of the board so that students could submit questions to the teacher during class. They hardly used it.
It isn't essentially different than a regular class discussion. But it has a coolness factor, and its much harder for kids to stay anonymous and opt out. All in all, good for an occasional lesson plan. You can also embed the poll into a powerpoint that you are using in a given class, which makes the flow easier to handle.
This is really worth playing with.
Below are the actual ones that I used in class, corresponding to the numbers above. If you would like to try it, fell free to submit the appropriate code answer in a text to 22333.
1)
Create your own sms poll at Poll Everywhere
2) Here are the results of my PollEverywhere question in class, "What are the differences in style between the Mishna and the Gemara?"
Make a live audience poll at Poll Everywhere
3)
