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PowerPoint & Audience Interaction

Malcolm Knowles, was an influential figure in adult education. His research proved that adults have enough life experience to be in dialogue with any teacher about any subject and will learn new knowledge, attitudes, or skills best in relation to life experience. By creating an opportunity for audience interaction a presenter can perform real-time needs assessment, give an opportunity for learners to learn with mind, emotions, and muscles (which according to brain research and learning style theory is how the brain learns best), create an environment for learners to participate in the decision making of their own learning (safety), and create opportunities for reflection (Praxis). Audience interaction can also break up the presentation and help extend the attention span.
One of the ways to create audience interaction and meet the needs of learners is with a resource provided by Polleverywhere.com. This website allows you to create polls and include them in your PowerPoint presentation. As users take the poll the results are automatically presented in the PowerPoint presentation. This is a free resource that presenters can use if they have less than 40 participants (if you have more than 40, there are paid options). Using Poll Everywhere you have the option of asking multiple choice questions or giving the audience open ended questions. To participate in the polls the audience may either use their phones and text in their answers or they can use the internet and submit their choice. Be aware; if texting, normal rates apply.
How to Use Poll Everywhere
Using Poll Everywhere is simple. The first step is to create your questions. It will be beneficial to come up with a fun question to start so that the participants have the opportunity to learn how the polling system operates. For Example:
      Are you excited about being here this morning?
          I’m here with bells on!
          Yes, now that I’ve had coffee.
          Where am I?
Next, go to Polleverywhere.com. You can create a poll without being registered or you can create an account and then create your poll (you will need to have an account to save your poll). Click on Create your first poll.

Type a question into the box provided then click Ok, lets preview this poll.

This is a multiple choice question, so click the link for Convert to Multiple Choice.
Type in your choices. When you begin you are only given the option to add two choices (we will add a third choice later). Click Continue.


After clicking continue you will see the first version of your poll. You can leave it as is or you can make changes. To make changes point to the chart area and three options appear.

Visual Settings: You can change the appearance, the instructions, and the chart.
     Chart: Changes can be made to:
     Chart Type: Column or Bar
     Axis Totals: Number of Votes or Only Percentages
     Chart colors
Once you have finished make the changes you can click the x button to close the window.

To add another option click on Edit. Click Add an Option. Add you additional option. Click Save Poll.
To use the poll in a PowerPoint presentation, click on Download as Slide. Choose what version of PowerPoint you will be using. Choose Open.
Seven slides will be included in the downloaded PowerPoint. To include the poll in your PowerPoint, simply copy the slide with the poll and paste it into your presentation.
To interact, the audience will either text or go to PollEv.com and input the code of their choice. As the answers are being submitted, the poll will change to reflect the choices.
Below is an embeded PowerPoint file.  The first poll utilizes multiple choice while the second poll allows attendees to submit their thoughts.


Source
Vella, J. (1994). Learning to Listen, Learning to Teach. San Francisco: JosseyBass, 3-27.

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