Polling

Below is an overview of polling options at NDSU.

Overview

Polling allows for engagement, interaction, and real-time instructor feedback to ensure students are retaining information. It allows instructors to ask questions and assess student understanding. 

  • PointSolutions - add polling in your content or use quick informal polls with your students/participants. Results can be automatically uploaded to your Blackboard Original and Blackboard Ultra Grade Center. 
  • Zoom - Polls & Surveys - allows users to create and launch single or multiple-choice polling questions during or prior to a Zoom session to gather responses from the students/participants.

Help, consultation, training

IT Service Center

Intended Audience

  • Faculty
  • Staff
  • Students

Using this service

Availability

24/7/365 [*Standard outages]

Cost

University-funded: no charge.

Requirements

Must be a campus-supported product

Getting Started

  • Getting started will vary by the product selected. Review specific products as a starting point.

Best Practices

Faculty: 
  • Include polling information in your syllabus, describing the purpose and how it can improve student engagement and learning. 
  • Inform students of any technology they will need to participate. 
  • Be sure to identify the learning goals you plan to achieve. 
  • Think about the questions, activities, and discussions that will best help you achieve your desired student learning goals. 
Students: 
  • Review the technology requirements for your course 
  • Follow instructor-provided instructions 
  • Use a vendor-supported and updated browser

Learn More/How To's:

  • How To's will vary by the product selected. Review specific products as a starting point.

FAQs

  • FAQs will vary by the product selected. Review specific products as a starting point.

Use Cases

  • Assess students’ understanding in real time 
  • Delayed scheduling allows students to take polls at a later time (Echo360) 
  • Facilitate discussions 
  • Encourage students to reflect on the course material 
  • Actively engage students in the learning process

Universal Design/Accessibility

  • Ensure that any product that is used is accessible to all students. Offer alternatives to meet the needs of students, following the guidelines of Universal Design for Learning

Related resources


Keywords:
polling, zoom, pointsolutions, echo360, collaborate, teams, breakout rooms 
Doc ID:
114416
Owned by:
Sharley K. in NDSU IT Knowledge Base
Created:
2021-10-20
Updated:
2025-06-18
Sites:
NDSU IT Knowledge Base