In August 2022, led by @husnaahmed, the Learning Technology team planned and delivered a Vevox training session for Lecturers. Vevox is a polling and Q&A platform that can be used in a range of contexts to support engagement (Auga Technologies Ltd, 2022).
“A classroom response system (CRS) is any system used in a face-to-face setting to poll students and gather immediate feedback in response to questions posed by instructors” (Deal, 2007, p2).
At the RAU, we carried out a pilot to ascertain the extent to which Vevox was right for the RAU led by Husna Ahmed (@husnaahmed). One of the ways in which Vevox was used successfully was as part of the interactive sessions within our transnational projects. Engaging a large number of students in one online classroom can present a range of pedagogic challenges. Vevox can help to support student engagement in this context.
We explored what the tool is, why you can use it, and how to get started for example using module pages on Gateway. We demonstrated how to use the tool with a live demonstration and showed participants the Vevox Microsoft Teams integration The Vevox PowerPoint add in is a useful tool.
The Vevox dashboard was discussed for example using polls, Q&A, surveys, word cloud and how to change the settings. One of the significant feature is how to use it with a PowerPoint slide. It is also possible to enhance the Vevox experience by using a countdown clock to help students focus on a task. The extent to which Vevox can provide an opportunity to explore learning analytics was also explored.
Participants were invited to take part in a self-assessment and compared the results at the before and after the session. The results showed that a significant improvement with respect to improving confidence in using Vevox
In terms of articulating the value of using Vevox in teaching and learning contexts, we explored both a pedagogic application and reflective component. Benefits of using the tool are the possibility of contributing in an anonymous capacity and the potential of co-creation. A range of case studies were explored. The history of both student response systems (SRS) and class response systems (CRS) were discussed, assessment and feedback, both synchronous and asynchronous use, the phenomenon of lurking and previous action research carried out at the RAU exploring polling.
Previous action research carried out into polling at the RAU presented at the Irish Learning Technology Association (ILTA) organised the EdTech Winter Online Conference in 2021 with Paradigm Shift: Reflection, Resilience and Renewal in Digital Education that took place in January 2021 on Zoom entitled “I Poll Therefore I Am” Exploring the impact of polling on student engagement in the context of a transnational online pivot (McDonald, 2022). A reflective blog post can be accessed here.
We were very grateful to Fraser Hill and Brogan Milligan from Vevox who joined the training session. Fraser talked us through new features. Thank you to the academics who attended the training session. If you have any questions, please get in touch with the team: learning.technology@rau.ac.uk.
Check out the Vevox Education Stories and the Vevox blog.
If you would like to explore how to use Vevox, please get in touch with the Learning technology Team: learning.technology@rau.ac.uk.
Bibliography
Auga Technologies Ltd (2022) Vevox (Online) Available at: https://www.vevox.com/ [Accessed 11 August 2022]
Auga Technologies Ltd (2022) PowerPoint Add-In (Online) Available at: https://www.vevox.com/resources/powerpoint-add-in [Accessed 11 August 2022]
Auga Technologies Ltd (2022) Education Stories (Online) Available at: https://www.vevox.com/stories/education-stories [Accessed 11 August 2022]
Auga Technologies Ltd (2022) Tips & inspiration for unmissable meetings and classes. www.vevox.com/blog. Vevox Blog. [blog] 2022 www.vevox.com/blog. [Accessed 12 August 2022]
McDonald, P., (2021) Digital Winter is Coming. Exploring the Brave New Digital Worlds at the EdTech Winter Conference 2021. A Reflective Audio Comic. Digitalrau.wordpress.com Digital Transformation Blog [blog] 14th January. Available at: https://digitalrau.wordpress.com/2021/01/14/the-digital-winter-is-coming-exploring-the-brave-new-digital-worlds-at-the-edtech-winter-conference-2021-a-reflective-audio-comic/ [Accessed 8 August 2022]
McDonald, P., (2021) “I Poll Therefore I Am” Exploring the impact of polling on student engagement in the context of a transnational online pivot. [PowerPoint presentation] Irish Learning Technology Association (ILTA) EdTech Winter Online Conference 2021 Paradigm Shift: Reflection, Resilience and Renewal in Digital Education. Online. January 2021.
Tong, V.C.H., (2012), Using asynchronous electronic surveys to help in-class revision: A case study. British Journal of Educational Technology, 43: 465-473. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8535.2011.01207.x
Digital Transformation at RAU 