Curriculum Topic: Group Activity, Ice Breaker, Teaching Strategy, Virtual Friendly
Activity Type: Multi-topic, Birth Planning, Pregnancy
Purpose: Inexpensive and interactive way to poll your classes using cards and a smartphone.
Supplies: Plickers app
A set of Plickers cards that can be printed or ordered from Amazon
Internet connection
Instructions:
- Open the Plickers app on your smart phone or tablet and navigate to the class you are teaching. You will see the list of questions you have assigned to that class. If you want your class to view the results in real time, use your class computer/tablet connected to a projector, or TV.
- Go to the Plickers web site and choose "live view" from the menu at the top. Or just view the results on your phone and deliver the results verbally.
- Open the question you want the class to answer. If you are using the live view, once you see the question, your students will see it on the big screen as well. Some may prefer to have the class see results in the "graph" mode. If so, switch to that tab before scanning.
- Give each person a Plickers card and have them hold their response card with their answer facing the top. Press the "scan" button at the bottom of your phone and move your phone around as it scans the room. As it picks up the answers, it will show a small blue box by the card.
- When you are done, press the check mark at the bottom and you will see the results on your phone. If you are using live view, the class will see the results there as well.
Set-Up:
Before the class starts, create a free account at Plickers.com and create a class. You can assign a card to each student and keep track of the answers on a student-by-student basis, but it the systems works without assigning cards this way. Recommend creating a class for each week in your series that you plan to use Plickers. Write questions in advance. You can have up to four options per question.
Talking Points:
In my experience, the classes seem to really enjoy the novelty of the Plickers app and the ability to see results in real time. When results were different than what was expected, we were able to clarify the correct information and discuss the topic more thoroughly. I liked the fact that expensive materials were not needed and the overall function was very low tech and does not require expensive response tools or smartphones for all the class members. As it doesn't require students to use their cell phones, it keeps phones out of sight and attention on the learning activity.
Download the free Plickers app available for iPhone or Google smartphones.
LINK: https://www.lamaze.org/Connecting-the-Dots/Post/series-brilliant-activities-for-birth-educators-plick-to-learn
Modifications:
Surveys/introduction — You could poll your classes on simple things, like parity, care provider, place of birth, etc. I have found this works well as a quick daily icebreaker or post break activity.
Test knowledge — evaluate what the class has learned or retained at the end of a class or at the beginning of the next class.
Applications/scenarios — I recently taught a class for birth photographers on assessing labor progress, and I presented several scenarios for the class to tell me what they would do in that situation. It was a great way to open up discussion on the considerations and factors influencing their decisions.
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