Authors

  1. McFerguson, Rochelle MNSc, RN, CNE
  2. Richardson, Leah PhD, RN
  3. Riley, Elizabeth DNP, RNC-NIC, CNE

Article Content

One method to aid faculty and students with communication during in-person lectures, while maintaining social distancing and masking guidelines, involves using interaction applications (apps). Interaction apps allow for audience interaction that can be used during in-person, hybrid, or online events. This teaching tip, however, focuses on their use during in-person classroom lectures. Several free app options can be used and integrated into presentation software to facilitate discussion in the classroom (eg, Slido, https://www.sli.do/; Mentimeter, https://www.mentimeter.com/; Poll Everywhere, https://www.polleverywhere.com/). Specifically, interaction apps can facilitate Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in which students can type in their questions in real time, instead of verbalizing their questions, which may be muffled or difficult to hear while talking and wearing a mask. The apps give a short link or QR code that students can use with any mobile device (laptop, tablet, or phone) to go to the FAQs and type their questions quickly. Student questions will appear on the designated slide linked to the interaction app. This allows everyone in the classroom to read and hear the questions while faculty discuss answers. The other innovative aspect of using interaction apps is that the questions posted do not disappear, and students can continue posting questions after the lecture is over, with faculty having access to the questions posted. Interaction apps can aid lecture sessions with enhanced communication during extenuating situations where more innovation is necessary.