Check the room in ten seconds
Before moving on to the next topic, run a quick poll. Results come in live, so you can see where the class stands without waiting for everyone to raise their hand.
Vote as a student, then switch to the teacher view to see what they cannot.
Viewing as Ravi Desai, a student in this class
Did the homework make sense?
activeYes or no
Which part of recursion is still fuzzy?
activeMultiple choice
Four kinds of question
Multiple choice, yes/no, a 0 to 10 rating scale, or open text. Polls can be anonymous when you want honest answers. Teachers see a breakdown of every response. Close the poll when you have enough data and move on.
Not just for checking understanding
Run an "I'm here" poll at the start of class for attendance. During a fire drill or lockdown, have students check in from their phones so you know who is accounted for in seconds.