Quiz and polling

Quizzes and polls are two activities that are similar in some ways, but they are used for different purposes and in different contexts. This main page briefly explains the differences between them, while the three subpages go into more detail about quizzes in DTU Learn, and Panopto, and polls in Vevox, including when it makes sense to choose one over the other.

Quizzes and polls can be valuable didactic tools in teaching. What they have in common is that they help students move from passive to active participation, which supports both learning and engagement. At the same time, both teachers and students can use these activities to make it clear whether the material has been understood and whether feedback is needed. If the students have understood the material, the teacher can move on to the next topic. If not, the teacher can continue working with the areas that are causing difficulties.

Good quizzes and polling activities require clearly formulated questions and a question type that matches the purpose of the activity. It is also important to consider how feedback should be given. Depending on the activity, feedback can be given orally or in writing by the teacher, or it can take the form of a plenary discussion or class dialogue.

As a general rule, a quiz in DTU Learn is suitable when you want to create an online and asynchronous activity. Quizzes can be used as preparation for a new topic, to test students’ understanding along the way, or as a concluding activity. They give students the opportunity to test their knowledge, express an opinion, identify where they feel confident in the material, and see what they need to review.

A quiz in Panopto is useful when you want to embed questions at specific points in a video, such as after an explanation, calculation, or key learning point. This makes the quiz an integrated part of the video and can help maintain students’ attention while encouraging reflection on and review of the content.

Vevox is an effective tool when you want to create more active learning and increase student engagement in teaching. With quizzes, polls, and anonymous Q&A, you can activate all students — including those who would normally be reluctant to participate actively — and create academic dialogue while quickly gaining insight into their understanding and questions. Short, targeted Vevox activities during teaching can make the learning environment more inclusive, strengthen participation, and allow you to continuously adapt your teaching to the students’ needs.

On the two subpages, you can read more about how to work with quizzes in DTU Learn, quizzes in videos in Panopto, and polling in teaching with Vevox.