Authors

  1. Wilson, Gina DNP, RN
  2. Harris, Connie MS, RN

Article Content

During the Covid-19 pandemic, interactive presentation software was used to engage students in a medical-surgical nursing course. Some of the students attended face-to-face, while at the same time, other students attended virtually via a videoconferencing platform. All students, regardless of method of attendance, had the opportunity to ask and answer questions. The educator can create a presentation or upload a previously created presentation into an online platform such as Mentimeter, Slido for PowerPoint, or Aha Slides. Questions for students can be placed before or after a presentation slide. A variety of question styles can be used including multiple choice, ranking, open-ended, and word clouds. If desired, the educator can ask questions using a gaming mode. Students use their smartphone or computer to log in and participate. The educator can use the software to provide students with an opportunity to ask questions during the presentation. A profanity filter can be preset to automatically remove inappropriate language. When the educator is ready, the student's question can be revealed to the class on a presentation slide. The ability to easily view student questions and control the timing of revealing questions to the class resulted in less disruption to the presentation flow. Student responses are anonymous, which promotes participation by students who are reluctant to ask and answer questions in front of peers.