Dotstorming

Free!

Dotstorming combines social media with polling to provide users with an interactive experience. To engage Dotstorming, users must first register with the website and then log in. Next, they will need to click the “Add a Topic” button on the top right of the screen and enter information about their topic, including how many votes each user gets. At this point, users can add content to their Dotstorming board with the “Add an Idea” and “Ann an Image” buttons on the top right of the screen. As content is added, users will see it appear on the main board. Next, users can enable the board and voting by using the buttons on the bottom of the board. Users also have the option to allow other users to add content to the board after it is shared. When ready, users can click the “Share” button on the top of the screen to get a link to the Dotstorming board that can be posted on websites and shared by coping and pasting it into emails. Other users will then click the link to access the Dotstorming board. When they do, users will have to enter their name to participate in the activity before they can vote and comment on the content. They will also be able to take part in the “Chat” feature. As users vote, the results are shown in real time when viewing the board. At any time, users can click the “Dotstorming” icon on the top left of the screen to return to the main page and create a new Dotstorming board.

Instructional Ideas

1. At the beginning of the year, teachers can create an introduction activity with this website. To do so, teachers can have each student create a Dotstorming board and post two truths and a lie to it. Students will then have to post a link to their board on a class website. Other students in the class can then click the link and vote for the two truths. After each student has posted and voted, students can then review the votes, share the results with the class, and reveal the lie!
2. Teachers can have students read a text up to a certain point. Then, they can pause students’ reading of the text. Before resuming, teachers can create a Dostroming board with this website that has multiple options related to what will happen next in the text. Students can then vote on what they think is going to happen next and/or add their own ideas to what they think will happen next. After all students had a chance to respond, teachers can show students the results, have a class conversation, and then resume reading to find out what does, in fact, happen next!
3. When making a class decision, teachers can provide voice to students by allowing them to vote about the decision using this website. To do so, teachers can create multiple options related to the decision and allow students to comment and vote on the options.
4. When having students present a topic, teachers can require them to incorporate interaction in the presentation by having students embed a Dotstorming board into it. That way, as students present, they will engage their audience by having them vote about a topic in the speech.
5. As a review before a test, teachers can make a series of Dotstorming Boards related to the topic. For each board, teachers can insert the question as the board’s title. Next, teachers can then have students vote on each board. After all the students have voted on each board, teachers can show the boards to the class and review the different options.

Screenshots