In this article:
Helpful tip: Before you read on, it is helpful to know that most presenters will accept responses using presenter session. Presenter session and activation is the default response mode for all activities made on new accounts, and it is the best method to use in most cases that involve a live presentation. The information in this article is here to give you more insight on keywords, and a high-level overview of the two different response modes. Explore the other articles in this section for more specifics about ways participants can respond.
Presenter session and Keywords are two modes that you can use to accept responses to multiple-choice and open-ended activities. The main difference between these two modes is that the Presenter session requires activation, whereas the Keywords do not. This difference creates two distinct workflows for responding. These two response modes primarily affect how participants submit responses to questions through SMS text messaging.
The response mode is set on each multiple-choice and open-ended activity individually, so a presenter has the freedom to choose whether to use the Presenter session or Keywords on a question-by-question basis. While both Presenter session and Keywords are available to all users they do contain features only available with a paid plan.
Presenter session
The Presenter session utilizes Activation to identify the activity that is accepting responses. The Presenter session is identified by the presenter’s username. Presenter session keywords and Custom keywords are only relevant to multiple-choice activities.
Keywords
Keywords mode will allow the participants to submit a response without joining a session or requiring activation of the activity. The presenter can enable Keywords under the Text messaging option of the How people can respond menu. Enabling Keywords will immediately attribute Keywords to the activity.
Keywords work fundamentally the same for all response methods. Participants can respond to a Keyword directly to the activity by SMS text or on the presenter’s response page. On a multiple-choice activity, the participant will simply submit the Keyword response of the response option. For open-ended activity, participants respond by submitting the Keyword followed by their response in the same message.
Helpful tip: Even though Keywords do not require activation, an activity can still be activated when Keywords are enabled. Activating an activity with Keywords enabled will display the activity on the presenter’s response page.
What is a keyword?
A keyword (lowercase k ) is a code that participants use to submit a response to an activity. There are a number of different types of keywords, and it's important to note that keywords are used in both Presenter session and Keywords response methods. Here is a quick overview that can help differentiate between types of keywords, and determine which is right for the activities.
Free users
Presenter session simple keywords: Short keywords like ABC, 123, or T/F that will identify the response options on an active multiple-choice activity. You can select simple keywords using the dropdown menu next to the Presenter session selection in the How people can respond menu.
Keywords: Keywords (capital K) are randomly assigned 5 or 6-digit numbers that participants can use to respond to a multiple-choice activity or open-ended activity.
Note: Keywords are generated as needed, not permanently assigned. If the Keywords that were assigned become disabled (i.e. if the activity locks or switches over to the Presenter session), then it will be assigned a new set of Keywords when it is re-enabled on the activity.
Paid features
Custom keywords: Allows you to modify your Presenter session keywords on a multiple-choice activity. Custom keywords must be alpha-numeric, and they are not case-sensitive. This feature is available on all paid plans.
Reserved keywords: Allows you to define your keywords in Keywords mode. Reserved keywords must be longer than 4 alpha-numeric characters, are not case-sensitive, and must be unique across the entire Poll Everywhere system. Since Reserved keywords are finite, they are only standard on our most premium plans.
Premium keywords: Similar to Reserved Keywords, but with fewer than 4 characters long. Premium Keywords are in very short supply, and can only be obtained through our Sales team.