3x3 Technologies: Communicating

​Content Area: 

Slido is especially useful in courses and settings where audience input and responsiveness are central, such as leadership, communication, business, and higher education seminars. It's also ideal for live panel discussions, webinars, and professional development sessions where structured, real-time input enhances group engagement.

 

Audience: 

Best suited for college-level students, adult learners, educators, and professionals participating in hybrid, in-person, or remote events.

 

Alignment with Learning Outcomes:

Slido supports communication-driven learning by enabling learners to ask questions, respond to polls, and interact anonymously during a session. The Q&A feature allows question prioritization through upvoting, encouraging participants to think critically about the most relevant issues. 
 

Slido's interactive polls, quizzes, and ranking features also promote formative assessment, offering insights into learners’ understanding and attitudes. 

 

Communication Feature:

Slido facilitates dynamic, two-way communication between presenters and participants. Learners can submit questions, vote on others’ contributions, and respond to interactive prompts, all without speaking aloud. 
 

Slido users believe that anonymity encourages more honest, open participation. The platform supports various formats, including word clouds, multiple-choice polls, and open-text questions. The visual display of input makes feedback visible and engaging, creating a collaborative environment.

 

AI Features:

The AI features in Slido focus mainly on creating polls and quizzes and assisting with question phrasing. However, it does not support adaptive learning, personalized feedback, or more advanced instructional design functions.
 

Currently, Slido’s AI does not offer automated summaries, sentiment analysis, or insights from grouped responses, which limits its effectiveness as a feedback analysis tool.
 

Additionally, AI features must be enabled by an administrator or license holder, meaning they are not easily accessible to all users by default, especially in educational institutions with limited technical support.

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Access and Platform:

Slido is available on both desktop and mobile platforms. Participants can join via any browser without needing an account or use the Slido mobile app, available for iOS and Android, to participate in polls, submit questions, and interact during live sessions. 
For presenters, Slido integrates directly into platforms like Google Slides, Microsoft Teams, PowerPoint, and Webex. 

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• User Feedback Overview:

  • Strengths: Participants appreciate the option to submit questions anonymously, promoting honest feedback and participation, especially in larger groups. 

  • Challenges: While basic functionalities are user-friendly, some reviewers mention that advanced features may require additional time to master.  

 

Slido’s Limitations:

 

• Facilitator-Dependent: Its effectiveness relies on presenters actively monitoring and responding to input.

 

• Limited for Deep Instruction: Slido isn’t designed for comprehensive assessments or content delivery; it works best as a communication enhancer.

 

• Free Plan Constraints: Some valuable features, like moderation and advanced analytics, are only available in premium plans.

 

• Managing High Input Volume: In large groups, too many submissions without filters can make prioritizing questions challenging.