(1888PressRelease)
November 01, 2006 - Qwizdom Brings True Interactivity to the Natural History Museum’s Student Summit on Climate Change
Qwizdom (www.qwizdom.co.uk), leaders in handheld voting systems has supplied its remotes to the Natural History Museum’s Student Summit on Climate Change. Around 500, 16-21 year-old students from over 20 countries took part in the four-day topical debate to hear climate change evidence and question key decision makers and experts. Joining them was MP Ian Pearson, Minister of State for Environment and Agri-Environment at Defra and Sir David King, the government’s Chief Scientific Adviser; both keynote speakers at the event. Using Qwizdom, students voiced their opinions on issues such as ‘is the world doing enough to address climate change issues’ and ‘is the evidence this robust?’
Using Qwizdom’s latest handset the Q4 RF, students were asked to vote on 12 manifesto motions from the government’s International Climate Change Student Summit Accord. Stephen Roberts, Host of the Summit, believes that Qwizdom enabled him to collect honest opinions from the young people. Stephen said: “As Qwizdom allows respondents to vote anonymously, we were able to collate and present what we feel to be the true views of the students. With such a controversial issue as climate change, students may not have voiced these opinions had we asked for a show of hands.”
Significantly more sophisticated than the voting systems used in the TV programme “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?”, the Q4 features an ergonomically designed, easy-to-use alpha-numeric keyboard ideal for numeric, multiple-choice, multiple mark, true/false, yes/no, rating scale and sequencing questions. A clear LCD screen on each remote allows students to see the answer options, the question number and the number of the remote. Advanced two-way radio frequency protocol eradicates ‘line of sight’ issues associated with infra-red models and means the device can be used almost anywhere. A unique user ID feature enables both individual and group assignments and provides speakers with instant statistics about a group as a whole or if required, individuals. The group response can be represented graphically, to instantaneously demonstrate the opinions of the room.
When asked to comment on the event as a whole, twenty students chose to mention their use of Qwizdom. Comments included: “The voting system was effective in promoting discussion”, “the voting system is a fantastic idea” and “the electronic voting system works really well.”
Qwizdom’s specially-devised software Interact allows speakers to develop their own slides for use on whiteboards and projectors or to present them as printed tests to which students respond using their Q4s. Actionpoint, a specially-devised, downloadable plug-in, also allows the system to operate in Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 and above.
Gary Morrison, Sales Director at Qwizdom said: “We are delighted to be working with the Natural History Museum and to be helping to promote such important issues as climate change. Qwizdom provides a way for speakers to throw questions at students in the middle of a speech, whether pre-prepared or devised on the spot. This engages the audience and adds a fun element to the event. We look forward to working with the Museum to bring interactivity to future educational conferences”
Stephen added: “The system has worked so well with the students that we are now looking for ways that we can use Qwizdom again. We recently used the remotes in events where we communicate the Museum and its science to the public. Once again we found it to be a great tool for both gauging opinion and captivating the audience.”
Issued: Ends Ref: QD012
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