A teacher is evaluated when an administrator walks into the classroom (often unannounced) and writes an evaluation based on one class period. It doesn't matter if it happens to an amazing lesson, or one that's forgettable, it's one class period.
Students are assessed with quizzes, tests, and end of grade/course evaluations. The total sum of all their knowledge on a particular topic, unit, or year is condensed into one.
Teachers, students, and administrators need more, better, and faster feedback. People in general need instant feedback. This is why video games, slot machines, and cell phones are such big business, they give us instant feedback.
Poll Everywhere gives teachers and students the opportunity for instant feedback. Teachers can pose questions during a lesson with students responding and viewing others' answers, instantly. This gives the teacher an immediate idea of whether students are 'getting it' or not, and students the opportunity to realize they aren't taking in what they need to do well with the current lesson.
Administrators and parents have the opportunity to watch, in real time, how students are responding to questions through a shared URL link. In this way, they can also respond, or use the results to evaluate teacher and student performance. With the ability to save all responses, a better picture of performance, over a long period of time, can be assessed.
With instant feedback a lesson, unit, or entire content can be changed mid stream so that better conveys information in ways students can better understand.
