With CALI Instapoll, professors ask a question in class and CALI Instapoll (www.cali.org/instapoll) lets them create a poll online in a matter of one click, giving the professor a screen like this:

Students then access cali.org/instapoll on their laptop, put in the poll number, and click on the letter corresponding with their vote: Two clicks.

The professor sees the student's responses in real time on his/her screen as soon as the students vote:

One advantage I can see is this: When my Constitutional Law Professor took a poll of the class's opinion on an issue by hand-raising, it normally came out overwhelmingly in favor of one side (usually the side considered more liberal).

But I knew there were plenty of people who may not have agreed with the majority of my classmates just from talking with some before or after class about the same issue.

Many people are uncomfortable with disclosing their true thoughts to everyone in a class when it comes to topics in classes like ConLaw.

So a professor can use this stripped-down, easy-to-use polling tool to help eliminate that reluctance.

And yes, it's absolutely free. No account or login required.