GoSoapBox

Related Technology

Qualtrics
GoSoapBox is an online classroom response system and a flexible tool for interacting with the audience before, during or after a lecture or presentation. A presenter can pose a question, run a poll or get text responses from the audience in real time. It is a cloud-based software which runs through a web browser and uses your audience's mobile devices.​

Getting started

GoSoapBox is very easy to use and you can get started in less than 10 minutes.
  1. Go to the VUW sign up page
    http://app.gosoapbox.com/signup/teacher/vuw
  2. Enter your name, VUW email address and password then click ‘Sign Up’
  3. Watch the introduction video and you are ready to go!
GoSoapBox is web-based tool – this means that both the presenter and audience parts run in a web browser (Microsoft Edge, Safari, Chrome, Firefox) and need an internet connection. It is compatible with lots of different devices, meaning that students can use what is already available to them in class. This can be any laptop, tablet or smart phone, and students can work in a group if they don't have their own device. 
GoSoapBox allows for active participation by all students and provides immediate feedback to the instructor. It is used to keep students engaged and to gain real-time insight into student comprehension.
The presenter sets up the questions ahead of time and controls their release during the presentation. Once responses have been collected, the presenter can view them and display the results to their audience, generally as a bar graph or pie chart. Resources for how to write effective questions can be found here.
​Victoria staff can get an account under the University licence. Being under the University license means your class sizes are not restricted and you get all the features available.
GoSoapBox offers various tools:
  • Confusion Barometer (allows to assess the students' understanding of the topic)
  • Social Q&A (enables students to raise their hands to ask a question and allows the class to determine what is most important)
  • Polls and Quizzes (provide a formative assessment option) 
  • Discussion (tool to create discussion topics and have students post their answers or opinions – all interaction is anonymous)
  • Reviewing the engagement data

Using Gosoapbox in class

  1. Tell your students in advance when you plan to use GoSoapBox in your lectures. This gives your students the opportunity to bring their device with them to class.
  2. Ask students to connect and sign in to the GoSoapBox app at the start of the class. This way when it comes time to use GoSoapBox your students are already signed in to your event.
  3. It is helpful to have the URL (app.gosoapbox.com) and the access code for your event visible at all times. This may mean writing them on a whiteboard/blackboard in the room which students can see as you deliver your lecture.
  4. Use your own device. It is helpful when using GoSoapBox to have your own device logged in to your GoSoapBox event. This way you can see exactly what the student sees without having to log in and out on the screen in the lecture room. Alternatively you can control what is happening in your event with your own device and save having to show your students the instructor view of GoSoapBox on the big screen.
  5. Remember that you don't have to put everything into a GoSoapBox question. You can use PowerPoint to deliver the content and then use GoSoapBox by referring to particular slide in the question text.

Other resources

  • The GoSoapBox help pages may have useful information.
  • Blooms Question Guide provides wording to focus student feedback questions on differing levels of Blooms Taxonomy.


​Pedagogy and research

Why should I use Classroom Response Systems?
Interaction and feedback are particularly challenging in large lectures, where class size limits faculty-student interaction. Classroom response systems can be used to ensure students understand fundamental concepts where getting the answer right is less important than identifying a knowledge gap or misconception. Lecturers use these devices to help keep their students motivated and engaged in what’s going on in class.

Lecturers can utilise classroom response systems to bring small group discussions to their large lecture classes. Although they are particularly valuable in large lecture classes, they are also useful in small classes. These systems also provide lecturers with the ability to fine-tune their instruction based on student responses. Lecturers can make adjustments or adaptations to their course as needed in any given situation.

For students they provide a quick way to validate their own learning, helping them identify areas that need improvement. Classroom response systems can also be used to gauge student opinion on controversial or sensitive issues. They are often used to catalyse debate and discussion, turning a passive lecture into an interactive exchange.

Data from classroom response sessions can be reviewed by lecturers or tutors and reported against to provide overall feedback and areas for review or improvement on course content.
Class response technology allows you to:
  • Improve attentiveness;
  • Increase knowledge retention;
  • Poll anonymously and display polling results immediately;
  • Track individual responses;
  • Create an interactive and fun learning environment;
  • Confirm audience understanding of key points immediately;
  • Instantly gather data for reporting and analysis.
  • Gamify class activity.
Rodgers, J., Sankupellay, M., & Newcomb, M. (2014). Systematic evaluation of GoSoapBox in tertiary education: A student response system for improving learning experiences and outcomes. 8th International Technology, Education and Development Conference.

Case study 

Increasing Student Engagement with GoSoapBox 
Rob Keyzers
​Talk to one of our learning and teaching team about using GoSoapBox in your teaching.
This page was last updated March 2022