Civic Results designs and implements processes to engage community members as partners in public and private sector decision making.
At Civic Results we have refined a blend of facilitation and technology that is changing the tone and enhancing the success of civic discussion. It’s called keypad polling and it provides a new way to engage people by providing them with the means to instantly respond to questions, ideas, and suggestions. Using facilitated keypad polling, leaders gain valuable information about how a group’s thinking is changing.
Here is how the system works. A question from the facilitator or a participant is posed on a screen with a series of possible answers. Each participant, equipped with a wireless keypad, responds based on their own knowledge, opinions or following discussion in their small group. Responses are automatically and instantly tallied and the results are displayed on screen. The process is transparent and immediate and everyone, participants and leaders, can see the group’s response to the question. Based on the response, the moderator can change the direction of the meeting, or go into greater depth based on the level of understanding the group shows.
Paired with our neutral facilitation this technology is extremely effective in helping groups reach lasting and strongly supported decisions. Keypad polling changes the engagement level of everyone in a meeting. Participants are energized because they feel effective, heard, and understood; leaders know what people are really thinking.