Top Hat

Top Hat is an interactive learning platform that enhances classroom engagement by utilizing students' personal devices (smart phones, tablets, or laptops) to participate in real-time discussions, quizzes, and attendance tracking. Top Hat supports various interactive question formats, group activities, and collaborative discussions, making it ideal for promoting active learning in both in-person and remote classrooms.

Key Features

• Real-Time Polling and Q&A: Allows instructors to pose questions in various formats (multiple choice, word cloud, clickable image, etc.), collecting immediate responses to gauge understanding and adapt lessons on the spot.
• Gamified Engagement: Features gamification elements like polling tournaments and leader boards, encouraging friendly competition and motivating student participation.
• Customizable Content Creation: Enables instructors to create and share interactive lectures, quizzes, and other materials directly within the platform, enriching the learning experience.
• Attendance Tracking: Uses GPS-enabled attendance features or check-in codes to ensure accurate attendance, saving time and enhancing participation tracking.
• Discussion Boards and Collaborative Tools: Provides a platform for students to engage in discussions and group work, fostering a collaborative learning environment and peer-to-peer learning.
• Learning Analytics and Reporting: Generates comprehensive reports on student performance, attendance, and participation trends, offering insights to inform instructional decisions.

Benefits

• Boosts Student Engagement: By leveraging students' devices, Top Hat encourages active participation, transforming lectures into interactive learning experiences that engage students more fully.
• Enhances Learning Outcomes: Interactive questions and real-time feedback help instructors address misunderstandings immediately, improving comprehension and retention.
• Supports Flexible Learning Styles: Multiple engagement formats (e.g., Q&A, polls, group discussions) accommodate diverse learning preferences, creating a more inclusive learning environment.
• Streamlines Administrative Tasks: Attendance tracking and automatic grading reduce the need for manual input, allowing instructors to focus more on teaching and less on record-keeping.
• Promotes Data-Driven Instruction: Analytics on student attendance, participation, and performance provide insights that enable instructors to tailor their teaching methods and offer targeted support where needed.
• Facilitates Peer Learning: The discussion and collaboration features foster a sense of community and peer support, which can enhance students' understanding through shared perspectives.

Top Hat is available to all active Loyola University Chicago faculty and students as an engagement and attendance tool in courses across all disciplines.

This service is provided at no additional cost to eligible* individuals or departments, as it is fully funded by the institution.

*Questions on eligibility, please contact the ITS Service Desk*