Instructor FAQ

Frequently asked questions from instructors using RaiseMyHand.

Table of Contents:

Getting Started
Managing Sessions
Sharing with Students
Moderation & Content
Answering Questions
Session Management
Data & Reports
Troubleshooting
Best Practices

Getting Started

Q: How do I get started with RaiseMyHand?

A: You need three things:

API Key - Request from your administrator
Browser - Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge
Internet connection - For your students

Once you have your API key:

Go to http://localhost:8000/instructor-login (or your school’s URL)
Paste your API key
Create your first session
Share the session with students

See: INSTRUCTOR_GUIDE.md → “Creating a Session”

Screenshot Suggestion: Show instructor login page with API key entry field

Q: What if I lost my API key?

A: API keys are shown only once. You’ll need to:

Contact your administrator
Ask them to create a new API key for you
They cannot recover the old one - only create new ones

Save your API key securely in a password manager (1Password, LastPass, Bitwarden).

See: INSTRUCTOR_GUIDE.md → “Creating Your First Session”

Q: Can I use RaiseMyHand on my phone?

A: Yes, but desktop is better for instructors:

Desktop - Recommended (full dashboard, all features visible)
Tablet - Works well (good screen size)
Phone - Works but cramped (hard to see all questions at once)

Students should use their own devices. You should monitor from a laptop or tablet.

Q: Do I need to log in every time?

A: Your API key stays valid until:

Your administrator deactivates it
You deliberately delete it
Your account is deactivated

Once logged in via API key, your session persists. You can close the browser and come back later.

Managing Sessions

Q: How do I create a session?

A: Two methods:

Method 1: Web Interface (Easiest)

Login with API key
Click “Create New Session”
Enter session title (e.g., “Physics 101 - Lecture 5”)
Click “Create Session”
Done! You get two URLs (student and instructor)

Method 2: API (Programmatic) See API.md → “Create Session” endpoint for automation.

See: INSTRUCTOR_GUIDE.md → “Creating a Session”

Screenshot Suggestion: Show session creation form and confirmation page

Q: What’s the difference between student URL and instructor URL?

A: They’re different codes:

Student URL - What you give to students (they submit questions and vote)
Instructor URL - Your private dashboard (you moderate and answer)

Never give students your instructor URL. Only share the student URL.

Q: Can I use the same session multiple times?

A: Yes! You can:

End a session after class
Download the report
Start a new session next class (different code, fresh questions)

Or you can use the same session code multiple times (questions accumulate). Choose what works best for you.

Q: How long can a session last?

A: As long as you want:

Hours during a long lab
Days across multiple sessions (some schools keep one session open all semester)
Sessions stay active until you end them

We recommend ending sessions after each class for clarity.

A: Use QR code (best for in-person):

Click “Show QR Code” on your dashboard
Display on projector
Students scan with phone camera
They’re instantly in the session

Takes 30 seconds, no typing required.

See: INSTRUCTOR_GUIDE.md → “Sharing with Students”

Screenshot Suggestion: Show QR code modal with large, clear code

A: Yes, perfect for online/hybrid classes:

LMS - Paste in Canvas/Blackboard/Moodle
Chat - Paste in Zoom/Teams/Slack
Email - Send to class mailing list
Website - Add to course syllabus

All methods work. Use whatever fits your workflow.

Q: Is there a password option for sessions?

A: Yes, when creating a session:

Enter session title
(Optional) Enter password
Create session

Students must enter the password to join. Use if you want to restrict access.

Q: How do I know if students joined?

A: Watch your dashboard:

Questions start appearing when students are active
Vote counts update in real-time
If no questions for a minute, students might not be connected

If worried:

Have a trusted student test joining
Check WebSocket connection in browser console (F12 → Console)
Verify they have the correct URL

Moderation & Content

Q: What happens if a student submits profanity?

A: Automatic workflow:

Student submits: “What the hell is this?”
System flags it for profanity
You see it in “Flagged for Review” tab (hidden from other students)
Shows as censored: “What the *** is this?”
You decide: Approve (show censored) or Reject (hide)

See: INSTRUCTOR_GUIDE.md → “Managing Flagged Questions”

Screenshot Suggestion: Show flagged question in dashboard with “Flagged for Review” tab and action buttons

Q: Can I approve a profane question so students see it?

A: Yes! That’s exactly what “Approve” does:

Before: Profane question hidden from students
After clicking “Approve & Show”: Students see censored version

Use this when:

Question is legitimate despite profanity
“What the *** is this?” is a legitimate confused student
You want to address the topic

All buttons work - you have full control.

Q: What if I accidentally approve or reject a question?

A: No problem! Click the opposite button:

Approved it by mistake? Click “Reject & Hide”
Rejected it by mistake? Click “Approve & Show”

You can change your mind anytime.

Q: How do I hide a question permanently?

A: Two options:

Option 1: Delete it

Completely removes from system
Can’t be undone
Use for spam or inappropriate questions

Option 2: Reject it

Hides from students
Still visible to you (strikethrough)
Can be undone (click “Approve & Show”)

Q: Can I see which student asked a question?

A: No, that’s the point of anonymous:

Students submit without names
Questions don’t show identity
Encourages honest questions

This is a feature, not a limitation. Anonymity increases participation.

Answering Questions

Q: How do I mark a question as answered?

A: Click the checkmark button:

Read question
Answer it verbally during class
Click “✓ Mark as Answered”
Checkmark appears - students see it’s addressed

Use this to help students track which questions you’ve covered.

See: INSTRUCTOR_GUIDE.md → “Monitoring Questions During Class”

Screenshot Suggestion: Show dashboard with checkmark button and answered question with checkmark icon

Q: Can I write a detailed written answer?

A: Yes! Click “Write Answer”:

Click button on question
Write markdown-formatted answer
Click “Publish”
Answer appears under question for students

Students see:

Original question
Your detailed response
Timestamps

Great for:

Sharing formulas or code
Writing step-by-step explanations
Creating reference material

See: INSTRUCTOR_GUIDE.md → “Answering Questions”

Screenshot Suggestion: Show answer writing modal with markdown editor and preview

Q: What markdown formatting is supported?

A: Standard markdown:

# Heading
## Subheading
**bold**
*italic*
- bullet points
1. numbered list
`code`
[link](url)

Live preview available while typing. Plain text also works fine.

Q: Can students see my answer before I publish it?

A: No. Answers are:

Draft - Only you see them
Published - Students see them

You control when they see your response. Perfect for preparing detailed answers.

Session Management

Q: How do I control the voting order?

A: Toggle voting on/off:

When Voting ON:

Students can upvote questions
Order changes as votes come in
Use when: Collecting questions (“What should I address?”)

When Voting OFF:

Voting frozen
Order stays same
Use when: Answering a question (no distractions mid-explanation)

Best practice: Toggle off/on for each question.

See: INSTRUCTOR_GUIDE.md → “Managing Voting”

Q: Can I pause a session without ending it?

A: Pause = end temporarily:

Click “End Session”
Later, click “Restart Session”
Same session code, same questions

Students can’t submit new questions while ended, but all old ones remain.

Q: What happens when I end a session?

A: Students can no longer:

Submit questions
Vote on questions

But they can still:

See all questions
See all answers
Review what was discussed

You can restart if needed.

Q: Why would I end vs. restart a session?

A: End = archive for that day

Use End when:

Class is over for the day
You want to download a report
You want fresh questions next time

Use Restart when:

You ended by accident
You want to continue same session next class
Questions should accumulate across multiple sessions

Data & Reports

Q: How do I download my session questions?

A: Two formats available:

CSV Format (open in Excel/Sheets):

Go to “My Sessions”
Find your session
Click “Download Report”
Choose CSV
Open in Excel

Great for: Analysis, grading, sharing with co-instructors

JSON Format (for developers):

Same process, choose JSON
For: Programmatic use, archiving, integration

See: INSTRUCTOR_GUIDE.md → “Downloading Session Data”

Screenshot Suggestion: Show “My Sessions” view with download buttons

Q: What’s included in the report?

A: CSV includes:

Question number (Q1, Q2, etc.)
Full question text
Upvote count
Answer status
Timestamps

Perfect for:

Attendance documentation
Learning analytics
Student engagement metrics
Content analysis

Q: Can I export answers too?

A: Yes! The report includes:

Which questions you marked as answered
Written answer text (if provided)
When you answered

Great for creating session notes or sharing with students.

Q: How long are sessions stored?

A: Indefinitely:

Sessions never auto-delete
You can download anytime
Historical data preserved

Archive important sessions by downloading reports.

Troubleshooting

Q: Questions aren’t appearing in real-time

A: Check these:

Internet connection - Ask student to test on different network
WebSocket blocked - Corporate/school firewall may block WebSocket
Browser issue - Try incognito mode (disables extensions)
Base URL wrong - Check that BASE_URL in settings matches your domain

If students say “questions aren’t updating”, have them:

Refresh page (F5)
Try different browser
Check internet connection

See: TROUBLESHOOTING.md → “WebSocket Connection Failed”

Q: QR code isn’t displaying

A: Try these:

Pop-up blocker - Disable for the site
JavaScript - Enable in browser settings
Browser - Try different browser
Use URL instead - Share student URL directly

QR code is convenient but not required. URL always works.

Q: I can’t see flagged questions count

A: Refresh page (Ctrl+Shift+R):

Hard refresh clears cache
Flagged count should appear

If still not showing:

Submit a test question with profanity
Wait a few seconds
Refresh again

Q: Students can see profane questions

A: This is a bug. Report it with:

Session code
Question text
Browser and OS
Screenshot

Should never happen - questions are filtered server-side. Contact administrator immediately.

See: TROUBLESHOOTING.md

Q: API key not working

A: Verify these:

API key correct - Copy from password manager, don’t retype
API key active - Ask admin if it’s enabled
No extra spaces - Paste carefully
Credentials stored - Browser might be autocompleting wrong one

If unsure: Request new API key from admin. Old one might be deactivated.

Best Practices

Q: What’s the ideal session workflow?

A: Recommended flow:

Before class - Create session (5 min before start)
Students arrive - Display QR code (5 min)
During class - Check dashboard every 5-10 minutes
Questions arrive - Address most upvoted ones
When answering - Toggle voting OFF (no distractions)
After explaining - Toggle voting ON (get next priority)
End of class - Click “End Session”
Later - Download report if needed

This rhythm keeps students engaged and questions focused.

Q: How often should I check the dashboard?

A: Recommended: Every 5-10 minutes

Too frequent:

Distracts from teaching
Students don’t have time to ask questions

Too infrequent:

Build-up of unanswered questions
Students disengage

Find your rhythm. Most instructors check every 5-10 min.

Q: How do I handle controversial or sensitive questions?

A: You have options:

Approve & answer - Address openly, provide context
Reject & discuss separately - Talk after class privately
Reject & delete - Remove if completely inappropriate

There’s no “right” answer - depends on your course and students. Trust your judgment.

Q: What if I get no questions?

A: Normal. Some classes:

Take time to warm up (5-10 minutes)
Prefer asking in person
Don’t use anonymous submissions

Encourage participation:

“Questions? Use RaiseMyHand”
Make it part of class routine
Address questions that do come in
Students see engagement and contribute more

Q: How do I encourage more questions?