Classroom+Response+Systems

__ //Classroom Engagement// __ Video of an elementary school application:[|Elementary School Application]
 * __What is it?__**
 * teaching technology that allows teachers to quickly collect and analyse student responses to questions asked in class
 * uses hand held transmitters ("clickers"), receivers, and software,
 * anywhere from 5 to 1000 clickers can be used; and up to 15 receivers can be used at the same time.
 * __How does it work?__**
 * clickers are distributed to the class (or students buy their own), and the serial number of the clicker is assigned to each student (this information is for the teacher only),
 * teacher asks the class a multiple choice question,
 * students think about the question, select an answer (or "vote" for their answer) anonymously, using the clicker,
 * response are tabulated and shown as a graph,
 * teacher sees the results right away and, based on the responses, decide the direction of the discussion or lesson -the class may need to further discuss the question, or the class is ready to move on to the next topic.
 * __Why use it?__ **
 * 2 main reasons - classroom engagement and assessment,
 * some examples of classroom engagement:
 * if responses are all different (or if one response is more popular than another), the teacher can call on those who answered the less popular response to ask for their reasoning,
 * small groups can be formed to discuss the distribution of the answers and the reasoning behind each response "think-vote-share",
 * can have some groups discuss question, come to a consensus and submit answer; students are then grouped with other students who had a different response, to discuss the reasoning behind each response (to critically think about answers)
 * gives a voice to the minority - voting can be anonymous which can help those who are shy, typically do not answer questions in class, or view is different from the status quo - if they see other feel the same way, they may feel more confident to discuss their choice
 * Class-wide discussion strategies:
 * have students share their reasoning for their answers,
 * make sure you hear from students from each answer choice,
 * if no one volunteers to defend their choice, the teacher can step in and suggest reasoning,
 * encourage students to respond to and challenge each other
 * recognize when the discussion is done, and move to the next topic
 * teacher's need to be flexible, adaptable, and be able to "go with the flow" of the discussion, based on the responses

//__Assessment__//

Video of a high school application: [|High School application]
 * formative (assessment for learning) and summative (assessment of learning)
 * FORMATIVE -
 * use during class to discover what students understand, not understand, what perspectives they may have,
 * allows teachers to respond to student needs on a timely basis.
 * SUMMATIVE-
 * test students,
 * timely feedback

__**What kind of questions**?__

ACTIVITY - Compare traditional way of asking questions (pen and paper or show of hands) to using a classroom response system
 * effectiveness depends on the quality and design of questions,
 * multiple choice or true/false
 * content questions and process questions,
 * CONTENT -
 * correct or incorrect,
 * can be recall questions,
 * used for assessment
 * PROCESS-
 * students perspectives, questions, opinions
 * how they interact with each other and course material,
 * can include common misconceptions in the choice of answers,

__**Criticisms**__

Brigham Young University survey showed the following:
 * multiple choice questions may be limiting
 * cost
 * students forget them
 * technology issues
 * OTHER??????


 * student likes:
 * increase participation
 * student self-assessment
 * mutual awareness building
 * evaluate class understanding
 * grading
 * student preparation for class
 * pacing of class adjustments

University student feedback video [|Student Feedback]
 * student dislikes:
 * technical problems
 * cost - not used enough to justify cost
 * grading - should not be used for tests
 * mandatory attendance (feel like they are being watched and/or treated as children

Future - use laptop, cell phone, include written responses

Conclusion

Websites to check out:

SFU and the use of clickers: [] Iclicker demo vendor website: []

Sources:

Bruff, Derek (2009).//Teaching with Classroom Response Systems.// San Francisco, Jossey-Bass//.

Cue, Nelson (1998). A universal tool for classrooms? The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Department of Physics. retrieved from// [|//http://celt.ust.hk/ideas/prs/pdf/Nelsoncue.pdf//]