Below is an article from USA TODAY on student response systems (or clickers) in the classroom. According to the article, clickers are increasingly finding their way into college classrooms and are being used on hundreds of campuses. Users say they change the classroom dynamic, providing a way to get feedback and engage students in large, impersonal lecture halls. Clickers also provide a way around students' fear of giving a wrong answer in front of their peers, or of expressing unpopular opinions. For example, they are beneficial when it comes to sensitive topics such as affirmative action. Clickers are often used to gauge understanding by posing multiple choice questions and to solicit students' opinions. No matter the use, students are required to get involved.
While clickers make students get involved, professors noted that it's still too early to say whether students who used the clickers were doing better on standardized tests. However as noted in the article, clickers give everyone an equal voice instead of a few dominating the discussion.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/gear/computing/2005-05-09-interactive-classrooms_x.htm
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3 comments:
I posted on using Jeopardy in the classroom...with the clicker idea, I think a one-vs.100 type game might be a lot of fun, especially in a large class. Probably better suited to high school then college, and would also make a great review day activity.
I have always been a supporter of the clicker. While it might not have been proven to raise test scores yet, the more you get children involved the better chance they have to retaining the knowledge. I have I quiet student in class that never participates because he doesn't know the answer or because he is shy. Clickers give him a way to be involved and not be embarassed if he gets the answer wrong and at least he might make a connection to himself that the answer he picked was wrong and he would know why. This would get him learning in his own way. Like I said before, clickers have not been proven to raise test scores, YET. I think in time we will find they will because active students retain and learn more. Nice article.
Hi Ken,
As I read your blogs I am getting a better idea on the use of clickers in the classroom. I must agree that discussions can become centered around a few students for whatever reason. Clickers will allow everyone to participate with an equal voice.
I guess my main concern now is cost. The cost of science textbooks are sky high, as you know, and I don't want to require another item for them to buy. If they were used in multiple courses, the cost wouldn't seem so much to the student. If they are provided by the school, then the faculty member has to be concerned about inventory control.
It seems that you have shown that the benifits may outweigh the costs.
Ken
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