Below is a link for a good paper that is addressed to the college or university faculty member contemplating adoption of an evolving form of classroom technology – the interactive student response system (SRS). Marketed under a variety of brand names, this student-polling technology is designed to maximize student participation, especially in large-enrollment lectures. The article looks at the components and operation of the two most common types of student response systems, wireless keypad and Web-based input devices. Also provided is a brief survey of four decades of published research assessing the generally positive impact of student response systems on teaching and learning.
This paper discusses the usefulness of such systems to include improving student learning (including clearer comprehension, more active participation in class, and better increased peer or collaborative) as well as to improve teaching effectiveness (including availability of immediate feedback). The article also considers the drawbacks to include the cost as well as compatibility or support issues when different SRS products are installed in the same classroom or when students are asked to purchase and carry around competing keypads or other input devices.
Faculty considerations are also noted to include starting slowly with the use of such systems and to determine its compatibility with other software (such as PowerPoint, Excel, etc.) that you may use. Besides technological issues, faculty will want to give serious attention to pedagogical issues and may want to start by visiting a teaching-with-technology resource center on your campus. A must read article for any faculty member considers adoption of such a system.
http://people.uncw.edu/lowery/SWSSA%20ms.pdf
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2 comments:
Ken-
Do you see a time when student desks are fully equipped with SRS, and something like a touch sensitive internet conected computer? Or do you think we'll reach a maximum use of technology, it'll get too complicated or expensive to manage, and we'll move away from it. If so, what time frame do you envision? I see fully equipped desk stations within a decade or two.
This just made me think of something. One thing I've noticed absent in all our discussions about technology is how absolutely awful most high school desks are in terms of ergonomics and comfort. Some college stations are ok. I think a redesign of student workstations from the bottom up is necessary.
Some college classrooms already have this where the clicker is built into the seat. I believe that Clemson University and Wake Forest (my alma mater) already have this technology.
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