Using Clickers in the Construction Classroom
Using Clickers in the Construction Classroom
Using Clickers in the Construction Classroom
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The Students’ Op<strong>in</strong>ions of <strong>Clickers</strong><br />
After us<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> clickers for three weeks, students were asked for <strong>the</strong>ir thoughts on us<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> clickers. Everyone<br />
raised <strong>the</strong>ir hand except for one student. When asked why he did not like <strong>the</strong>m he responded, “I don’t like clickers<br />
because I have to pay attention”.<br />
From Fall 2007 pilot program, 75-80% of <strong>the</strong> students stated <strong>the</strong> use of clickers made <strong>the</strong> class more engag<strong>in</strong>g, fun,<br />
or enhanced <strong>the</strong>ir learn<strong>in</strong>g. Ano<strong>the</strong>r survey from Spr<strong>in</strong>g 2008 semester, 84% of <strong>the</strong> students stated <strong>the</strong> same.<br />
Overall 94% rated <strong>the</strong> clickers ei<strong>the</strong>r good or excellent (Rathsack 2008).<br />
Students did not like wait<strong>in</strong>g for o<strong>the</strong>r students to answer. Add<strong>in</strong>g a countdown timer solved this. They certa<strong>in</strong>ly<br />
did not like it when <strong>the</strong>re were technical difficulties. Most of this was solved by test<strong>in</strong>g before class. Some students<br />
asked for <strong>the</strong> questions to be posted onl<strong>in</strong>e which <strong>the</strong> author has not done to date.<br />
It was suggested by one student that if <strong>the</strong> results from each lecture were graded, and not merely an attendance<br />
score, it would enhance her learn<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> material. The o<strong>the</strong>r students met this with much opposition. O<strong>the</strong>r<br />
semesters of students have been asked <strong>the</strong>ir thoughts on this, with <strong>the</strong> response be<strong>in</strong>g universally negative.<br />
Students have suggested bonus po<strong>in</strong>ts or prizes for <strong>the</strong> high scores. I tried a suggestion of current music play<strong>in</strong>g<br />
while <strong>the</strong> timer was runn<strong>in</strong>g, but this proved to be too big a distraction.<br />
Implement<strong>in</strong>g a Student Response System<br />
The success of implement<strong>in</strong>g a SRS system depends on a comb<strong>in</strong>ation of technical, social, and pedagogical factors<br />
(Jackson 2003). All must be taken <strong>in</strong>to account for <strong>the</strong> system to be effective <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> classroom.<br />
The Mechanics of a Student Response System<br />
The components of a student response system:<br />
1. A receiver which is attached to <strong>the</strong> computer (a usb port on <strong>the</strong> Turn<strong>in</strong>gPo<strong>in</strong>t system).<br />
2. Student transmitters (one per student).<br />
3. Computer software which <strong>in</strong>tegrates <strong>in</strong>to PowerPo<strong>in</strong>t.<br />
4. A personal computer or Mac.<br />
5. Microsoft PowerPo<strong>in</strong>t software.<br />
6. An overhead projector.<br />
7. An <strong>in</strong>structor will<strong>in</strong>g to implement <strong>the</strong> system, and<br />
8. Students.<br />
Most classrooms will have all of <strong>the</strong> above except <strong>the</strong> first three items. The software for <strong>the</strong> Turn<strong>in</strong>gPo<strong>in</strong>t system<br />
was at no charge, <strong>the</strong> receiver costs about $150.00, and <strong>the</strong> clickers cost about $48.00 each. The cost to <strong>the</strong> school<br />
will be m<strong>in</strong>imal if <strong>the</strong> students purchase <strong>the</strong> clickers. The bookstore will buy <strong>the</strong>m back for approximately $22.00.<br />
Questions are <strong>in</strong>tegrated <strong>in</strong>to a PowerPo<strong>in</strong>t presentation. These questions can be multiple choice, true or false,<br />
rank<strong>in</strong>g, or o<strong>the</strong>r types. Integration with <strong>the</strong> Blackboard onl<strong>in</strong>e system is available for post<strong>in</strong>g attendance and<br />
scores, and for register<strong>in</strong>g students’ clickers if <strong>the</strong>y are supply<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir own.<br />
Several formats for question and answer display are available such as horizontal bar, vertical bar, pie, or donut<br />
charts.<br />
Steps to Implement a Student Response System<br />
1. Install <strong>the</strong> software on computer.<br />
2. Determ<strong>in</strong>e types of questions to be asked.<br />
3. Select <strong>the</strong> formatt<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> questions to be used.