Last year we tried to standardize to one clicker on campus for the
reasons you mention. We ultimately chose the eInstruction CPS-Pulse
product as it was the most flexible and did not require students to pay
a registration fee each term. The key things we were looking for were:
1. Flexibility of question type (multiple choice to 10 options, decimal
numbers, and alpha input).
2. The ability to conduct 'self-paced' exams. The clicker effectively
replaces scantrons as students use a paper copy of the exam and enter
answers on the clicker. They can scroll through the questions and
answer in any order, see their last input for each question, and change
their answers as many times as they want.
3. Flexibility of OS.
This last item is where we had the most difficulty as the eInstruction
software does not run well on Macs. Neither the iClicker or Turning
Tech has the ability to do self-paced exams, and iClickers only allow
multiple choice with five options. I think we may end up being a dual
clicker campus with eInstruction for PC users and iClickers for the Mac
people.
If you have existing PowerPoints you use for lectures it is fairly easy
to integrate clicker questions. I suggest developing questions that
challenge students to think about the material - apply concepts to new
situations, combine previously covered concepts, or use questions as a
bridge to the next topic. I also suggest you use questions as
discussion pauses - let them discuss with peers during class and discuss
as a whole class after.
Advantages are:
1. They will come to lecture - I get 90% attendance.
2. The question pauses break up the monotony - it keeps them engaged.
3. They think about and discuss the material with each other during
class, so they actually learn more.
4. Based on anonymous surveys they really like the clickers because it
helps them learn the material. Student evaluations have gone up since I
stated using these things a few years back.
On 2/22/2011 10:39 AM, Cary Chevalier wrote:
I use "clickers" all the time.
Turning Point is good, so is Einstruction (CPS). I happen to use the E-instruction
product, but either is well reviewed. There are also probably other providers that are
just a good. If your institution is thinking about using "clickers" have the
providers send reps to your institution to give demos.
the one thing you DON"T want to do is have a bunch of different clickers on
campus, as it is unfair to students. Research the diff. products, then settle on an
institution adoption of your choice.
good luck!
Cary
Cary D. Chevalier, Ph.D.
Department of Biology
Missouri Western State University
4525 Downs Dr.
St. Joseph, MO 64507
Ph: 816.271.4252
Fax: 816.271.4252
Email: [email protected]
"J. Michael Nolan"<[email protected]> 2/22/2011 9:48 AM>>>
List Members.....
I know nothing about "clickers". Every year I do give the people at Stanford U.
a plug, and Rick Reis, Ph.D. for running a free newsletter called Tomorrow's Professor.
There are a gazillion lists and newsletters out there, and sometimes it is more than
overwhelming. This is one newsletter I would subscribe to.
Recently, there was an article, not only on types of "clickers", but also how
to use them. They are so valuable, I do keep them on file.....quicker if you do a search,
as all of their posts are archived: http://cgi.stanford.edu/~dept-ctl/tomprof/postings.php
I am not teaching new teachers, but if I was.....it would be one of the first
resources I might have people subscribe to?, will maybe right after the AP-Env
Sci list!
Thanks and have a great day. If you don't live where there is snow, I will be
pleased send some of another foot we got on the eastern shores of Lake Michigan
yesterday and last night! Well, after I get our front door open.
Sorry for my cross-posting.
Thank you.
Mike Nolan
Interesting that you bring these brands up, Jonathan...my district just put Promethean
boards into all of the classrooms and we are expecting to get their clickers next year,
but I was able to get a set of Turning Point (ActiveInspire) clickers as they were being
cleaned "away" and I am learning how to use them. They are very intuitive-
mainly I am learning how to incorporate questions into my existing Power Points. There is
a plug-in needed to make it work but once I figured that out, the rest is
straightforward. It's a little time consuming to write questions but I think that will be
true with any of them. I don't want to create separate lessons really- I just want to be
able to ask questions as we go through material and have truly interactive lectures for
which I can take a grade or just see how well students are understanding as we move
along. So for me, being able to incorporate questions into my lecture material directly
is very important.
I'd love to hear what others are saying because I am not sure what to expect with the
"new" clickers so I may end up sticking with what I just received. Hopefully anyone with
info will "reply all."
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