6. Don’t “strong” students just give “weak” students the answer if there is discussion?
Research suggests that this isn’t a great concern, and that both “strong” and “weak” students
benefit from interacting in peer discussion. However, one study has suggested that the way
credit is given for answering questions can impact this. In a class with “low stakes” grading
(equal credit for any response, with questions counting 12.5% of overall grade), peer discussion
was more balanced, with both students in a pair contributing equally to discussion and more
likely to vote differently.
In contrast, a class with “high stakes” grading (incorrect responses earning 1/3rd the credit earned by a correct response, questions counting 20% of total grade), students earning higher grades dominated peer discussion, and both students in a discussion pair more often voted the same. In a small study we did in a different course, we found the correlation between students clicker question answers and their course grade was surprisingly low, indicating that as students were first learning new material, there was little distinction between “weak” and “strong” students. No matter what the achievement level of the student is, encouraging them to articulate their thinking is beneficial.
No matter what the achievement level of the student is, encouraging them to articulate their thinking is beneficial.
7. How much do clickers cost?
Clickers usually cost students $25-65 to purchase new. Often, they can be resold at the end of
the term. Many publishers have clickers bundled with a textbook - in those cases the student
does not see a separate fee for the clicker, but there is an additional fee ($10-20) to register for a specific course. Be sure to ask your publisher about clicker rebates, this can often be included for very little additional cost. Most institutions have a set brand of clicker so students may use them in several courses.
8. Are clickers any better than simpler technologies such as students raising hands or coloured cards to answer question?
Andrea Bair and colleagues of the CU-SEI conducted a study comparing use of identical
questions in two sections of the same course, but using clickers in one and raising hands in the
other. She found substantial differences, all favouring use of clickers.
We have also observed a number of courses where coloured cards were used and then the same instructor switched to using clickers. Although there were very clear benefits to using questions posed to the class and requiring students to respond using their coloured cards, attendance and student engagement was significantly higher when clickers were used. Research has also shown that when points (marks) were attached to active learning practices, student learning improved. In interviews and surveys, students make it very clear that they see clickers as providing a more useful and legitimate way of determining student understanding, and hence more
valuable than using cards. The combination of anonymity and accountability is a major virtue of
clickers. In the words of one student,“I thought that clickers were helpful. It made it easier for the teacher to see how many people actually understood what we were talking about without embarrassing anyone and picking on them.”
“I thought that clickers were helpful. It made it easier for the teacher to see how many
people actually understood what we were talking about without embarrassing anyone
and picking on them.”
9. Will there be student resistance and if so, how do I deal with it?
Some students will probably resist the change in classroom climate from a passive to a more
active environment, particularly as it penalizes absences and requires more effort. Most
respond well if the instructor explicitly (and repeatedly!) talks with the class about the purpose of using clickers interactively, and emphasizes the positive results seen in other classes and education research. The implicit signals are also very important. When the clicker responses show students do not understand something, revising the lecture plan to examine their
difficulties and address them, rather than ignoring this sends a very positive signal. Requiring
students to spend money on clickers and then using them only once or twice per class to answer very simple questions sends a very different signal and can generate considerable student unhappiness.
We have done extensive surveys of students in classes that use clickers. In those classes
where the clickers are used in a manner at all close to what we recommend, the students
overwhelmingly say they contribute to their learning and recommend they be used. It helps
both learning and attitudes if you ensure that the clicker questions, homework, and exam
questions indicate in a consistent manner what is important and what the expectations and
standards are for the course.
There can be a few very vocal students who strongly oppose clickers, but our surveys have
shown that when clickers are used well, this view is never shared by more than a small minority.
If they are troublesome, their complaints can be reduced by surveying the class to show that
they are a small minority, rather than representing the sentiment of all (as they usually assume).
Also, although most students say they like using clickers, even those who do not often still
recognize their value. In the words of one such student we interviewed, “Using clickers is like
broccoli – I don’t like it, but it’s good for me.”
Finally, the most effective way to eliminate student resistance ultimately is simply to use
clickers to make the classroom an extremely stimulating place where students are highly
engaged and learning a great deal.
6. Don’t “strong” students just give “weak” students the answer if there is discussion?
Research suggests that this isn’t a great concern, and that both “strong” and “weak” students
benefit from interacting in peer discussion. However, one study has suggested that the way
credit is given for answering questions can impact this. In a class with “low stakes” grading
(equal credit for any response, with questions counting 12.5% of overall grade), peer discussion
was more balanced, with both students in a pair contributing equally to discussion and more
likely to vote differently.
In contrast, a class with “high stakes” grading (incorrect responses earning 1/3rd the credit earned by a correct response, questions counting 20% of total grade), students earning higher grades dominated peer discussion, and both students in a discussion pair more often voted the same. In a small study we did in a different course, we found the correlation between students clicker question answers and their course grade was surprisingly low, indicating that as students were first learning new material, there was little distinction between “weak” and “strong” students. No matter what the achievement level of the student is, encouraging them to articulate their thinking is beneficial.
No matter what the achievement level of the student is, encouraging them to articulate their thinking is beneficial.
7. How much do clickers cost?
Clickers usually cost students $25-65 to purchase new. Often, they can be resold at the end of
the term. Many publishers have clickers bundled with a textbook - in those cases the student
does not see a separate fee for the clicker, but there is an additional fee ($10-20) to register for a specific course. Be sure to ask your publisher about clicker rebates, this can often be included for very little additional cost. Most institutions have a set brand of clicker so students may use them in several courses.
8. Are clickers any better than simpler technologies such as students raising hands or coloured cards to answer question?
Andrea Bair and colleagues of the CU-SEI conducted a study comparing use of identical
questions in two sections of the same course, but using clickers in one and raising hands in the
other. She found substantial differences, all favouring use of clickers.
We have also observed a number of courses where coloured cards were used and then the same instructor switched to using clickers. Although there were very clear benefits to using questions posed to the class and requiring students to respond using their coloured cards, attendance and student engagement was significantly higher when clickers were used. Research has also shown that when points (marks) were attached to active learning practices, student learning improved. In interviews and surveys, students make it very clear that they see clickers as providing a more useful and legitimate way of determining student understanding, and hence more
valuable than using cards. The combination of anonymity and accountability is a major virtue of
clickers. In the words of one student,“I thought that clickers were helpful. It made it easier for the teacher to see how many people actually understood what we were talking about without embarrassing anyone and picking on them.”
“I thought that clickers were helpful. It made it easier for the teacher to see how many
people actually understood what we were talking about without embarrassing anyone
and picking on them.”
9. Will there be student resistance and if so, how do I deal with it?
Some students will probably resist the change in classroom climate from a passive to a more
active environment, particularly as it penalizes absences and requires more effort. Most
respond well if the instructor explicitly (and repeatedly!) talks with the class about the purpose of using clickers interactively, and emphasizes the positive results seen in other classes and education research. The implicit signals are also very important. When the clicker responses show students do not understand something, revising the lecture plan to examine their
difficulties and address them, rather than ignoring this sends a very positive signal. Requiring
students to spend money on clickers and then using them only once or twice per class to answer very simple questions sends a very different signal and can generate considerable student unhappiness.
We have done extensive surveys of students in classes that use clickers. In those classes
where the clickers are used in a manner at all close to what we recommend, the students
overwhelmingly say they contribute to their learning and recommend they be used. It helps
both learning and attitudes if you ensure that the clicker questions, homework, and exam
questions indicate in a consistent manner what is important and what the expectations and
standards are for the course.
There can be a few very vocal students who strongly oppose clickers, but our surveys have
shown that when clickers are used well, this view is never shared by more than a small minority.
If they are troublesome, their complaints can be reduced by surveying the class to show that
they are a small minority, rather than representing the sentiment of all (as they usually assume).
Also, although most students say they like using clickers, even those who do not often still
recognize their value. In the words of one such student we interviewed, “Using clickers is like
broccoli – I don’t like it, but it’s good for me.”
Finally, the most effective way to eliminate student resistance ultimately is simply to use
clickers to make the classroom an extremely stimulating place where students are highly
engaged and learning a great deal.
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