How Clickers How Clickers Transform the Transform the

ClassroomClassroomDavid Vakil

Innovations 2011 Conference; Tuesday, March 1, 2011

I taught astronomy & physics at El Camino College for 10 years, using TurningPoint equipment since January 2006.

Contact info:dvakil@elcamino.edu – (310) 900-1600 x2130

For more clicker information or a copy of this presentation, please visit:http://www.elcamino.edu/faculty/dvakil/clickers.htm (there’s also a link to the clicker page on my home page)

Presentation outlinePresentation outline How can clickers be used?How can clickers be used? Discuss your concerns and questions about Discuss your concerns and questions about

clicker usageclicker usage Types of clicker questionsTypes of clicker questions Write your own questionsWrite your own questions Working together to improve your questionsWorking together to improve your questions

Big Picture: Clickers enable you to do Big Picture: Clickers enable you to do student-centered learning. Let’s start with a student-centered learning. Let’s start with a “student”-centered activity, rather than “student”-centered activity, rather than with me lecturing. This is what clickers are with me lecturing. This is what clickers are about.about.

Respond as though you are Respond as though you are students in YOUR class.students in YOUR class.

By show of hands…By show of hands…Who believes:Who believes:

“Not enough students answer “Not enough students answer questions that I ask during questions that I ask during

class.”class.”

1 2 3 4 5

Blank SlideBlank Slide

Not enough students Not enough students answer questions that I ask answer questions that I ask

during class.during class.

0

0 1.1. TrueTrue

2.2. FalseFalse

See how much the vote participation increases with clickers?

What are your concerns, What are your concerns, questionsquestions

Work in a groupWork in a group Write 3-5 questions you have about Write 3-5 questions you have about

clickersclickers Biggest concernsBiggest concerns Unanswered questionsUnanswered questions

We will discuss your questions and We will discuss your questions and concerns.concerns.

Other uses for clickersOther uses for clickers Taking attendance Taking attendance (automatic if any question is (automatic if any question is

asked)asked) Classroom demographicsClassroom demographics

Who are your students?Who are your students? How does performance relate to various How does performance relate to various

characteristics?characteristics? Assessing student work during classAssessing student work during class

See See ChronicleChronicle article article Ice-breakersIce-breakers Discussion startersDiscussion starters TestsTests Ranking Choices (i.e. students put a Ranking Choices (i.e. students put a

list in order)list in order)

CheatingCheating

How might students cheat?How might students cheat? What should we do about it?What should we do about it?

These ideas are discussed in Doug These ideas are discussed in Doug Duncan’s book: Duncan’s book: Clickers in the Clickers in the ClassroomClassroom

Treat clicker usage like any other Treat clicker usage like any other assignmentassignment

Specifically mention code of conduct, Specifically mention code of conduct, expectations, penaltiesexpectations, penalties

Grading, Quizzes, and Grading, Quizzes, and TestsTests GradingGrading

Do NOT use clickers only as a means to “grade” Do NOT use clickers only as a means to “grade” students. They dislike that and strongly prefer students. They dislike that and strongly prefer formative assessment.formative assessment.

Research by Wiloughby and Gustafson (Mont. Research by Wiloughby and Gustafson (Mont. State U) shows if grading responses, low-stakes State U) shows if grading responses, low-stakes (i.e. points for voting) produces more learning (i.e. points for voting) produces more learning and richer discussion than high-stakes (i.e. and richer discussion than high-stakes (i.e. points/extra points for correct answer)points/extra points for correct answer)

Quizzes and TestsQuizzes and Tests NXT clickers can handle tests & quizzesNXT clickers can handle tests & quizzes Requires some student training of the clickers, Requires some student training of the clickers,

so I won’t demonstrate that now.so I won’t demonstrate that now.

Qualitative reasons to use Qualitative reasons to use clickersclickers

InteractiveInteractive Student-centered, minds-onStudent-centered, minds-on Just-in-time teachingJust-in-time teaching Immediate feedback Immediate feedback – to you AND your – to you AND your

studentsstudents Research (John Barnett): Research (John Barnett): what students value what students value

mostmost.. Create responsible & informed learners! Create responsible & informed learners!

FUNFUN (competitive?) (competitive?) Gets everyone actively (not passively) involvedGets everyone actively (not passively) involved

(Semi?) anonymous, which (Semi?) anonymous, which helps shy studentshelps shy students!! Early and frequent assessment. Diagnose and Early and frequent assessment. Diagnose and

fix bad lectures/activitiesfix bad lectures/activities Catch poor students quickly, start troubleshooting Catch poor students quickly, start troubleshooting

earlyearly

Some examples of Some examples of how clickers can be how clickers can be

used to used to immediately assess immediately assess

learninglearning

PRE-TESTPRE-TEST: A light year is a : A light year is a measure ofmeasure of

0

0 1.1. TimeTime

2.2. DistanceDistance

Timed question!

15

Checking current Checking current understanding during classunderstanding during class

A miniature astronomy A miniature astronomy lecture lecture

The universe is The universe is 13.7 billion years old13.7 billion years old.. A light year is A light year is

____________________________, ____________________________, approximately 6 trillion ______________.approximately 6 trillion ______________.

POST-TEST: A light year POST-TEST: A light year is a measure ofis a measure of

0

0 1.1. TimeTime

2.2. DistanceDistance

POST-TEST: A light year is a measure of

50

50

50

50

Time

Distance

First Slide Second Slide

Think-Pair-ShareThink-Pair-Share Ask the questionAsk the question If results are between 50-75% correct, If results are between 50-75% correct,

consult with your neighbor and vote again.consult with your neighbor and vote again. If 40% correct, coach them a little first.If 40% correct, coach them a little first. If less than 40% correct, they need more help If less than 40% correct, they need more help

first.first. Usually results improve noticeably, often Usually results improve noticeably, often

80+%.80+%. Students understand and remember Students understand and remember

concept betterconcept better Takes only 3 minutes or lessTakes only 3 minutes or less Here’s an example…Here’s an example…

It is possible for astronomers to detect an It is possible for astronomers to detect an object 15 billion light years away from object 15 billion light years away from

Earth.Earth.

Tru

e

Fal

se

00

1.1. TrueTrue

2.2. FalseFalse

Other question typesOther question types Question types:Question types:

One right answer (like mine, so far)One right answer (like mine, so far) Questions with no correct answer Questions with no correct answer

(anonymous?)(anonymous?) Have you ever used illegal drugs?Have you ever used illegal drugs? Which political party do you identify with most?Which political party do you identify with most?

Questions with more than one right answer.Questions with more than one right answer. Putting a list in order (rank, prioritize)Putting a list in order (rank, prioritize) From From Chronicle Chronicle article: Evaluate your article: Evaluate your

classmate’s work using these criteria …classmate’s work using these criteria … Demonstration/video: Predict what happens Demonstration/video: Predict what happens

nextnext

Write your own clicker Write your own clicker questionsquestions

Work in a small group, write 3-5 questions.Work in a small group, write 3-5 questions. Suggested question style:Suggested question style:

Write an important question about a lesson you are Write an important question about a lesson you are teaching or taught very recently.teaching or taught very recently.

Write a SHORT one or two line correct answerWrite a SHORT one or two line correct answer Write 3-4 common INCORRECT answers, Write 3-4 common INCORRECT answers,

approximately the same length as the correct answer.approximately the same length as the correct answer. Bring your question and answers to me. Don’t tell me Bring your question and answers to me. Don’t tell me

which is correct.which is correct. We will insert new slides into this PowerPoint…We will insert new slides into this PowerPoint…

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION There are a LOT of things you can do with There are a LOT of things you can do with

clickers in your classclickers in your class Method of student-centered Method of student-centered

metacognitive learning (students love metacognitive learning (students love immediate feedback!)immediate feedback!)

They dramatically increase learning with They dramatically increase learning with good questions.good questions.

Particularly well-suited for lecture classesParticularly well-suited for lecture classes STRONGLY RECOMMEND READING:STRONGLY RECOMMEND READING:

Derek Bruff’s book Derek Bruff’s book Teaching with Classroom Teaching with Classroom Response Systems, Creating Active Learning Response Systems, Creating Active Learning Environments.Environments.