Increase Attendance, Retention, Increase Attendance, Retention, and Engagement in Your Courses and Engagement in Your Courses Using Clickers Using Clickers David Vakil Portland State University; September 22, 2011 I have been using TurningTechnologies equipment since January 2006. I have been teaching astronomy & physics in southern California community colleges for 11 + years. I now teach as an adjunct as serve as the Associate Dean, Academic Affairs. Contact info: [email protected]– (310) 900-1600 x2250 For more clicker information or a copy of this presentation, please visit:
Transcript
Increase Attendance, Retention, Increase Attendance, Retention, and Engagement in Your Courses and Engagement in Your Courses
Using ClickersUsing ClickersDavid Vakil
Portland State University; September 22, 2011
I have been using TurningTechnologies equipment since January 2006. I have been teaching astronomy & physics in southern California community colleges for 11+ years. I now teach as an adjunct as serve as the Associate Dean, Academic Affairs.
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 What are clickers? [Brief]What are clickers? [Brief] How can they be used?How can they be used? Why should you use clickers? Why should you use clickers?
What are the benefits?What are the benefits?
Please ASK QUESTIONS Please ASK QUESTIONS duringduring this this presentation.presentation.
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 with “student”-centered activity, rather than with me lecturing. This is what clickers are 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?
TurningPoint – El Camino’s TurningPoint – El Camino’s standardstandard
RF-LCD model
Software:Software: Integrates EASILY with PowerPoint Integrates EASILY with PowerPoint
(TurningPoint)(TurningPoint) Available as stand-alone (TurningPoint Anywhere)Available as stand-alone (TurningPoint Anywhere) Equipment available with no computer needed!Equipment available with no computer needed! Macintosh software availableMacintosh software available
TurningPoint’s RF and RF-LCD clickers:TurningPoint’s RF and RF-LCD clickers: Come in Braille alsoCome in Braille also Uses 2 coin cell 2032 (3.0V) batteriesUses 2 coin cell 2032 (3.0V) batteries Simple to use for studentSimple to use for student RF RF LCDLCD model has display screen – BUY THIS model has display screen – BUY THIS
Has screen for direct feedback to student; allows Has screen for direct feedback to student; allows for clicker-tests and word answers. Replaces for clicker-tests and word answers. Replaces Scantrons.Scantrons.
Uses 2 AAA batteries.Uses 2 AAA batteries. More features, more expensiveMore features, more expensive
NXT model
Information gathered by Information gathered by clickerclicker
Which clickers responded to the questionWhich clickers responded to the question What answer each clicker gave to each questionWhat answer each clicker gave to each question If multiple answers given, order is saved, useful If multiple answers given, order is saved, useful
for:for: multi-digit numbersmulti-digit numbers Ranking a list (prioritizing)Ranking a list (prioritizing)
Turning Point results are easily exported to ExcelTurning Point results are easily exported to Excel How long it took each clicker (student) to answerHow long it took each clicker (student) to answer When question is re-polled, all answers are savedWhen question is re-polled, all answers are saved Decimals (only on NXT model)Decimals (only on NXT model) Some math symbols/expressions (only NXT)Some math symbols/expressions (only NXT)
Some examples of Some examples of how clickers can how clickers can
be usedbe usedin classesin classes
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 40-50% correct, coach them a little first.If 40-50% correct, coach them a little first. If less than 40% correct, they need more help first.If less than 40% correct, they need more help first.
Usually results improve noticeably, often 80+Usually results improve noticeably, often 80+%.%.
Students understand and remember concept Students understand and remember concept betterbetter
Takes only 1 minute or less per question askedTakes only 1 minute or less per question asked I typically give 60-90 seconds per conceptual I typically give 60-90 seconds per conceptual
question.question. Here’s an example…Here’s an example…
TurningPoint AnywhereTurningPoint Anywhere
Open TurningPoint AnywhereOpen TurningPoint Anywhere Load participant listLoad participant list Turn on response gridTurn on response grid Click bar graph during pollClick bar graph during poll
What can you do with What can you do with clickers?clickers?
Pre- and post-Pre- and post- instruction questions. (Did they instruction questions. (Did they learn?)learn?)
Taking attendance Taking attendance (automatically calculated if any question is asked)(automatically calculated if any question is asked)
Classroom demographicsClassroom demographics Who are your students?Who are your students? How does performance relate to various characteristics?How does performance relate to various characteristics?
Gathering Gathering feedback about class or getting opinionsfeedback about class or getting opinions like/dislike activitylike/dislike activity useful/uselessuseful/useless
Quick assessment of Quick assessment of recently covered materialrecently covered material Ask about facts or conceptual understanding.Ask about facts or conceptual understanding. No question is too easy to ask studentsNo question is too easy to ask students. You’ll be amazed.. You’ll be amazed. Build their confidence or shake yours!Build their confidence or shake yours!
Assessing Assessing student work during class student work during class (See Chronicle (See Chronicle article)article)
End of class summaryEnd of class summary Beginning of class reviewBeginning of class review Determine if students did reading/homeworkDetermine if students did reading/homework
Full-length testsFull-length tests Ranking choicesRanking choices On-the-fly questions to suit whatever comes to On-the-fly questions to suit whatever comes to
mind during class.mind during class. Some of my best & worst questions were done on the fly.Some of my best & worst questions were done on the fly. When students ask a question, DON’T ANSWER THEM! When students ask a question, DON’T ANSWER THEM!
Click!Click! Fastest responsesFastest responses Team questions/answersTeam questions/answers
What skills are needed to use What skills are needed to use TurningPoint?TurningPoint?
Knowledge of PowerPoint helpful, Knowledge of PowerPoint helpful, but not requiredbut not required..
Anybody with basic knowledge of Anybody with basic knowledge of computerscomputers
TurningPoint & TurningPoint TurningPoint & TurningPoint Anywhere are easy for novicesAnywhere are easy for novices
Both are also powerful and versatile Both are also powerful and versatile for advanced usersfor advanced users
Why you should use Why you should use clickers…clickers…
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
(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
Quantitative reasons to use Quantitative reasons to use clickersclickers
Attendance increases noticeablyAttendance increases noticeably Research at 4-year schools shows attendance at 85%.Research at 4-year schools shows attendance at 85%.
Similar research shows students Similar research shows students read the text moreread the text more, , are are more interested in the coursemore interested in the course, have a , have a more more positive attitudepositive attitude towards the course. towards the course. Clickers help Clickers help students enjoy schoolstudents enjoy school!! When I don’t use clickers during class, I get complaints! When I don’t use clickers during class, I get complaints!
Students like clickers and learn from using them.Students like clickers and learn from using them. FOR MY CLASSES: my school’s research team found:FOR MY CLASSES: my school’s research team found:
Success (earning C or better) Success (earning C or better) increased 12%increased 12%.. Retention (finished) increased 2% (astro) & 25% (physics).Retention (finished) increased 2% (astro) & 25% (physics). GPA didn’t change much because GPA didn’t change much because Withdrawals Withdrawals C’s C’s..
Success gains this large are VERY difficult to Success gains this large are VERY difficult to achieve.achieve. Gains partly from technology, Gains partly from technology, mostly from new way of mostly from new way of
teachingteaching
Clicker capabilitiesClicker capabilities
The following slides show some The following slides show some other things you can do with other things you can do with clickers.clickers.
MULTI-ANSWER: Which of the following are MULTI-ANSWER: Which of the following are NOT types of electromagnetic radiation? NOT types of electromagnetic radiation?
Explain the demo set-upExplain the demo set-up Have students predict the outcomeHave students predict the outcome Do the demonstrationDo the demonstration Specifically ask students “Specifically ask students “Was your Was your
prediction correctprediction correct?”?” Shows students who lack confidence they Shows students who lack confidence they
aren’t alonearen’t alone Recognize intuition can be wrongRecognize intuition can be wrong
I will drop a pen and a I will drop a pen and a crumpledcrumpled piece of paper. Which piece of paper. Which will hit the ground first?will hit the ground first?
0
0
0 1.1. The pen will hit the ground first.The pen will hit the ground first.
2.2. They will hit the ground at the same They will hit the ground at the same time.time.
3.3. The paper will hit the ground first.The paper will hit the ground first.I will now perform the demonstration
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.
How could YOU use How could YOU use clickers?clickers?
Developing good questions is how true, Developing good questions is how true, lasting, meaningful learning takes place.lasting, meaningful learning takes place.
How to assess learning in YOUR classes:How to assess learning in YOUR classes: Write an important question about a lesson you Write an important question about a lesson you
are teaching soon or taught very recently.are teaching soon or taught very recently. Write a SHORT one or two line correct answerWrite a SHORT one or two line correct answer Write 3-4 Write 3-4 commoncommon INCORRECT answers, INCORRECT answers,
approximately the same length as the correct approximately the same length as the correct answer.answer.
Bring your question and answers to me. Don’t Bring your question and answers to me. Don’t tell me which answer is correct.tell me which answer is correct.
Time permitting: we’ll try your questions.Time permitting: we’ll try your questions.
CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION
There are a LOT of things you can do There are a LOT of things you can do with clickers in your classwith clickers in your class
Method of student-centered learningMethod of student-centered learning They dramatically increase learningThey dramatically increase learning Particularly well-suited for lecture classesParticularly well-suited for lecture classes Questions? Comments?Questions? Comments? STRONGLY RECOMMEND READING:STRONGLY RECOMMEND READING:
Derek Bruff’s book Derek Bruff’s book Teaching with Classroom Teaching with Classroom Response Systems, Creating Response Systems, Creating ActiveActive Learning Learning Environments.Environments.
