Using Clickers with Success

Doug Balmer

Warwick High School

June 22, 2009

Pedagogy

“An electronic response system

does not come prepackaged with

interactive engagement.”

(Judson & Sawada, 2002)

Pedagogy

“The instructional design mostly

isn’t in the equipment or

software, but in how each

teacher uses it.”

(Draper, Cargill, & Cuts, 2002)

Social Constructivism

Kenneth Gergen suggests that social constructivism departs from traditional

pedagogy in four ways: “(1) the diffusion of authority, (2) the

vitalization of relationship, (3) the generation of meaning in practice and

(4) the multiplication of voice.”

(Geelan, 1997)

Inquiry

“The inquiry process became our

jungle gym, and as we crawled

around on it [the students] began

to really appreciate [the topic

they were studying].”

(Ribbens, 2007).

Tip #1

“The implications of this research for teaching are that all three components of the learning process (practice, reflection, and review) are necessary for effective

student learning.”

(Bunce, VandenPlas, & Havanki, 2006)

If students didn’t have access to the clicker questions after class, what would that most affect?

A) Practice B) Reflection C) Review

Tip #1

“The implications of this research for teaching are that all three components of the learning process (practice, reflection, and review) are necessary for effective

student learning.”

(Bunce, VandenPlas, & Havanki, 2006)

If students didn’t have access to the clicker questions after class, what would that most affect?

A) Practice B) Reflection C) Review

Tip #2

Discussion-oriented seating

arrangements are necessary.(University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, 2005)

How would you arrange this

“traditional” seating arrangement to

facilitate discussion?

How would you arrange this

“traditional” seating arrangement to

facilitate discussion?

Tip #3

Give the students “wait time”

1) Before having them respond.

2) Before speaking after the results of the clicker

question are displayed.

At least how many seconds should you give for

each of the two “wait times”?

Tip #3

Give the students “wait time”

1) Before having them respond.

2) Before speaking after the results of the clicker

question are displayed.

A wait time of at least three seconds was

suggested.

(Yourstone, Kraye, & Albaum, 2008)

Tip #4

Correct answers should

not be indicated when displaying the student responses.

True (T) or False (F)

Tip #4

Correct answers should

not be indicated when displaying the student responses.

True (T) or False (F)

(Draper, Cargill, & Cuts, 2002)

Possible Uses

• Pre-lab assessments

• Controversial topic polls (stem-cell research,

abortions, nuclear power, politics, etc.)

• Interpretation of data and Error analysis

• Reading quiz

• Building community awareness

• Peer assessment