Christine Rodriguez

ECI 511:Classroom Response Systems

Description:

A classroom response system or CRS is a device used to track classroom responses/information per individual student.  The device uses a handheld "clicker" which allows the student/teacher to contribute an answer via an overhead projector or a powerpoint system.  The responses are collected by an infrared red beam that allows a system to calculate the number of responses given and by which individual according to his/her clicker. The reponses can be detected both anonymously and by student depending on the teacher wishes.

Findings:

I was a bit unfamiliar with the CRS hardware prior to our class discussion on this particular device.  While reading the article by Judson I found that the use of such devices such as the CRS are a clever component to classroom engagement as they pose a way for students to increase there knowledge using the device because they are more likely to be on task.  As we discussed the pros and cons of this particular software we found that implementation would be rather simple but due to the expensive cost most school systems may not have the means for purchase.  Implementing the device would be rather simple because the projector and the clickers do most of the work.  Teachers would still be able to create assessments and class activities and load them onto a computer/projector.  Student engagement would be a result of the simple implemtation because you would decrease student inhibitions.  Students would be able to anser a question anonymously without fear of answering the question wrongly.  The system would benefit teachers in the classroom if used as a tracker for student comprehension/understanding.  A teacher could very quickly get a sense of whether or not students mastered or understood an objective simply by having all students answer using the clicker.

An alternative to the extreme expense would be for school systems to purchase the hardware systems by department and rotate its use among teachers.

Reflection:

Just recently our mathematics department purchased a CRS system.  The teachers boasted so much about how well the system worked and how on task students were that our ELA department decided to purchase them.  After using them for several weeks I saw an increase in student response rate and a slight increase on our benchmark results from first half 9 weeks to second half. 

In my classroom I would pose the intended outcome/objective at the beginning of class and have students answer several multiple choice questions pertaining to the specific objective (no more than 5 questions to start).  At the end of class I would pose similar questions and see how students rated from the first set to the second to determine growth of knowledge. I found that the tool was quick and easy and offered an alternative to the standard KWL and ticket out the door/exit slip! Less paper, more time!

Posted at 08:23PM Nov 27, 2006 by RODRIGUEZ, CHRISTINE in General  |  Comments[0]