It’s a new trend appearing across some 2,500 campuses this year. You might find them at Harvard, at Ohio State, or at the University of Arizona.
What is this new trend? Clickers. Clickers are small wireless devises students can hold in their hands. They are much like cell phones. Students are loaned the devices or are required to buy them to bring them to class.
Clickers assure that students will pay attention, will do their homework, and will participate in classes. With the numbers on these devices students can answer quiz questions or provide feedback to questions being discussed in class. Professors use the feedback to take attendance, survey the class, or give up-front quizzes on reading assignments. Quiz answers can track whether or not a student is doing his or her homework, and they can count toward the course grade. Survey results, often displayed on class screens, can make sure students understand what is being discussed and show where students disagree or agree.
Students can use the devices, too, to indicate if they are confused to the professor or that they have a question. Students can also participate more often as more than one student can answer at once without interrupting. Students can speak up in classes anonymously, making reticent students feel more comfortable taking part in discussions.
No more texting, no more napping, no more putting off reading assignments. Colleges are now harnessing No more texting, no more napping, no more putting off reading assignments. Colleges are now harnessing technology to make sure students are taking part in their learning.
