What are some of the best practices and tools for using clickers or other response systems in large classes?

Absolutely! The quality of your clicker questions is crucial for successful classroom engagement. Aim for questions that challenge students to think critically, apply concepts, and participate in discussions.

Class Saathi clickers offer a seamless solution for large classes. Teachers can engage students effectively by using varied question types, providing immediate feedback, and breaking up lectures with interactive activities. Students benefit from active participation, real-time assessment, and a gamified learning experience, enhancing their engagement and understanding.

Appropriate questions are critical to the effective use of response systems. Here are three types of questions that work best: (1) Comprehension questions - Instead of asking for knowledge, comprehension questions allow for interpretation and discussion of topics. Particularly suitable for peer instruction. (2) Estimation questions - Before calculations or experiments are carried out, ask for the expected result. This activates prior knowledge and initiates the development of implicit learning. (3) Opinion questions - A hand vote in a physics course on whether nuclear energy is safe leads to socially desirable outcomes. Response systems enable a protected voting space and lead to honest results.

Effective clicker use in education hinges on asking high-quality, relevant questions. At TagHive, we focus on crafting questions that encourage critical thinking, aligned with learning objectives. The ideal questions challenge students to analyze and apply concepts, rather than just recalling facts. They should provoke thought, reveal misconceptions, and connect to real-world scenarios. This approach turns clickers into tools for engaging and deepening student understanding, making learning interactive and insightful.

Effective clicker use extends beyond question-asking; it involves engaging with the results to foster feedback and discussion. Instead of just revealing correct answers, use results as a catalyst for deeper exploration and dialogue. Encourage students to explain their reasoning, discuss with peers, and address any misconceptions. Utilize the feedback to pinpoint learning gaps and offer additional examples or explanations. Regular feedback on performance and progress is key, promoting reflective learning among students.

Using Results as a Springboard When you use a response system in class, it's essential to do more than show the correct answers. Here's how we can make the most out of the results to help everyone learn better: Ask for Reasoning Prompt Discussion: What to Do: After showing the poll results, ask, "Can someone who chose option A explain why they think it's the correct answer?" Why It Helps: This gets everyone thinking about why they chose their answers, not just what they chose. Diverse Perspectives: What to Do: Encourage students who picked different answers to share their thoughts. Why It Helps: This way, we can see how people think about the question and learn from each other's perspectives.

To maintain student engagement and motivation, diversify your use of clickers or response systems. Mix up question types like multiple choice, true/false, rating, ranking, or short answer. Vary interaction modes: individual, pair, or group responses, including peer instruction where students discuss answers before re-answering. Adjust timing and frequency of questions — before, during, after lectures, or at regular intervals — to keep the learning experience dynamic and interactive.

Gallery Walk A Gallery Walk is an interactive activity where students move around the classroom to engage with different stations or displays. Each station contains information, a question, a problem to solve, or a task related to the lesson. This activity encourages movement, collaboration, and deeper engagement with the material.

The choice and preparation of the clicker tool are essential for effective use. It's important to select a tool that is reliable, easy to use, and compatible with your teaching style and classroom environment. By investing time in choosing and preparing the tool, you can ensure that it enhances your teaching and learning, rather than being a distraction.

I used to use clickers, but I've migrated toward personal devices and apps. They save class time, students are more comfortable with their own devices, and it opens up engagement options. For example, I've used Miro boards that offer more qualitative discussions. Something as simple as Kahoot can replace simple multiple-choice clicker situations.

In the realm of educational technology, as we've seen at TagHive, adaptability and innovation are key. Tools like clickers are more than technology; they're interactive teaching aids. Our experience with Class Saathi highlights how real-time feedback can revolutionize traditional classrooms. Storytelling and real-life examples, when combined with tech tools, enhance engagement and understanding. Also, continuous feedback from both students and teachers is crucial for evolving these tools to meet educational needs effectively.