Clickers in the Clickers in the ECC ClassroomECC Classroom

David Vakil – dvakil@elcamino.edu – 310-660-3134

December 6, 2007

HighlightsHighlights WhatWhat are clickers? are clickers? WhatWhat can you do with can you do with

them?them? WhoWho can use them? can use them? WhenWhen are they available to you and your are they available to you and your

students?students? WhyWhy should you use clickers? should you use clickers? WhereWhere do you get the equipment? do you get the equipment? HowHow do you get started? do you get started?

Clickers enable you to do student-centered 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 me lecturing. This is activity, rather than with me lecturing. This is what clickers are about.what clickers are about.

Some examples of Some examples of how clickers can how clickers can

be usedbe usedin classesin classes

By show of hands…By show of hands…Who believes:Who believes:

“Not enough students “Not enough students answer questions that I ask answer questions that I ask

during class.”during class.”

1 2 3 4 5

Not enough students Not enough students answer questions that I ask answer questions that I ask

during class.during class.

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0 1.1. TrueTrue

2.2. FalseFalse

See how much the vote participation increases with clickers?

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Which Which oneone of these people of these people directly affects your life directly affects your life

most?most?

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0 1.1. George W. BushGeorge W. Bush

2.2. Arnold SchwarzeneggerArnold Schwarzenegger

3.3. State assemblyperson or senatorState assemblyperson or senator

4.4. Mayor of your townMayor of your town

5.5. Tom FalloTom Fallo

6.6. Gloria MirandaGloria Miranda

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PRE-TESTPRE-TEST & POST-TEST STUDENTS & POST-TEST STUDENTS TO ASSESS LEARNING: A light year is TO ASSESS LEARNING: A light year is

a measure ofa measure of

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0 1.1. TimeTime

2.2. DistanceDistance

Dave: Timed question!

15

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Checking current Checking current understanding during classunderstanding during class

A miniature astronomy A miniature astronomy lecture lecture

The universe is 13.7 billion years old.The universe is 13.7 billion years old. A light year is A light year is

________________________________________________________..

IN-CLASS (next class?) IN-CLASS (next class?) FACT CHECK: A light year FACT CHECK: A light year

is a measure ofis a measure of

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0 1.1. TimeTime

2.2. DistanceDistance

As seen here, you can also visually compare to questions, or, in this case, pre- and post-lecture answers.

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Think-Pair-ShareThink-Pair-Share

Ask the questionAsk the question If results are between 50-90% correct, If results are between 50-90% correct,

consult with your neighbor and vote consult with your neighbor and vote againagain

Usually results improve noticeablyUsually results improve noticeably Students understand and remember Students understand and remember

concept betterconcept better Takes only 1 minute or lessTakes only 1 minute or less

MORE CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING:MORE CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING:It is possible for astronomers to detect an It is possible for astronomers to detect an

object 15 billion light years away from object 15 billion light years away from Earth.Earth.

Dave: Think-pair-share?

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True False

1.1. TrueTrue

2.2. FalseFalse

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What are clickers?What are clickers? Clickers send signals using Clickers send signals using Radio Radio

frequencyfrequency ( (RFRF) light to a computer. ) light to a computer. Computer processes the data.Computer processes the data. RadioRadio light doesn’t require line-of- light doesn’t require line-of-

sightsight Receiver is small and portable.Receiver is small and portable.

NEW clickers NEW clickers have a screenhave a screen for for direct feedback to student; allows direct feedback to student; allows for clicker-tests! (They use AAA for clicker-tests! (They use AAA batteries.)batteries.)

Old version

New version

What can you do with What can you do with clickers?clickers? Taking attendanceTaking 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? Ice-breakersIce-breakers Gathering Gathering feedback about class or getting opinionsfeedback about class or getting opinions

like/dislike activity, useful/useless, etc.like/dislike activity, useful/useless, etc. Discussion startersDiscussion starters 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 . You’ll be

amazed.amazed. Build their confidence or shake yours!Build their confidence or shake yours!

Pre- andPre- and postpost-instruction questions. (-instruction questions. (Did they Did they learn?)learn?)

Uses, continuedUses, continued Data gatheringData gathering – very useful for SLOs, – very useful for SLOs,

AccreditationAccreditation Cooperative learning: Think-pair-shareCooperative learning: Think-pair-share QuizzesQuizzes

End of classEnd of class summary summary Beginning of classBeginning of class review review Determine Determine if students did reading/homeworkif students did reading/homework

Full-length testsFull-length tests Ranking choicesRanking choices On-the-fly questions to suit whatever On-the-fly questions to suit whatever

comes to mind during class.comes to mind during class. Fastest responsesFastest responses Team questions/answersTeam questions/answers

Information gathered by Information gathered by clickerclicker WhichWhich clickers responded to the question clickers responded to the question

What answerWhat answer each clicker gave to each each clicker gave to each questionquestion If multiple answers given, order is savedIf multiple answers given, order is saved

Can be used for entering multi-digit Can be used for entering multi-digit numbers/decimals or ranking.numbers/decimals or ranking.

How longHow long it took each clicker (student) to it took each clicker (student) to answeranswer

When a question is re-polled, When a question is re-polled, both both answers sets are savedanswers sets are saved

Results are easily exported to ExcelResults are easily exported to Excel

Who can use clickers?Who can use clickers?

Anybody with basic knowledge of computersAnybody with basic knowledge of computers Knowledge of PowerPoint helpful, but not Knowledge of PowerPoint helpful, but not

required.required. New version of TurningPoint software New version of TurningPoint software

(called “TurningPoint Anywhere”) can be (called “TurningPoint Anywhere”) can be used outside of PowerPoint. Also available used outside of PowerPoint. Also available for Macs.for Macs. Data stored.Data stored. Screenshots saved.Screenshots saved.

When are they available to When are they available to you and your students?you and your students?

Right now!Right now! If you’re interested in using them in your If you’re interested in using them in your

classes or even just trying them out, start by classes or even just trying them out, start by reading the web page I created. reading the web page I created. http://www.elcamino.edu/faculty/dvakil/clickers.htmhttp://www.elcamino.edu/faculty/dvakil/clickers.htm

There’s also a link on my faculty page. There’s also a link on my faculty page. Hoping to purchase classroom sets of clickersHoping to purchase classroom sets of clickers

Having students buy the clickers doesn’t work Having students buy the clickers doesn’t work very well for teacher or student. Also, can’t sell very well for teacher or student. Also, can’t sell back.back.

Why you should use clickers…Why you should use clickers…Effects clickers have had on Effects clickers have had on

my classesmy classes Physics 2A: summer 2007/2006 vs. Physics 2A: summer 2007/2006 vs. summer summer 20032003 Success: 29/35 = Success: 29/35 = 83%;83%; 31/44 = 31/44 = 70%70% 28/49 = 57%28/49 = 57% Retention: 31/35 = Retention: 31/35 = 89%;89%; 42/44 = 42/44 = 95%95% 30/49 = 61%30/49 = 61%

Success (percent who passed) in Astr 25 went up by Success (percent who passed) in Astr 25 went up by 9%.9%.

Success in Astronomy 20 increased 15%Success in Astronomy 20 increased 15% Data were compiled from my spreadsheets. Therefore numbers aren’t exact.Data were compiled from my spreadsheets. Therefore numbers aren’t exact.

I estimate attendance is 60% w/o clickers & 75% I estimate attendance is 60% w/o clickers & 75% with, Note: clicker participation counts little towards with, Note: clicker participation counts little towards grades.grades. Research at 4-year schools shows attendance at 85%.Research at 4-year schools shows attendance at 85%. Similar research shows students read the text more, are Similar research shows students read the text more, are

more interested in the course, and have a more positive more interested in the course, and have a more positive attitude towards the course.attitude towards the course.

When I don’t use clickers during class, I get When I don’t use clickers during class, I get complaints! Students like clickers and learn from complaints! Students like clickers and learn from using them.using them.

More reasons why you should More reasons why you should consider using clickers in your consider using clickers in your

classesclasses InteractiveInteractive Student-centered, minds-onStudent-centered, minds-on Just-in-time teaching is available with pre-tests (clicker? Just-in-time teaching is available with pre-tests (clicker?

Do you know?)Do you know?) Immediate feedback – to you AND your studentsImmediate feedback – to you AND your students FunFun Gets everyone actively (not passively) involved Gets everyone actively (not passively) involved

(anonymous)(anonymous) Especially shy students!Especially shy students!

Early and frequent assessmentEarly and frequent assessment Diagnose and fix bad lectures/activitiesDiagnose and fix bad lectures/activities Catch poor students quickly, start troubleshooting earlyCatch poor students quickly, start troubleshooting early

Scantron forms are obsolete. Clickers provide more data, Scantron forms are obsolete. Clickers provide more data, helps you write better tests. Also faster grading.helps you write better tests. Also faster grading.

Attendance increases (in my class, research)Attendance increases (in my class, research) Retention increases (in my class, research)Retention increases (in my class, research) Success increases (in my class, according to lots of Success increases (in my class, according to lots of

research)research) We can use clickers to gather data for SLOs, as neededWe can use clickers to gather data for SLOs, as needed

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?

Select all that applySelect all that apply..

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0 1.1. Gamma raysGamma rays2.2. X-raysX-rays3.3. InfraredInfrared4.4. UltravioletUltraviolet5.5. UltrasoundUltrasound6.6. Sound wavesSound waves7.7. MicrowavesMicrowaves8.8. Radio wavesRadio waves

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Improve in-class Improve in-class demonstrationsdemonstrations

You’ll see this process at work in the You’ll see this process at work in the next 2 slides.next 2 slides.

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?” (De-isolate, ?” (De-isolate, recognize intuition can be wrong)recognize 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?

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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

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Quizzes & TestsQuizzes & Tests

These clickers can handle tests & These clickers can handle tests & quizzesquizzes

The software is different, not as user-The software is different, not as user-friendly (yet)friendly (yet)

Requires some student training of the Requires some student training of the clickers, so I won’t demonstrate that clickers, so I won’t demonstrate that now.now.

Where do you get the Where do you get the equipment?equipment? Clickers – cost $45 + Shipping & Handling. Clickers – cost $45 + Shipping & Handling.

Need classroom sets. Class set of 45 costs Need classroom sets. Class set of 45 costs ~$2500; set of 40 = $2200.~$2500; set of 40 = $2200.

Receiver – needed to get the signals from the Receiver – needed to get the signals from the clickers. You get this from me.clickers. You get this from me. Natural Science received I-grant from ECC Natural Science received I-grant from ECC

Foundation to purchase receivers for entire Foundation to purchase receivers for entire division. We decided to share.division. We decided to share.

I have 31 receivers to distribute.I have 31 receivers to distribute. Have your dean ask me to send Have your dean ask me to send __(how many?)_____(how many?)___

receivers to your division office. [Accounting]receivers to your division office. [Accounting] Software to interpret the signals.Software to interpret the signals.

Download from web site: Download from web site: www.turningtechnologies.comwww.turningtechnologies.com..

How do I get started?How do I get started?

Get the receiver (and purchase a clicker)Get the receiver (and purchase a clicker) Staff Development will have a set to use in their Staff Development will have a set to use in their

training room, once I train LaTonya Motley.training room, once I train LaTonya Motley. Train yourself for the softwareTrain yourself for the software

Documents I created (see web page or ask me)Documents I created (see web page or ask me) Self-explorationSelf-exploration Web-based demonstrationsWeb-based demonstrations Read the manualRead the manual Staff Development classes coming soonStaff Development classes coming soon

Start small in your classesStart small in your classes

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On a scale of 1-10, how On a scale of 1-10, how useful was this presentation? useful was this presentation?

1=bad, 10=good1=bad, 10=goodMean =

1.1. 11

2.2. 22

3.3. 33

4.4. 44

5.5. 55

6.6. 66

7.7. 77

8.8. 88

9.9. 99

10.10. 1010

0of5

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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 Particularly well-suited for lecture

classesclasses Now available campus-wideNow available campus-wide Questions? Comments?Questions? Comments?