As as I was browsing the web, I found a technology that has been rising in popularity during the last few years --Clickers! Clickers are also known as a personal response system, classroom communication system, interactive system, and other terms are used interchangeable to describe what clickers are. Clickers are handheld devices used to collect students answers and clicker software will create instant feedback by generating reports or graphs. Unfortunately, I don't count with one in my classroom, but they seem like a great interactive, engaging option.They are not a magic tool, but used effectively will help in the learning process.
The following video gives you an introduction to what a clickers are
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Once we know what clickers are, now how can you use clickers in the classroom? This following video is great giving you ideas to how to implement them:
Many good reasons to why use clickers:
- Great to teach collaboration skills
- Can do more than multiple choice questions
- Keep students involved and make them accountable
- Students are engage and their learning is enhance
- Paper reduction - Go Green!
- Easier to point out weaknesses and strengths.
Have you use clickers? Let me know your experience....
See you later, virtually!
- Becky
References:
YouTube (2007). What are Clickers? Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4A62QyAUHM
YouTube (2010). Using Clickers in the Classroom. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnnP0uCqD4k
I have used clickers with my computer rotation classes and trained teachers to use them in the classroom. In your list of reasons to use clickers you identified what I have seen on my campus as the two biggest advantages to using them- student engagement and accountability. Elementary students that are not always eager to complete their independent practice are more motivated to do so when they get to input their answers into the clickers. Teachers that use the clickers are able to spontaneously ask a few questions and see instantly who has mastered a concept and adjust instruction if needed. If only we had the funds to purchase a set for every classroom.
ReplyDeleteI had to use a clicker in a college science course. The teacher used it for us to answer questions and used this as his form of attendance. Clickers are great for those quiet students that don't always want to "speak up" in class. The only negative things I can see with using clickers is that it is multiple choice, not leaving room for students to answer open-ended questions, but that can be addressed with a different tool. Clickers are great for their use, of student interaction and accountability.
ReplyDeleteI think clicker are great tools to use in the classrooms. It encourages students to interact in the class discussions. I have had class discussions with out the clickers and it seems like I am having a conversation with myself. But when you use clickers the students are listening to the lesson because they want to be able to join in on the questions and be the center of the lessons. This a tool I like.
ReplyDeleteWe use clickers in my Kindergarten classroom with e-instruction! The kids love the fact they get to use a "remote" to answer questions on the screen and there is instant feedback for the students! I find that the hardest part of these clickers are students not knowing their letters and pushing the wrong one or if they are playing around and they miss it. So far my students have throughly enjoyed using them and I can put up a quick quiz to check their understanding and then I can gear my teaching if they are all struggling. I also like the data that I can get to share with parents because it is hard for them to argue with you when it is in black and white! These are great and I do use them for motivation because if they are really doing a good job I let them do the clicker lesson!
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