Student Response Systems

What is the tool?

The focus of this blog is student response systems, such as i-clicker or CPS (Classroom Performance System). Regardless of the manufacturer, a student response system is a collection of handheld devices or remotes that allow students to respond immediately, individually, and quietly to a teacher’s question. Different companies, two of which have already been mentioned, make these systems for use in K-12 classrooms.

How can it be used?

The beauty of student response systems is in their value for students at any level. Teachers can use the system as a means of informal assessment and get almost immediate results. Given that the ultimate purpose of assessment is to inform instruction, having such quick results allows teachers to make critical decisions about whether to move forward or reinforce. The systems allow the instructors to create their own quizzes or review assignments or simply daily activities.
In addition to the benefit to the teacher, the system works to keep the students engaged in the lesson and the activity. Students must stay focused in order to respond when appropriate. If a student is not responding or participating, the teacher would have immediate knowledge of their lack of participation and can address the issue. Based on personal experience, the students also really enjoy the response systems and get excited about using them. Even though they are learning, they feel as if they are playing a game.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this tool?

The tool is advantageous to teachers in that it makes informal assessment and class review much more productive and valuable. Teachers are able to use their time to instruct as opposed to grading. They are advantageous to students in that they give students an equal opportunity to respond to questions and help students that struggle to speak up become more engaged in the classroom. They also help to keep students who talk too often or constantly shout out answers from monopolizing the instructional time.
Another great environmental advantage is the conservation of paper. The student response systems are a paperless way to give a quiz or review for a test. Most of the systems are portable and easily moved between classrooms, requiring only a USB connection change.
The system also has some disadvantages. For the teacher, as with any lesson that relies heavily on technology, if there are problems with the technology, the lesson can flounder. If the system is not working properly, the teacher may end up spending valuable instructional time struggling with the equipment. For students, the system may limit the students thinking due to the fact that all answers must come from specific choices. The standard handheld devices do not allow students to respond to anything other than true/false, yes/no, or multiple choice questions.
Though the system could easily be used to give formal tests or summative assessments, I would not recommend this option. Unless and until all testing is done through technological means, students must know and understand how to take a test using paper and pencil. They need to practice taking tests that will be similar to the high-stakes tests they will eventually face. It is also important for students to have free response sections on formal tests, which are not possible with standard student response systems. Most higher-order thinking questions require free response.

Who is the audience for this tool?

The great part of this tool is that users can range from Kindergartners to collegians. The response systems are versatile because the instructor prepares the material used in conjunction with the remotes. If a teacher wants to give a pop quiz, he or she can enter the questions into the system and students use their remotes to answer from their desks. The tool has a place in any level of education.

You can learn more about student response systems at the following websites:
Link to eInstruction for CPS system
Link to i-clicker

Personally, I have seen what a weapon this tool can be for teachers in the fight to hold students’ attention. Keeping students engaged in classroom activities is often a teacher’s greatest challenge. The student response systems are a great way for teachers to assess as they go and review as they need to. The systems allow both teachers and students the maximum benefit of increasingly productive instructional time.