Using Classroom Response Systems (“Clickers”)
in an Introductory Accounting Class
Bill Waterman,
Ron Joyce Centre for Business Studies
The following is a synopsis of the session, to be read with
the accompanying PowerPoint slides.
Classroom Response Systems are handheld devices through which
students can respond to their professor’s questions.
The system collates the responses and shows them graphically
on screen for all to see. There are, of course, technical
requirements: the professor needs to teach in an appropriate
classroom and have both the software and hardware (computer
and receiver); students must purchase a clicker—and
remember to bring it to class!
There are certain benefits to using clickers, most notably
that the questions can encourage attendance and keep students
engaged and focused. Furthermore, the professor can give immediate
feedback and adjust material if necessary by adding or reducing
content depending on students’ understanding.
While not a “perfect” technology, there are several
advantages of clickers:
• Promotes engagement and active learning
• Encourages participation because of the anonymity
of the system
• Facilitates immediate formative feedback and documents
progress for students and professor
• Reflects diversity of opinion
• Has flexible applications: can be used to record attendance,
to allocate participation marks, to give practice with multiple
choice quizzes
• Interfaces with a variety of software
The main disadvantages of using clickers are time and technology.
Using the clickers, asking questions, and following up with
discussion, may reduce content delivery. The approach is also
tied to technology. Although a little cumbersome to set up,
the system is easy to maintain once everyone gets used to
it.
There are a number of clickers on the market. The providers
include iClicker (which Bill Waterman uses) and eInstruction.
One benefit of iClicker is that it “talks to”
Moodle—Mount Allison’s new Content Management
System.
Conclusion: Professor Waterman has been using clickers for
several years and is happy with the results. He also says
that students like them.
View Bill Waterman’s PowerPoint presentation
here.
(Summarized by Eileen Herteis and Toni Roberts, PCTC)
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