CLASSROOM SURVEY via Bb Discussion Board Lenny Shedletsky

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CLASSROOM SURVEYvia Bb Discussion BoardLenny
Shedletsky

• In my fall, 2006, Introduction to Communication
  class, taught via itv/online, about 5 weeks into
  the semester, I asked the students a question
  about how they liked using the clicker.

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CLICKERS

• Please let me know what you think of this
  technique so far--is it helpful?
• I am curious to hear what you think about the
  technique. I am especially curious to hear what
  people think who are taking the course at a
  distance. Please respond within and indicate
  whether or not you are one of the students in the
  itv classroom with me or if you are at an itv
  receiving site. If you check the "post message
  as anonymous" box in your response box, your name
  will not appear.

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SOME RESPONSES

• I find the clickers interesting and a valuable
  tool for the class, because it gives you an
  anonymous way to answer a question that you may
  not be sure of. I just wish they weren't so
  expensive.

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• I like the idea of the clickers and think that
  the activities are interesting. However I don't
  think they are worth the money that we had to
  spend for them. In my psychology class last
  semester we had to have clickers and they were
  provided at no cost from the psychology dept.

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• I dont mind the clickers i think they are a good
  way to get the classes attention...It also allows
  students to answer how they feel with out having
  an audience or being afraid to answer in a
  certain way because they dont want to be made fun
  of.

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• I would not stop looking for a company until I
  found one that would allow the purchasers to
  re-sell/re-register the clicker. I think we are
  better off raising our hands rather than throw
  out 30 to 40 little machines for each class,each
  semester. Don't we create enough unrecycleable
  waste? This is a serious issue and I'm glad you
  raised it!

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• I don't mind the clickers at all... its a good
  way to take attendence and also a good way to
  answer questions in class..

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• I read some of the other responses on the
  clickers, and I was surprised to see that a lot
  of people were mainly complaining about the cost.
  I can see where that would be the issue for some,
  but we all know that there are going to be costs
  associated with going to college. I think it is
  an interesting concept. Lets face it
  Electronic devices are the way of the world.
  However if I only get to use it for this one
  class I may not feel like I got the most out of
  it, but if more classes use it then I think it
  would be worth the cost or otherwise. I think
  it's great that the bookstore is buying them
  back, hopefully that will help take the burden
  off of students who may not have been able to
  afford it. Thanks for caring about what I think.
• ps It's fun to see how the other students feel
  on some of the questions you are asking in class.

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• For me I enjoy the clickers. When you have class
  early in the morning, its nice to sometimes have
  a break and interact as a class to see where
  others stand in relation to your position on
  varying topics.

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• I was wondering if they can be re-used, after the
  bookstore buys them back?

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• I've really enjoyed the use of the clickers. It
  involves the class in the discussion and let's
  face it, they're fun! I'm not sure how someone at
  an alternate site would feel about them however,
  since it's some time that they would just be
  sitting there and not really involved in the
  class.

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• To be quite honest as someone taking this class
  through ITV I was glad to know that there wasn't
  something else I would be required to purchase.
  That said, I think the clickers are useful for
  those of us who are not there since it allows us
  more of a chance to see. If people were raising
  their hands we could not see that from our view,
  but we can see the results of the clickers, and
  see where we fit in the opinion poll.

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• I am using a clicker in both this class and my
  psychology class with Professor Broida. I have
  found them to be really useful in both classes.
  They help break up the lecture, and they make you
  stay involved. This is nice in a classroom where
  some of the people are not in the room, or you
  can't interact as much because of the number of
  people in class. It's also neat being able to see
  the distribution of answers for the questions
  asked, because you get a sense of what the class
  is thinking pertaining to a specific question.

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• This is the first class I have ever used the
  clicker in, and although I was very hesitant at
  first, because of the cost of it, I ended up
  liking the idea. It is nice to not be picked out
  of a big group to try and answer a question,
  versus being able to give your opinion, but
  somewhat secretive, in case you really dont know
  what the answer is, or if youre alone in what
  you think.

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• I am finding the clickers to be pretty useful.
  It is interesting to know what others are saying
  the answers are and to know where the majority of
  the class stands on the understanding of the
  topics that we are talking about.

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• they seem to be very useful, too bad I am in
  Presque Isle and cant use one....

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• I dont tend to talk much in class, and I think
  its often unfair that class participation is
  such a large part of grading. Just because people
  dont speak up doesnt mean they arent
  listening. I think the clickers are great for
  this reason. Everyone can provide feedback and
  participate in the class discussion.

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• I like the clicker. It's a good way to
  participate in class, and to see the general
  consensus of what the class thinks.

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Some Key Ideas Based On The Responses

• Anonymous
• Interesting/fun
• Seeing How Others Responded
• Change Of Pace
• Cost Of The Clicker

• Expense
• Fear Of Answering In A Public Setting
• Good For Reticent People