TOOL OR TOY USING PERSONAL RESPONSE DEVICES IN INFORMATION LITERACY INSTRUCTION Patrick Griffis June 5, 2008

Outline Overview of Personal Response Systems/Clickers Scalable Options of Clicker Systems Benefits/Drawbacks for Using Clickers in Instruction Experimenting with Clickers/Lessons Learned Clicker Use Considerations Proposed Experimentation Method

Personal Response Systems Clickers System allowing instructors to pose questions to students which students can answer anonymously Anonymous response feature encourages participation from students which enhances student engagement in the classroom and provides instructors immediate feedback Personal Response Systems were developed as a tool to increase student feedback and engagement in large class settings

Hardware: Receivers Infrared Receivers Line of sight with Clicker Devices Support only 40 Clickers Receivers not portable---have to be installed in classrooms Outdated model Radiofrequency Receivers Increased range---no line of sight required Supports virtually unlimited number of clickers Receivers are portable---can be used anywhere Popular model

Hardware: Student Clicker Devices Simple Keypad True False/Multiple Choice No Text/Numeric Entry No Display Screen Supports limited range of questioning Small, easy to use with less features to play with Feature Rich Keypad LCD Display Screen Text/Numeric Character Entry---Up to Characters Supports wider range of questioning Larger, more complicated entry, more distracting

Virtual Clicker Web Based Response Keypad (VPad) Downloadable software based clicker No need for students to carry around clickers Accessible via computer or laptop or PDA with internet access Can be used along with regular clicker devices Individual user license and site licenses available

Virtual Clicker

Scalable Options: Common Model Clicker Software + Receiver + Clicker Devices Standard Model Students pay cost of Clickers Instructor responsible for receiver and software Requires software download to instructors computer

Scalable Options: Software Only Clicker Software + Virtual Response Keypads Receiver not required and Clicker Devices not required Local Area Network and/or Wireless Network Student computers connect via broadcasted IP Address Requires software download to instructor computer and Virtual Clicker download to student computers

Scalable Options: Clicker Only Clicker Devices Only LCD screen handheld receiver Computer and projector not required Answers from student keypads displayed and stored on handheld receiver and can be exported via USB to a computer Easiest system to implement/Can be used anywhere

Scalable Options: Clicker Only

Tool: Clicker Benefits Can increase student interactivity and engagement in bibliographic instruction with a workshop feel Can help instructor to assess what students already know coming into the session allowing instruction to be tailored to what students dont know Can help instructor assess what students have retained/learned in a session as well as areas that need reinforcement

Toy: Clicker Drawbacks Learning curve for students can take time away from an instruction session which might already be hurting for time Some instructors feel that Clickers are another of many slick gadgets/technologies that already serve to distract students in the classroom Clickers Good---Cell Phones Bad---Mixed Message for Students

Toy: Clicker Drawbacks Clicker use more expensive for Libraries which have the burden of purchasing Clicker Devices More feasible for classes that meet regularly to require students to purchase clicker devices It costs more to use Clickers for Library Instruction Sessions than for Term Courses and Library Instruction Sessions have a much smaller window of opportunity to use these devices Nascent need to experiment for feasibility

Experimentation Issues: Trial Kit Size Vendor Trial Kits limited in scale Trial Kits typically no larger than 10 Clicker Devices Could not experiment with using Clickers in large class settings for which Clicker Systems are intended Could not negotiate to have a site license trial of a Virtual Clicker Trial Kits allow for familiarity with a Clicker System before purchase but does not allow for real class feasibility experimentation

Experimentation Issues: Trial Duration Vendor Trials Limited in Time Typically one to three month duration Limited time for experimentation after learning curve Only enough time to learn how to use the Clicker System leaving little time for significant feasibility experimentation

Experimentation Recommendation Collaborate with Professors who Already Use Clickers Simply visit their classroom and use their Clicker System Requires familiarity with their Clicker System Students already have Clickers and know how to use them No learning curve for Students taking away instruction time No cost ideal solution to experimentation issues Real classroom feasibility experimentation

Further Considerations Experiment with a Personal Response System which is widely used on campus Which system is used most on campus? Has your campus adopted a standard system? If your campus is in the process of adopting a campus standard, try to arrange for a representative from your library system to be on the campus working group/committee

Further Considerations Libraries have burden to purchase a set of Clicker Devices or a Virtual Clicker Site License Students often are required to purchase Clicker Devices for Term Classes. Becomes a sore spot for students if they rarely use Clicker Device they had to buy Not Feasible to expect students to bring their own Clicker Devices to an Instruction Session

Proposed Experimentation Method Determine the Clicker System used most often on campus Request a Trail Kit of that Clicker System and familiarize yourself with it Collaborate with a Faculty Member that already uses the same Clicker System to experiment with incorporating Clickers in Instruction Sessions