Clickers in the ECC Classroom David Vakil – – December 6, 2007

Highlights What are clickers? What can you do with them? What are clickers? What can you do with them? Who can use them? Who can use them? When are they available to you and your students? When are they available to you and your students? Why should you use clickers? Why should you use clickers? Where do you get the equipment? Where do you get the equipment? How do you get started? How do you get started? Clickers enable you to do student-centered learning. Let’s start with a “student”-centered activity, rather than with me lecturing. This is what clickers are about.

Some examples of how clickers can be used in classes

By show of hands… Who believes: “Not enough students answer questions that I ask during class.”

Not enough students answer questions that I ask during class. 1. True 2. False See how much the vote participation increases with clickers?

Which one of these people directly affects your life most? 1. George W. Bush 2. Arnold Schwarzenegger 3. State assemblyperson or senator 4. Mayor of your town 5. Tom Fallo 6. Gloria Miranda

PRE-TEST & POST-TEST STUDENTS TO ASSESS LEARNING: A light year is a measure of 1. Time 2. Distance Dave: Timed question!

Checking current understanding during class A miniature astronomy lecture The universe is 13.7 billion years old. The universe is 13.7 billion years old. A light year is ____________________________. A light year is ____________________________.

IN-CLASS (next class?) FACT CHECK: A light year is a measure of 1. Time 2. Distance As seen here, you can also visually compare to questions, or, in this case, pre- and post-lecture answers. Purple = previous. Blue = current

Think-Pair-Share Ask the question Ask the question If results are between 50-90% correct, consult with your neighbor and vote again If results are between 50-90% correct, consult with your neighbor and vote again Usually results improve noticeably Usually results improve noticeably Students understand and remember concept better Students understand and remember concept better Takes only 1 minute or less Takes only 1 minute or less

MORE CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING: It is possible for astronomers to detect an object 15 billion light years away from Earth. Dave: Think-pair-share? 1. True 2. False

What are clickers? Clickers send signals using Radio frequency (RF) light to a computer. Computer processes the data. Clickers send signals using Radio frequency (RF) light to a computer. Computer processes the data. Radio light doesn’t require line-of-sight Radio light doesn’t require line-of-sight Receiver is small and portable. Receiver is small and portable. NEW clickers have a screen for direct feedback to student; allows for clicker- tests! (They use AAA batteries.) NEW clickers have a screen for direct feedback to student; allows for clicker- tests! (They use AAA batteries.) Old version New version

What can you do with clickers? Taking attendance (automatically calculated if any question is asked) Taking attendance (automatically calculated if any question is asked) Classroom demographics – who are your students? Classroom demographics – who are your students? Ice-breakers Ice-breakers Gathering feedback about class or getting opinions Gathering feedback about class or getting opinions like/dislike activity, useful/useless, etc. like/dislike activity, useful/useless, etc. Discussion starters Discussion starters Quick assessment of recently covered material Quick assessment of recently covered material Ask about facts or conceptual understanding. Ask about facts or conceptual understanding. No question is too easy to ask students. You’ll be amazed. No question is too easy to ask students. You’ll be amazed. Build their confidence or shake yours! Build their confidence or shake yours! Pre- and post-instruction questions. (Did they learn?) Pre- and post-instruction questions. (Did they learn?)

Uses, continued Data gathering – very useful for SLOs, Accreditation Data gathering – very useful for SLOs, Accreditation Cooperative learning: Think-pair-share Cooperative learning: Think-pair-share Quizzes Quizzes End of class summary End of class summary Beginning of class review Beginning of class review Determine if students did reading/homework Determine if students did reading/homework Full-length tests Full-length tests Ranking choices Ranking choices On-the-fly questions to suit whatever comes to mind during class. On-the-fly questions to suit whatever comes to mind during class. Fastest responses Fastest responses Team questions/answers Team questions/answers

Information gathered by clicker Which clickers responded to the question Which clickers responded to the question What answer each clicker gave to each question What answer each clicker gave to each question If multiple answers given, order is saved If multiple answers given, order is saved Can be used for entering multi-digit numbers/decimals or ranking. Can be used for entering multi-digit numbers/decimals or ranking. How long it took each clicker (student) to answer How long it took each clicker (student) to answer When a question is re-polled, both answers sets are saved When a question is re-polled, both answers sets are saved Results are easily exported to Excel Results are easily exported to Excel

Who can use clickers? Anybody with basic knowledge of computers Anybody with basic knowledge of computers Knowledge of PowerPoint helpful, but not required. Knowledge of PowerPoint helpful, but not required. New version of TurningPoint software (called “TurningPoint Anywhere”) can be used outside of PowerPoint. Also available for Macs. New version of TurningPoint software (called “TurningPoint Anywhere”) can be used outside of PowerPoint. Also available for Macs. Data stored. Data stored. Screenshots saved. Screenshots saved.

When are they available to you and your students? Right now! Right now! If you’re interested in using them in your classes or even just trying them out, start by reading the web page I created. If you’re interested in using them in your classes or even just trying them out, start by reading the web page I created. There’s also a link on my faculty page. There’s also a link on my faculty page. Hoping to purchase classroom sets of clickers Hoping to purchase classroom sets of clickers Having students buy the clickers doesn’t work very well for teacher or student. Also, can’t sell back. Having students buy the clickers doesn’t work very well for teacher or student. Also, can’t sell back.

Why you should use clickers… Effects clickers have had on my classes Physics 2A: summer 2007/2006 vs. summer 2003 Physics 2A: summer 2007/2006 vs. summer 2003 Success: 29/35 = 83%; 31/44 = 70%28/49 = 57% Success: 29/35 = 83%; 31/44 = 70%28/49 = 57% Retention: 31/35 = 89%; 42/44 = 95%30/49 = 61% Retention: 31/35 = 89%; 42/44 = 95%30/49 = 61% Success (percent who passed) in Astr 25 went up by 9%. Success (percent who passed) in Astr 25 went up by 9%. Success in Astronomy 20 increased 15% Success in Astronomy 20 increased 15% Data were compiled from my spreadsheets. Therefore numbers aren’t exact. Data were compiled from my spreadsheets. Therefore numbers aren’t exact. I estimate attendance is 60% w/o clickers & 75% with, Note: clicker participation counts little towards grades. I estimate attendance is 60% w/o clickers & 75% with, Note: clicker participation counts little towards grades. Research at 4-year schools shows attendance at 85%. Research at 4-year schools shows attendance at 85%. Similar research shows students read the text more, are more interested in the course, and have a more positive attitude towards the course. Similar research shows students read the text more, are more interested in the course, and have a more positive attitude towards the course. When I don’t use clickers during class, I get complaints! Students like clickers and learn from using them. When I don’t use clickers during class, I get complaints! Students like clickers and learn from using them.

More reasons why you should consider using clickers in your classes Interactive Interactive Student-centered, minds-on Student-centered, minds-on Just-in-time teaching is available with pre-tests (clicker? Do you know?) Just-in-time teaching is available with pre-tests (clicker? Do you know?) Immediate feedback – to you AND your students Immediate feedback – to you AND your students Fun Fun Gets everyone actively (not passively) involved (anonymous) Gets everyone actively (not passively) involved (anonymous) Especially shy students! Especially shy students! Early and frequent assessment Early and frequent assessment Diagnose and fix bad lectures/activities Diagnose and fix bad lectures/activities Catch poor students quickly, start troubleshooting early Catch poor students quickly, start troubleshooting early Scantron forms are obsolete. Clickers provide more data, helps you write better tests. Also faster grading. Scantron forms are obsolete. Clickers provide more data, helps you write better tests. Also faster grading. Attendance increases (in my class, research) Attendance increases (in my class, research) Retention increases (in my class, research) Retention increases (in my class, research) Success increases (in my class, according to lots of research) Success increases (in my class, according to lots of research) We can use clickers to gather data for SLOs, as needed We can use clickers to gather data for SLOs, as needed

Clicker capabilities The following slides show some other things you can do with clickers. The following slides show some other things you can do with clickers.

MULTI-ANSWER: Which of the following are NOT types of electromagnetic radiation? Select all that apply. 1. Gamma rays 2. X-rays 3. Infrared 4. Ultraviolet 5. Ultrasound 6. Sound waves 7. Microwaves 8. Radio waves

Improve in-class demonstrations You’ll see this process at work in the next 2 slides. You’ll see this process at work in the next 2 slides. Explain the demo set-up Explain the demo set-up Have students predict the outcome Have students predict the outcome Do the demonstration Do the demonstration Specifically ask students “Was your prediction correct?” (De-isolate, recognize intuition can be wrong) Specifically ask students “Was your prediction correct?” (De-isolate, recognize intuition can be wrong)

I will drop a pen and a crumpled piece of paper. Which will hit the ground first? 1. The pen will hit the ground first. 2. They will hit the ground at the same time. 3. The paper will hit the ground first. I will now perform the demonstration

Quizzes & Tests These clickers can handle tests & quizzes These clickers can handle tests & quizzes The software is different, not as user-friendly (yet) The software is different, not as user-friendly (yet) Requires some student training of the clickers, so I won’t demonstrate that now. Requires some student training of the clickers, so I won’t demonstrate that now.

Where do you get the equipment? Clickers – cost $45 + Shipping & Handling. Need classroom sets. Class set of 45 costs ~$2500; set of 40 = $2200. Clickers – cost $45 + Shipping & Handling. Need classroom sets. Class set of 45 costs ~$2500; set of 40 = $2200. Receiver – needed to get the signals from the clickers. You get this from me. Receiver – needed to get the signals from the clickers. You get this from me. Natural Science received I-grant from ECC Foundation to purchase receivers for entire division. We decided to share. Natural Science received I-grant from ECC Foundation to purchase receivers for entire division. We decided to share. I have 31 receivers to distribute. I have 31 receivers to distribute. Have your dean ask me to send __(how many?)___ receivers to your division office. [Accounting] Have your dean ask me to send __(how many?)___ receivers to your division office. [Accounting] Software to interpret the signals. Software to interpret the signals. Download from web site: Download from web site:

How do I get started? Get the receiver (and purchase a clicker) Get the receiver (and purchase a clicker) Staff Development will have a set to use in their training room, once I train LaTonya Motley. Staff Development will have a set to use in their training room, once I train LaTonya Motley. Train yourself for the software Train yourself for the software Documents I created (see web page or ask me) Documents I created (see web page or ask me) Self-exploration Self-exploration Web-based demonstrations Web-based demonstrations Read the manual Read the manual Staff Development classes coming soon Staff Development classes coming soon Start small in your classes Start small in your classes

On a scale of 1-10, how useful was this presentation? 1=bad, 10=good Mean = of

CONCLUSION There are a LOT of things you can do with clickers in your class There are a LOT of things you can do with clickers in your class Method of student-centered learning Method of student-centered learning They dramatically increase learning They dramatically increase learning Particularly well-suited for lecture classes Particularly well-suited for lecture classes Now available campus-wide Now available campus-wide Questions? Comments? Questions? Comments?