Many students are passive in class, yawning frequently with eyes glazed over, mindlessly recording notes, and not really processing the content. Instructors may insert questions throughout the lecture, but most students won’t raise their hand to attempt an answer. Valuable in-class active learning opportunities are being lost. What can the nurse educator do to encourage active class participation?
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Einstruction's classroom performance systems (cps) is an efficient way to elicit student responses during class and increase learner participation. CPS "clickers" are small handheld radio frequency response pads that look like a tiny TV remote and are easy to use during a classroom activity, lecture, or Powerpoint presentation.
Advantages include jump-starting class discussions, making large classes more interactive, encouraging student participation, providing instantaneous feedback, saving time grading, and gauging student understanding of course content (especially those difficult-to-understand "trouble spots").
The "clickers" may be used to take attendance or provide instant feedback to polling or questions. Quiz questions may be posted in class through an overhead or powerpoint presentation slide.
The responses from the class are gathered and compiled via a wireless receiver and instantly analyzed. That way, the instructor can adapt lecture content to conform to the immediate feedback. Clickers can also be integrated with online learning systems, such as blackboard or webct.
Examinations can be given using the "clicker" system, with instant feedback for instructors. This makes grading a cinch. Troublesome scantrons are no longer needed. Test items need to be either multiple choice or true-false. "clickers" do not readily accommodate the "select-all-that-apply" format questions.
CPS permits students to:
Respond anonymously to in-class questions
Participate in every class response
Evaluate their understanding immediately
Identify difficult course content
Actively participate during class
CPS permits educators to:
Evaluate student understanding before teaching a concept
Evaluate student understanding instantly after teaching a content
Adapt lecture content based on identifiable needs
Einstruction offers online training for the CPS system, including a video series and instructor-led, online seminars. Phone support is available Monday-Friday until 5pm at 888-333-4988. More information is available at Einstruction's customer support site.
The clickers cost approximately $22 each and can be used for multiple classes during multiple semesters. The clickers are purchased at participating university or college bookstores. Each semester, the student will be charged a one time fee of $13.00 by Einstruction. Paying this fee enables the student to use the clicker for all classes during that semester. If the student uses the clicker over multiple semesters, the per semester registration fee will cap out after three semesters or $39.00. Each subsequent semester is then free.
