The Teaching & Learning Center

Student Response Systems

Description:

Student Response Systems (SRS) are tools that can collect real-time data from students during class or over a set period of time. Student response systems promote active learning, engage students, encourage participation, and allow for immediate feedback. No matter the curriculum, SRS can enhance the teaching and learning experience by giving every student a voice.

Possible Instructional Uses:

• Ask questions on the new concept in order to gauge prior knowledge and identify misconceptions.
• Instruct students to submit homework answers in the beginning of class in order to review frequently missed questions.
• Pose a debate topic in which students have to think about side they would take and commit to an answer, therefore forming groups.
• Check for understanding by surveying students intermittently throughout a lecture.
• Create a short practice quiz to serve as a review for a summative assessment.
• Use the survey tool in video conferencing software, such as Zoom, to check for understanding during online synchronous sessions.

WCU Supported Tools:

• Poll Everywhere
• Qualtrics
• Zoom

Additional Tools:

• Turning Technologies
• Kahoot!
• Quizizz
• Socrative
• Mentimeter
• Desmos Activity Builder
• Nearpod

Tips for using Student Response Systems:

• Most SRS can be used asynchronously, so don’t discount them in the online classroom. Just provide students with the appropriate log in code and monitor results over a set period of time.
• Multiple choice and true/false questions are best for SRS so students can answer quickly and receive immediate feedback (Peterson, 2007).
• Don’t rely on the technology but use it as a way to promote greater involvement and engagement (Ramesh, 2011).
• Be cognizant of your class size and the SRS you choose. A Socrative Free classroom, for example, has a 50-student limit (Socrative, 2019).

References:

Peterson, G. (2007). To click or not to click: the impact of student response systems on political science courses. Retrieved from https://blogs.commons.georgetown.edu/clickers_cop/files/polisci_clickers.pdf 

Ramesh, N. (2011). Impact of Audience Response System in first year statistics lessons: click or not to click. MSOR Connections, 11(2), 28-31. doi: 10.11120/msor.2011.11020028 

Socrative. (2019). Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved from https://help.socrative.com/en/articles/2155283-frequently-asked-questions