How To Use a Response System in the Classroom

A response system is a modern way of evaluating your class.  It is an interactive system that allows the teacher to ask questions to his students individually or as a group.  It can be used to implement a quiz or an exam, but it can also be used as a tool to evaluate your class understanding of the topic as the discussion goes on.  It provides you with a means to ask questions of the entire class and get each student’s individual response in a little amount of time.  Evaluation styles in the form of an equation system or step system can also be implemented using it.  It will also allow you to return feedback to your students after they have given their answers instead of actually waiting for it in a day or two.

How is this system implemented in a class?  The following discussion will tell you how.

1. The response unit or clicker is very technical equipment, and because of this, you need to see to it that you know how to use it. If you were a first-time user, it would be advisable to have someone who can to assist you.  It might also be useful to educate yourself with the system before going to class.
2. You will have to determine first if you want responses that are traceable to the one who answered the question like in a quiz.  Or if you only want to use the mass system, wherein a graphic representation of the class’ response to the question like in an ongoing discussion will be presented on the screen.  This is very important because a quiz might be ruined if you have not adjusted your system to trace each answer.  Another scenario that you want to avoid is displaying a confidential answer of your class on a screen, because you failed to set your system to present an overall graphic display of your class’ response.
3. For classes that have engaged in a clicker system for the first time, it might be perceived as an intimidating device.  So, to counter that view and maximize the potential of the system to provoke full cooperation from the class, you have to educate them about it.  Emphasize that the system is a helpful tool to make the discussions become more interactive.
4. A clicker is not a tool that should be used entirely for the duration of the class.  It is recommended that 6 to 12 questions responded with the clicker should be sufficient for a regular class.  This is to get the attention of the class and bring their focus back to the matter at hand.  The vibration system can also assist you to revive your class’ alertness.
5. In an event when your students seem to make incorrect answers after another, you have to re-evaluate your approach.  Change your teaching method into a more engaging style like group presentations or a game.
6. The quick responses that you can get from the clicker will allow you to evaluate your daily progress with each class. It would be fitting that you get your daily progress report after each class and use the results to reinforce the topics that were not well understood.

The response system is a very helpful tool, but what makes it an even more effective tool is the user that is behind the system because faulty use of the clicker will only lead to confusion.