Using Clickers to Using Clickers to Assess Student Assess Student

LearningLearningDavid Vakil

November 6, 2009

Assessment of Student Learning Week

Contact info:dvakil@elcamino.edu – 310-660-3134

For more clicker information or a copy of this presentation, please visit:http://www.elcamino.edu/faculty/dvakil/clickers.htm

Clickers as a Tool for Clickers as a Tool for AssessmentAssessment

How can they be used to assess student How can they be used to assess student learning?learning?

Big Picture: Clickers enable you to assess student Big Picture: Clickers enable you to assess student learning in real time in a fun, student-centered learning in real time in a fun, student-centered way. way.

Quality of the clicker-assessment depends on the Quality of the clicker-assessment depends on the quality of the questions that are written and how quality of the questions that are written and how the data are interpreted. YOU will try a common the data are interpreted. YOU will try a common and very effective scheme at the end so you can and very effective scheme at the end so you can implement clickers.implement clickers.

An example, aimed at political science teachers…An example, aimed at political science teachers…

Which Which oneone of these people of these people directly affects your life directly affects your life

most?most?

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0 1.1. Barack ObamaBarack Obama2.2. Arnold SchwarzeneggerArnold Schwarzenegger3.3. State assemblyperson or senatorState assemblyperson or senator4.4. Mayor of your townMayor of your town5.5. Tom FalloTom Fallo6.6. Gloria MirandaGloria Miranda

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Information gathered by Information gathered by clickerclicker

Which clickers responded to the questionWhich clickers responded to the question What answer each clicker gave to each What answer each clicker gave to each

questionquestion If multiple answers given, order is saved, useful If multiple answers given, order is saved, useful

for:for: multi-digit numbersmulti-digit numbers Ranking a list (prioritizing)Ranking a list (prioritizing)

How long it took each clicker (student) to How long it took each clicker (student) to answeranswer

If a question is re-polled, both answers are If a question is re-polled, both answers are savedsaved

Results are easily exported to ExcelResults are easily exported to Excel

Some examples of Some examples of how clickers can be how clickers can be used to immediately used to immediately

assess learningassess learning

PRE-TESTPRE-TEST: A light year is a : A light year is a measure ofmeasure of

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0 1.1. TimeTime2.2. DistanceDistance

Timed question!

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Checking current Checking current understanding during classunderstanding during classA miniature astronomy A miniature astronomy

lecture lecture The universe is The universe is 13.7 billion years old13.7 billion years old.. A light year is A light year is

____________________________, ____________________________, approximately 6 trillion ______________.approximately 6 trillion ______________.

POST-TEST: A light year is POST-TEST: A light year is a measure ofa measure of

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0 1.1. TimeTime2.2. DistanceDistance

As seen here, you can visually compare two questions, or, in this case, pre- and post-lecture answers.

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Think-Pair-ShareThink-Pair-Share Ask the questionAsk the question If results are between 50-75% correct, If results are between 50-75% correct,

consult with your neighbor and vote again.consult with your neighbor and vote again. If 40% correct, coach them a little first.If 40% correct, coach them a little first. If less than 40% correct, they need more help If less than 40% correct, they need more help

first.first. Usually results improve noticeably, often Usually results improve noticeably, often

80+%.80+%. Students understand and remember concept Students understand and remember concept

betterbetter Takes only 3 minutes or lessTakes only 3 minutes or less Here’s an example…Here’s an example…

It is possible for astronomers to detect an It is possible for astronomers to detect an object 15 billion light years away from object 15 billion light years away from

Earth.Earth.

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1.1. TrueTrue2.2. FalseFalse

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What can you do with What can you do with clickers to assess learning?clickers to assess learning?

Pre- and post-Pre- and post- instruction questions. (Did they instruction questions. (Did they learn?)learn?)

Gathering Gathering feedback about class or getting opinionsfeedback about class or getting opinions like/dislike activity, useful/useless – students learn better like/dislike activity, useful/useless – students learn better

when they enjoy class!when they enjoy class! Quick assessment of Quick assessment of recently covered materialrecently covered material

Ask about facts or conceptual understanding.Ask about facts or conceptual understanding. No question is too easy to ask studentsNo question is too easy to ask students. You’ll be amazed.. You’ll be amazed.

Cooperative learning: Think-pair-shareCooperative learning: Think-pair-share QuizzesQuizzes

End of class summary, beginning of class reviewEnd of class summary, beginning of class review Determine if students did reading/homeworkDetermine if students did reading/homework

Full-length testsFull-length tests Ranking choicesRanking choices Fastest responsesFastest responses

Why you should use Why you should use clickers…clickers…

Qualitative reasons to use Qualitative reasons to use clickersclickers

InteractiveInteractive Student-centered, minds-onStudent-centered, minds-on Just-in-time teaching. Go fast when they Just-in-time teaching. Go fast when they

understand, go slow when they struggle.understand, go slow when they struggle. Immediate feedback – to you AND your Immediate feedback – to you AND your

studentsstudents Create responsible & informed learners!Create responsible & informed learners!

FUN (competitive?)FUN (competitive?) Gets everyone actively (not passively) involvedGets everyone actively (not passively) involved

(Semi?) anonymous, which (Semi?) anonymous, which helps shy studentshelps shy students!! Early and frequent assessment. Diagnose and Early and frequent assessment. Diagnose and

fix bad lectures/activitiesfix bad lectures/activities Catch poor students quickly, start troubleshooting Catch poor students quickly, start troubleshooting

earlyearly

Clicker capabilitiesClicker capabilities The following slides show some The following slides show some

other things you can do with other things you can do with clickers.clickers.

MULTI-ANSWER: Which of the following are MULTI-ANSWER: Which of the following are types of electromagnetic radiation? types of electromagnetic radiation? Select Select

all that applyall that apply..

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0 1.1. Gamma raysGamma rays2.2. X-raysX-rays3.3. InfraredInfrared4.4. UltravioletUltraviolet5.5. UltrasoundUltrasound6.6. Sound wavesSound waves7.7. MicrowavesMicrowaves8.8. Radio wavesRadio waves

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Improve in-class Improve in-class demonstrationsdemonstrations

Explain the demo set-upExplain the demo set-up Have students predict the outcomeHave students predict the outcome Do the demonstrationDo the demonstration Specifically ask students “Specifically ask students “Was your Was your

prediction correctprediction correct?”?” Shows students who lack confidence they Shows students who lack confidence they

aren’t alonearen’t alone Recognize intuition can be wrongRecognize intuition can be wrong

I will drop a pen and a I will drop a pen and a crumpledcrumpled piece of paper. Which piece of paper. Which will hit the ground first?will hit the ground first?

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0 1.1. The pen will hit the ground first.The pen will hit the ground first.2.2. They will hit the ground at the same They will hit the ground at the same

time.time.3.3. The paper will hit the ground first.The paper will hit the ground first.

I will now perform the demonstration

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CONCLUSION – before CONCLUSION – before YOU try to use clickersYOU try to use clickers

There are a LOT of things you can do There are a LOT of things you can do with clickers in your classwith clickers in your class

Method of student-centered learningMethod of student-centered learning They dramatically increase learningThey dramatically increase learning Particularly well-suited for lecture classesParticularly well-suited for lecture classes Questions? Comments?Questions? Comments?

BONUS: Here are a few ideas to use BONUS: Here are a few ideas to use clickers without technology…clickers without technology…

How could YOU use How could YOU use clickers?clickers?

Work with neighborWork with neighbor How to assess learning in YOUR classes:How to assess learning in YOUR classes:

Write an important question about a lesson you are Write an important question about a lesson you are teaching or taught very recently.teaching or taught very recently.

Write a SHORT one or two line correct answerWrite a SHORT one or two line correct answer Write 3-4 common INCORRECT answers, Write 3-4 common INCORRECT answers,

approximately the same length as the correct answer.approximately the same length as the correct answer. Bring your question and answers to me. Don’t tell me Bring your question and answers to me. Don’t tell me

which is correct.which is correct. Time permitting: we’ll try your questions.Time permitting: we’ll try your questions.