Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2009. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 395-406).

Dissertation (Ph. D.)--University of Akron, Dept. of Curricular and Instructional Studies-Secondary Education, 2009. / "August, 2009." Title from electronic dissertation title page (viewed 9/30/2009) Advisor, Katharine D. Owens; Committee members, David N. Steer, Xin Liang, Catharine C. Knight, Nidaa Makki; Department Chair, Bridgie A. Ford; Dean of the College, Mark D. Shermis; Dean of the Graduate School, George R. Newkome. Includes bibliographical references.

As funding cuts increase (Field, 2011), there are more large lecture classes. One challenge faced by instructors of large lectures is formatively assessing all students in a timely manner. Student Response Systems, also known as “clickers,” provide a way for instructors to gather formative feedback from their students efficiently and effectively. The present study, guided by the General Model of Instructional Communication (Katt et al., 2009), examines the effect of clickers on instructor communicative traits in a large lecture setting. Using Structural Equation Modeling, analysis shows that perceptions of learning and engagement through clickers are related to perceptions of instructor communicative traits of socio-communicative style, caring, and nonverbal immediacy, as well as student affective and cognitive learning. / Access to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community only. / Department of Communication Studies

The current study sought to extend knowledge on effectiveness of Electronic Response Systems (ERS) or “clickers” in a college classroom by comparing student assessment performance between two sections (n = 41 & 42) of a Biblical Studies course in a small evangelical university. Student characteristics were virtually identical in the classes, taught by the same instructor. In one section, the instructor used ERS two to four times a week to administer quizzes or start discussions. Results showed no statistically significant evidence of improved performance in the ERS class, measured on a wide variety of assignment, quiz, and exam scores, including pre-test/post-test improvement in knowledge. Gender, prior GPA, and other demographic differences did not interact with the manipulation. It was speculated that use of ERS may have failed to make a difference in the current study because the system was not used frequently enough or for engaging activities, or because the use of ERS in a small class may not have provided benefits beyond the usual class experience. Interestingly, however, a student survey given at the beginning and end of the semester showed that students in the ERS class significantly improved their opinion of the system, indicating that they felt they had performed better as a result of using the clickers. (Students’ opinions in the control class declined.) Thus, students believed that ERS had improved their performance, although objectively it had not. It was concluded that relying on student opinions on the benefits of ERS may be misleading. / Department of Educational Studies

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (January 13, 2010) Includes bibliographical references (p. 28-29)

This study examined the relative impact of two different question types (multiple choice and short answer) on individual student behavior when using response cards and the potential role of teacher preference as it pertained to question type. Using an alternating treatments design across participants, the study focused on identifying the type of question that was more effective in reducing disruptive behavior and increasing academic engagement and correct response when using response cards and investigated whether implementation of teacher preferred question type enhanced student behavioral outcomes. The results indicated that response cards effectively decreased disruptive behavior and increased academic engagement and correct responses in all four participating students. However, changes in the students’ behavior and performance did not differ between question types. The results also indicated that implementation of the teacher preferred question type further decreased disruptive behavior across students.

The purpose of this project is two fold: (a) to evaluate the technology (hardware and software) of the student response system (SRS) used at Brigham Young University (BYU) and (b) to evaluate which instructional methods being used with the SRS students' feel are most helpful. In the past, the student response systems supported by BYU have not fully met the needs of professors and problems with the systems have limited professors' uses of the SRS. Ten professors were randomly selected to participate in the evaluation using a stratified random sampling technique. The data collection methods consisted of classroom observations, interviews with the ten selected professors, focus groups with students in the professors' classes, a student survey, and a professor survey. Data were collected throughout Winter semester 2007. The new system, iClicker, functioned well for the majority of professors. Some technical problems were encountered, but professors were typically able to resolve them as they gained more experience with the system. The most frequently stated problem for professors was with iGrader, which limited some professors' uses of the system. Students, however, experienced few technical problems with their clickers. The most frequent problem cited from students was the clicker shutting off easily. Students were generally positive about the helpfulness of the instructional methods professors were using. The instructional method students found most helpful was receiving immediate feedback. They also felt their comprehension of course material, attendance to lecture, attentiveness/engagement during lecture, participation in lecture, and achievement in the course had increased from using the SRS. However, a significant factor in students' perceptions of the clicker's helpfulness was the cost of purchasing the clicker. The least positive students felt that the cost of purchasing the clicker outweighed the benefits of using a student response system. These students rated the instructional methods as less helpful and rated their comprehension, attendance, engagement, participation, and achievement increasing less than those that felt the cost was worth the benefit.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / In an English as a second language (ESL) or English as a foreign language (EFL) class, special emphasis is often put on interaction and negotiation as a means of learning and understanding the language being taught (Long, 1981; Pica, 1994). However, student-student interaction as well as student-teacher interaction could be difficult to achieve in students who, for various reasons, avoid opportunities to practice their oral communication knowledge and skills with their peers and teachers. Student response systems (SRSs) are known to increase student achievement and/or interaction in a variety of grade levels in content domains such as math and physics. Students utilize individual hand-held devices, similar to television remote controls, to respond to multiple-choice questions. The public display of aggregate student responses allows for instantaneous feedback to the teacher and students through bar graphs or pie charts. This quasi-experimental mixed-method study investigates the effects of SRS use on student engagement, interaction, and achievement for three intermediate ESL grammar units in two adult higher education settings. Data were collected from five treatment groups using SRSs and five control groups not using SRS. Students' achievements and the robustness of their learning were quantitatively assessed through the analysis of their pre-test, post-test and delayed post-test grades. Qualitative data were also gathered in this study by using classroom video-taping and analyzing students' behavior in SRS and non-SRS classes. An independent samples T-test was conducted on the difference of post-test and pre-test scores in order to identify achievement, and on the difference of delayed post-test and post-test scores in order to determine whether students' learning is robust. Neither of these comparisons resulted in statistically significant differences between combined SRS and combined non-SRS classes. Results of the qualitative portion of the study revealed that students in the SRS classes paid more attention to the lecture and engaged in more discussion, and as a result student-student and student-teacher interaction was achieved. In conclusion, the results of this study reveal that SRSs have a positive impact when used to facilitate active learning strategies and promote interaction in the ESL classroom. These results provide evidence to support the claim that interaction and active learning are possible through the use of SRS-implemented instruction. From the results of the study, it is concluded that while the tool itself has had no statistically significant effect on students' immediate achievement, rather the study demonstrates that Student Response Systems provide the conditions necessary for form-focused student-to-student and student-to-teacher interaction . This active learning encourages the production of language, which can lead to achievement over time. / 2999-01-01

There is a need in classrooms to engage students and maintain their interest in course content. A recent type of interactive technology, known as a "clicker," has shown potential to increase student engagement, performance, and participation in the classroom when used effectively. Peer instruction, a type of student to student interaction in which pairs or small groups of students discuss their answers to questions before responding, is often used in conjunction with clickers, and may account for the perceived effectiveness of these tools. The purpose of this study is to determine the clicker's effectiveness in increasing learning and increasing student engagement in secondary classrooms, while controlling for their use during peer instruction. Two classrooms were examined (n ~ 15 for each classroom) in which 1 classroom used clickers integrated with peer instruction activities, while the other classroom only did the peer instruction activities. The findings of this study showed no significant difference in student learning, a small increase in student engagement, and a positive student reaction to the clicker's potential and use in the classroom.

This study has gathered insights and knowledge of Student Response Systems (SRS) within mathematics teaching in a classroom context to serve as inspiration for future research and design. Using Research through Design together with Participatory design methodologies, it has gathered qualitative data directly from end users, mathematics teachers. Focusing on the teachers’ perspectives and letting them assume the roles of co-designers, a design and prototype was created for increasing ease of assessment of student understanding. Utilising the prototype as a probe, further knowledge and implications were gathered. Four key points are outlined and discussed: (1) formative assessment, (2) input functionality, (3) Audience Engagement Platforms as a supplement to other teaching materials and (4) anonymity in the classroom. Adjacent areas and their implications for future research are also discussed. / Denna studie har samlat insikter och kunskap om Student Response Systems (SRS) i matematikundervisning i klassrum för att tjäna som inspiration för framtida forskning och design. Med hjälp av Research through Design och Participatory design som metodik har kvalitativ data samlats in direkt från slutanvändare, matematiklärare. Genom att fokusera på lärarnas perspektiv och låta dem ta på sig rollen som medkonstruktörer skapades en design och prototyp vilken underlättar att bedöma elevernas förståelse. Prototypen har sedan använts som ett verktyg för att samla in ytterligare kunskap. Fyra huvudpunkter beskrivs och diskuteras: (1) formativ bedömning, (2) inmatningsfunktionalitet, (3) Audience Engagement Platforms som ett komplement till andra läromedel och (4) anonymitet i klassrummet. Angränsande områden och deras implikationer för framtida forskning diskuteras också.