Using a Student Response System in Library Instruction
Joe Hardenbrook
Educational Technology Coordinator & Research/Instruction Librarian
Millikin University
2 April 2009

No standard terminology
Clickers
Personal Response Systems
Audience Response Systems
Student Response Systems
Wireless Response Systems
Student Polling Systems
Interactive Student Response Systems
Interactive Student Response Systems

CLICKING WITH STUDENTS

Public University
1.
Private University
2.
Community College
3.
Other
4.
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CLICKING WITH STUDENTS

Infrared (IR)

 Think “TV remote.” Can only send info.
Radio Frequency (RF)

 Two-way device. Can verify if answer has been
received.
 Some include LCD screens (useful for math & science)
Computers

 Classroom control systems. Not a clicker, but similar.
Cell phone / Text Messaging, smart

calculators, etc…can be integrated w/ clicker
software

SYSTEMS
Turning Technologies: http://www.turningtechnologies.com/

iClicker: http://www.iclicker.com/

eInstruction/Interwrite: http://www.einstruction.com/

H-ITT: http://www.h-itt.com/

COMPARISON & INFORMATION
UNLV clicker comparison:

http://oit.unlv.edu/clickers/comparisons.html
Vanderbilt Clicker Bib (over 200 entries):

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/cft/resources/teaching_resource
s/technology/crs_biblio.htm
University of Waterloo: http://cte.uwaterloo.ca/clickers.html


Install TurningPoint software on your computer.
1.
Write your questions in PowerPoint.
2.
Install TurningPoint software on the instructor
3.
computer in the lab or classroom.
Pass out the clickers to the class.
4.
Bring up your PowerPoint on the screen & start
5.
polling.
Students’ responses are sent to the receiver (USB
6.
port).
Display the results.
7.

The class time it may
1.
take up
Cost ($$$$)
2.
Learning how to use
3.
them
Potential technology
4.
issues
Getting faculty on
5.
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Course-integrated
2.
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3.
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One-shot instruct... Course-integrated... Both

CLICKING WITH STUDENTS

Ask student opinion-related questions.

Space questions throughout your

presentation.
Encourage active discussion & questions. Just

don’t rely on the clickers!
Try some assessment of learning or

evaluative questions at the end.
 Pre- and post-testing
On the question slides: indicate correct

answers and show results of class.

Promotes active learning

 P-D-P: Poll-Discussion-Poll format
Encourages ALL students to participate

Adapt instruction based on feedback

 Explain a concept more thoroughly
 Promote discussion
 Move on to the next topic
Student feedback: anonymous or indentified

Assessment: download results

 Student Learning or Librarian Assessment

Getting your clickers back!

Tech issues: installation of software,

compatibility w/ PC vs. Mac, Office 2003 vs.
Office 2007
Coming up with appropriate questions: just don’t

regurgitate content!
Time spent in class

 Especially for assessment purposes
“Death by PowerPoint”!!!


Demonstration:

 Do a search in the databases for articles about NO
CHILD LEFT BEHIND and TESTING.
Then do a new search for NO CHILD LEFT
BEHIND and TESTING and BUSH.
 The new search will give you:
▪ The same results
▪ More results
▪ Fewer results

Conceptual:

 Indentify the key words in the following
statement: HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES SHOULD
BE TESTED FOR DRUGS.
▪ Athletes, drugs, testing
▪ Athletes, drugs
▪ Athletes
▪ Athletes, high school, drugs, testing

Recall:

 You would use the Library’s online journals link to:
▪ Get the full-text of articles
▪ Search the catalog for books
▪ Access the electronic reserves

Evaluative:

 The librarian presented the information clearly
and in a well organized manner:
▪ Strongly Agree
▪ Agree
▪ Neutral
▪ Disagree
▪ Strongly Disagree

CLICKING WITH STUDENTS

Strongly Agree
1.
Agree
2.
Neutral
3.
Disagree
4.
Strongly Disagree
5.
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Bobkoff, Dan. “In Search of Answers, Teachers Turn to Clickers.” All Tech Considered. NPR.

March 2, 2009. Online: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101343866.
Bugeja, Michael. “Classroom Clickers and the Cost of Technology.” Commentary. Chronicle

of Higher Education. December 5, 2008. Online:
http://chronicle.com/weekly/v55/i15/15a03101.htm.
Corcos, Evelyn & Vivienne Monty. “Interactivity in Library Presentations Using a Personal

Response System.” Educause Quarterly, vol. 31, no. 2, April-June 2008. Online:
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/EQM0826.pdf.
Ivy, Krista & Debbie Renfrow. “Clickers Go to the Library.” [PowerPoint]. San Diego State

University. August 7, 2007. Online:
http://library.ucr.edu/?view=services/instruction/clickers.html.
Kaleta, Robert & Tanya Joosten. “Student Response Systems: A University of Wisconsin

System Study of Clickers.” ECAR Research Bulletin, vol. 2007, no. 10. Online:
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ERB0710.pdf.
Martyn, Margie. “Clickers in the Classroom: An Active Learning Approach.” Educause

Quarterly, vol. 30, no. 2, 2007. Online: http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/EQM0729.pdf.
Matesic, Maura Alicia & Jean M. Adams. “Provocation to Learn: A Study in the Use of

Personal Response Systems in Information Literacy Instruction.” Partnership: The Canadian
Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research, vol. 3, no. 1, 2008. Online:
http://journal.lib.uoguelph.ca/index.php/perj/article/view/327/802.
Shieh, David. “Going Beyond Classroom Clickers.” Chronicle of Higher Education. March

13, 2009. Online: http://chronicle.com/free/v55/i27/27a01301.htm.

Joe Hardenbrook, MLS
Educational Technology Coordinator
& Research/Instruction Librarian
Millikin University
Decatur, IL
jhardenbrook@millikin.edu
Tel: 217.424.3692