Slides from the first portion of a workshop on classroom response systems (clickers) given to faculty at Ferris State University, 23 August 2013. Facilitated by Robert Talbert, PhD., Department of Mathematics, Grand Valley State University.

1. Better learning
through voting
Using classroom response systems to
improve student engagement and
understanding
Ferris State University
21 August 2013
Robert Talbert, PhD
Department of Mathematics
Grand Valley State University
Monday, August 19, 13

2. Robert Talbert, PhD.
Associate Professor, Mathematics Department,
Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI
Dad, nerd, runner, learner
talbertr@gvsu.edu | http://proftalbert.com
Twitter: @RobertTalbert
Google+: http://gplus.to/rtalbert
Casting Out Nines blog: http://chronicle.com/
blognetwork/castingoutnines
Monday, August 19, 13

3. Plan for the workshop
Monday, August 19, 13

4. Plan for the workshop
Part 1: What is a classroom response system and
how can it be used in class?
10:00--10:30
Monday, August 19, 13

5. Plan for the workshop
Part 1: What is a classroom response system and
how can it be used in class?
10:00--10:30
Part 2: Designing your own CRS questions
10:30--11:00
Monday, August 19, 13

6. Plan for the workshop
Part 1: What is a classroom response system and
how can it be used in class?
10:00--10:30
Part 2: Designing your own CRS questions
10:30--11:00
Part 3: Show and tell
11:00--11:30
Monday, August 19, 13

7. Plan for the workshop
Part 1: What is a classroom response system and
how can it be used in class?
10:00--10:30
Part 2: Designing your own CRS questions
10:30--11:00
Part 3: Show and tell
11:00--11:30
Part 4: Q&A and next steps
11:30--12:00
Monday, August 19, 13

8. Monday, August 19, 13

9. Effective teaching involves
Monday, August 19, 13

10. Effective teaching involves
analyzing student knowledge
Monday, August 19, 13

11. Effective teaching involves
analyzing student knowledge
in real time
Monday, August 19, 13

12. http://www.flickr.com/photos/barbourians/
Monday, August 19, 13

13. I’m talkative
http://www.flickr.com/photos/barbourians/
Monday, August 19, 13

14. I’m talkative
I’m shy/scared
http://www.flickr.com/photos/barbourians/
Monday, August 19, 13

15. I’m talkative
I’m shy/scared
I have contributions
to make and things I
need to learn
http://www.flickr.com/photos/barbourians/
Monday, August 19, 13

16. Monday, August 19, 13

17. Wanted:
Monday, August 19, 13

18. Wanted:
Simple method
Monday, August 19, 13

19. Wanted:
Simple method
for collecting information about student knowledge
Monday, August 19, 13

20. Wanted:
Simple method
for collecting information about student knowledge
and catching + repairing misconceptions
Monday, August 19, 13

21. Wanted:
Simple method
for collecting information about student knowledge
and catching + repairing misconceptions
from all students
Monday, August 19, 13

22. Wanted:
Simple method
for collecting information about student knowledge
and catching + repairing misconceptions
from all students
without freaking them out
Monday, August 19, 13

23. Wanted:
Simple method
for collecting information about student knowledge
and catching + repairing misconceptions
from all students
without freaking them out
in as close to real time as possible
Monday, August 19, 13

24. Wanted:
Simple method
for collecting information about student knowledge
and catching + repairing misconceptions
from all students
without freaking them out
in as close to real time as possible
that provides actionable data for teaching and learning
Monday, August 19, 13

25. Classroom response systems (CRS, “clickers”)
Monday, August 19, 13

26. 120 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
1000
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
Time (t) [months]
Sales
At what time were
this company’s
sales increasing at
the fastest rate?
(a) t = 0
(b) t = 3
(c) t = 4
(d) t = 6
(e) t = 8
(f) None of the above
Monday, August 19, 13

27. Types of CRS questions
See also
Derek Bruff, Teaching with Classroom Response Systems
Monday, August 19, 13

28. Information gathering
Approximately how much of the reading
for today’s class did you do?
(a) 0%
(b) 1-25%
(c) 26-50%
(d) 51-75%
(e) 75-99%
(f) 100%
Monday, August 19, 13

29. Information recall
An infinite series in which any two consecutive terms
have a common ratio is called
(a) Convergent
(b) Divergent
(c) Geometric
(d) Harmonic
(e) Tectonic
Monday, August 19, 13

30. Information recall
An infinite series in which any two consecutive terms
have a common ratio is called
(a) Convergent
(b) Divergent
(c) Geometric
(d) Harmonic
(e) Tectonic
Monday, August 19, 13

31. Concept checking
The sequence
2, 2.1, 2.11, 2.111, 2.1111, . . .
(a) Converges, and I am sure
(b) Converges, but I am not sure
(c) Diverges, but I am not sure
(d) Diverges, and I am sure
Monday, August 19, 13

32. Concept checking
The sequence
2, 2.1, 2.11, 2.111, 2.1111, . . .
(a) Converges, and I am sure
(b) Converges, but I am not sure
(c) Diverges, but I am not sure
(d) Diverges, and I am sure
Monday, August 19, 13

33. Misconception catching
Suppose we are given the infinite series
a0 + a1 + a2 + a3 + a4 + · · ·
and we know that the terms ai are all positive and approach 0 as i ! 1. Then
(a) The series converges
(b) The series diverges
(c) No conclusion can be drawn about convergence/divergence of the series
based on this information alone
Monday, August 19, 13

34. Misconception catching
Suppose we are given the infinite series
a0 + a1 + a2 + a3 + a4 + · · ·
and we know that the terms ai are all positive and approach 0 as i ! 1. Then
(a) The series converges
(b) The series diverges
(c) No conclusion can be drawn about convergence/divergence of the series
based on this information alone
Monday, August 19, 13

35. Discussion starting
n
(b)
P
an diverges
(c) Not enough information to determine convergence or divergence of
P
2. The best way to test the series
1X
n=1
ln n
n
for convergence or divergence is
(a) Looking at the sequence of partial sums
(b) Using rules for geometric series
(c) The Integral Test
(d) Using rules for p-series
(e) The Comparison Test
(f) The Limit Comparison Test
3. The series
1X
n=1
cos2 n
n2 + 1
(a) Converges
(b) Diverges
1X
1.4 1.2Monday, August 19, 13

36. Discussion starting
n
(b)
P
an diverges
(c) Not enough information to determine convergence or divergence of
P
2. The best way to test the series
1X
n=1
ln n
n
for convergence or divergence is
(a) Looking at the sequence of partial sums
(b) Using rules for geometric series
(c) The Integral Test
(d) Using rules for p-series
(e) The Comparison Test
(f) The Limit Comparison Test
3. The series
1X
n=1
cos2 n
n2 + 1
(a) Converges
(b) Diverges
1X
1.4 1.2Monday, August 19, 13

37. Peer
instruction
Brief
presentation
of concept
Conceptual
question
Students vote
using classroom
response system
Debrief, address
any remaining
misconceptions
Next topic
Peer discussion -- students
argue for right answer +
against wrong answers
Revisit concept
< 30% correct
30-75% correct
> 75% correct
Monday, August 19, 13

38. Data from MTH 227-01 and -02, 2013-02-25
Matrix Operations and Matrix Inverses
Monday, August 19, 13

39. Data from MTH 227-01 and -02, 2013-02-25
Matrix Operations and Matrix Inverses
Monday, August 19, 13

40. Data from MTH 227-01 and -02, 2013-02-25
Matrix Operations and Matrix Inverses
Monday, August 19, 13

41. Data from MTH 227-01 and -02, 2013-02-25
Matrix Operations and Matrix Inverses
Normalized gain = 1
Monday, August 19, 13

42. Data from MTH 227-01 and -02, 2013-02-25
Matrix Operations and Matrix Inverses
Normalized gain = 1
Normalized gain = 0.42
...?
Monday, August 19, 13

43. Monday, August 19, 13

44. I can make my voice heard,
gauge my knowledge, and
engage with the material
Monday, August 19, 13

45. I can make my voice heard,
gauge my knowledge, and
engage with the material
Me too
Monday, August 19, 13

46. I can make my voice heard,
gauge my knowledge, and
engage with the material
Me tooMe too
Monday, August 19, 13

47. I can make my voice heard,
gauge my knowledge, and
engage with the material
Me tooMe too
Me too
Monday, August 19, 13

48. I can make my voice heard,
gauge my knowledge, and
engage with the material
Me tooMe too
Me too
Me too
Monday, August 19, 13

49. End of Part 1
Next up: Designing your own clicker questions
Monday, August 19, 13