Clickers in the Classroom
Services for the
Future Retreat
May 15, 2009
Q: How many of the 10
most edited wikipedia
entries last week were
related to swine flu?
A. Nine
B. Six
C. Four
D. Two
Q: Have you used clickers
before?
A. Yes
B. No
C.Not sure
Q: The clicker system
requires…
A. Clickers & Receiver
B. Clickers, Receiver, &
software
C.Clickers, Receiver,
software & laptop
Today’s Goals
• Learn the basic mechanics of
creating an interactive session
using the PRS Interwrite
system
• Gain ideas and techniques for
implementing this technology
in the classroom
Clickers: The Who & When
• Anyone!
• Clickers can be used during:
– Library instruction sessions
– Outreach sessions
– Conferences
– Training
– Meetings
Clickers: The Where
• Receivers installed in all University
Park classrooms
– Installed in 211A & 315 Pattee, 302
Paterno, Foster Auditorium
• Used at PS Altoona, Erie, Dubois
• Possibly at Great Valley, Mont Alto,
Brandywine
• System travels well-take clickers on
a road trip!
Clickers: The What
•
•
•
•
•
•
Icebreakers & games
Pre & Post Assessment
Group collaboration
Choose your own adventure
Demographics
Audience
temperature/context
Clickers: The Why
• Promote participation & interaction
• Help maintain attention
• Assessment & adaption
• Utilizes active learning
• Instructor gets packaged results
Clickers: The How
3 Basic components
1. Clickers
2. Interwrite radio freq. receiver
3. Software (Interwrite +
Powerpoint)
Nuts & Bolts
Basic steps for
getting started
1. Download the PRS Software to
your computer (from PSU’s
clicker homepage)
2. Create your Ppt presentation
including questions w/ answers
3. Activate your question slides
using the PRS “add in” feature
In more detail…
1. Download software and
register it
2. You should then see an extra
tab called “Add-Ins” appear in
your Ppt menu
3. When you see this tab you
are ready to go!
A few last technical details…
• Start your presentation & you
will be prompted to start a new
clicker session
• Turn on the clickers—they will
begin to join your session
• A dress rehearsal is
recommended!
Q: Making sense so far?
A. I totally got it!
B. It’s becoming clearer…
C. I’m totally lost!
Techniques and
Examples
Ice Breaker
64%
What do Laura
Bush, Bat Girl, and
Ben Franklin have in
common?
21%
14%
ab
ov
e
s
th
e
e
on
N
ey
Th
of
ar
e
lib
ra
r
ia
n
ac
k
bl
in
od
go
lo
ok
Th
ey
ar
e
ey
Th
r..
.
rh
e
su
pe
al
l
N
ot
hi
ng
at
al
l
0% 0%
Q: The PRS Interwrite system
is being used at PS Erie
A. True
B. False
Post Test example
To find out if PSU has the film
“Germany, Pale Mother”, you
would search:
17% Film Literature Index
71% The CAT
13% Encyclopedia of German Cinema
Working with a partner, determine the
following sum:
Number of PSU campus Libraries +
Number of UP subject libraries The room number of Foster Auditorium
A.- 63
B.- 64
C. 34
D. 43
Q: Choose Your Own Adventure
You need to write a research paper
using 5 books, 5 peer-reviewed journal
articles, and 5 newspaper articles.
Which type of resource would you like
to learn how to find today?
A. Books
B. Peer-reviewed journals
C. Newspaper articles
What percentage of freshman do you think are
“adequately prepared” for
college-level research?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
0 - 20%
21 - 40%
41- 60%
61- 80%
81-100%
Final Best Practices
Keep questions short
Provide <5 choices
Use at periodic intervals, in burst
Allow time for discussion in
between
• Dress rehersal!
•
•
•
•
Thank you!
Questions? Contact me!
Resources: See SFTF Retreat Wiki