Why we are using clickers in our class

Here are some reasons put together by Professor Douglas Duncan, Director of Astronomical Laboratories, University of Colorado in his 2005 book Clickers in the Classroom (p22):

• Active learning lasts longer than passive listening.

• When you answer questions, you remember the answers better that if you just hear the answers.

• You will remember answers even better when you discuss questions with one another before answering.

• Proper clicker use can lead to higher grades.

• You will get some credit just for participation and need not be overly concerned about clicker grades.

• Clicker questions allow you to show your professor what you understand without having to raise your hand and identify yourself.

• Many students think that using clickers is a lot of fun!

Here are some student comments from page 49:

It's fun as hell. Helps me learn and gives me confidence when I'm right.

It gives us, the students, an anonymous way of giving feedback to the teacher.

It's easy and prepares you for exam-like questions.

It gives us credit for coming to class(...).

I expected that you would teach me. I didn't expect that I would have to learn!.

Paul Kates
Mathematics Faculty CTE Liaison
pkates@uwaterloo.ca, x37047
Last modification date: Thu Nov 18 15:19:03 2010.