CultusIn technologically advanced educational scenario it is imperative to make the learning experience interactive and engaging to develop long term learning.  Learning has been evolving with the technological developments to adjust to the tech savvy generation of learners. Classroom response system is an aspect of the interactive learning experience that is being provided for this generation of learners.
What is a classroom response system?
Classroom response system is an interactive teaching tool that is used to assess the students. It includes quantitative tools that influence the processing of questions and the formulations of responses by the students. The learners have the flexibility of answering at their own pace and reply by clicking on a remote control device. The responses are picked up by a radio transmitter and sent to a computer that records the responses and prepares a detailed report. (Source: Classroom Performance Systems)
Examples of Classroom response systems:
- Clickers
An audience polling system called clickers has been devised to engage and generate a response from an audience of students. It allows the students to participate in presentations and lectures by submitting responses to interactive questions. It is also termed as “classroom response” or “audience response” systems. It prompts the audience to actively participate in the discussions in class. Equal involvement of all the students is experienced. It is an individual wireless device with a receiver that plugs in the USB port of the computer.  (Source: Interactive teaching tools)
In a large lecture classroom it acts as a means to introduce and monitor peer learning methods effectively.
- Activ Expression
Activ Expression is another interactive polling tool that allows the teachers a real-time insight into the student progression in learning while the students work in the class or at their pace. It is available with full-sentence, equation and character text capabilities, offering students a wide variety of replies reflecting the varied thoughts and behaviours. (Source: Active expression)
- Netop Interactive Classroom Suite
Netop Interactive Classroom Suite has two packages Netop Response, our interactive classroom response system, and Netop Vision Pro, advanced classroom management software. It is a web based student response tool that runs on iPads, PCs, Macs, Smartphone’s or other web-enabled devices. It has a Right/Wrong indicator to provide the teachers with instant feedback on the students’ answers thus they are able to understand how they are doing. The Actionpoint toolbar impeccably join together with PowerPoint, allowing the teachers to manage their interactions while running the presentations.
Netop Response also includes:
- WizTeach,
- 70 interactive tools from Qwizdom
There is an improvement in the learning and teaching experience. It is easily accessible and technologically friendly. (Source: Student response system)
- Microsoft’s Interactive Classroom
Microsoft’s Interactive Classroom enhances the learning experience with tailored polling questions. It is an add-on to PowerPoint and OneNote (2007 or 2010) that aims to maximise classroom participation. The teachers receive real time feedback on how their students are performing. It enables creation of customised polls that keep the students in touch with their subject materials. They can also share all the collected information with their students though One Note. (Source: Pil-network, Microsoft interactive classroom)
- Poll Everywhere
Poll Everywhere is another such audience response system that makes the lecture or seminar even more interesting, engaging and productive by collecting the feed back for a set of designed questions from the students in real-time. It can be operated via mobile or web technology. Â The responses are instantly displayed in the power point presentation of the presenter or their browser thereby bring the students and teachers closer to enable quality learning experience. (Source: Audience response system)
Interactive classroom benefits both the teachers and the students. The teachers are able to monitor and assess their interest comprehension and understanding of the students through the valuable feedback they receive. And, the students actively participate as well as enjoy the learning experience. The cost effectiveness of the system allows them to incorporate it in their teaching methods easily and make the learning experience even more fruitful.
About the Author:
My name is Phillip Morgan working as an education counsellor, addressing numerous student challenges. Being an avid writer I enjoy writing on a wide range of topics catering to the changing education scenario today. To know more about me you can visit my blog here.