Presenter:
Joann R. Segovia, Minnesota State University-Moorhead
Description:
A PRS uses handheld wireless transmitters and computer software to obtain immediate feedback from students. The technique is similar to "asking the audience" on the game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
This tool enhances interaction among students and the instructor to stimulate learning. Instructors and students easily adapt to the technology. The classroom environment becomes more competitive as students strive to master concepts and select correct answers to the questions projected on the screen. The instructor can stop at any time during a lecture, pose a question that was prepared before class or simply orally ask a question of the class, and obtain immediate feedback to assess the students’ understanding of the concept. This immediate feedback: (1) provides students with satisfaction knowing whether they have mastered concepts, or (2) identifies misconceptions by students that a skillful instructor can correct through additional explanations and retest mastery by students through the reformulation of additional questions.
The use of PRS in an introductory course resulted in an increase of 11.9% in the overall average. In addition, students appeared motivated to use the PRS as they tried to pick the correct answer to questions and did participate more in class.
