Technology in the Large Classroom

1. Technology in the Large Classroom David Cordes Computer Science Department University of Alabama

2. Workshop Goals and Format • Goals: • Understand the issues & problems inherent in a large classroom environment • Be aware of how other institutions are using technology to address these problems • Demonstrate classroom technology • Focus: • Electronic Response Systems • Format: • Interactive, group-based approach March 16th – 18th, 2003 Share The Future IV ConferenceTempe, Arizona

3. Workshop Overview • Introductions • Problem identification • Definition of a “large classroom environment” • Problems inherent in the large classroom • Demonstration • sample “electronic response system” • Classroom changes w/electronic response system • Existing tasks and activities • New paradigms • Information dump on electronic response systems March 16th – 18th, 2003 Share The Future IV ConferenceTempe, Arizona

4. Round-robin Please give your: Name Discipline Institution Largest course ever taught Attendees Diane Schuch-Miller, schmild@focushope.edu Chen-Nee Chuah, chuah@ece.ucdavis.edu Russ Pimmel, rpimmel@coe.eng.ua.edu Rich Freuler, Rick.Freuler@osu.edu Anwar Haque, ahaque@coe.eng.ua.edu Muhammed Sharif, msharif@coe.eng.ua.edu Sue Kemnitzer, skemnitz@nsf.gov Introductions March 16th – 18th, 2003 Share The Future IV ConferenceTempe, Arizona

5. Task Definition • Large classroom environment • At least 100 students in the room • Instructor has presentation system of some sort • Computer and projection system • Overhead projector and transparencies • Lecture-hall style organization of the room • No tables for team/group work • Any suggested changes to this definition? March 16th – 18th, 2003 Share The Future IV ConferenceTempe, Arizona

6. Task Identification • Goal: • Identify issues regarding classroom management that are magnified in a large class environment • Process • Think-pair-share • Think about the question individually for one minute, write down your list of issues • Share this list with a neighbor • Report out to the entire group March 16th – 18th, 2003 Share The Future IV ConferenceTempe, Arizona

7. Problems that are compoundedin a large classroom environment • Less one-on-one time with students • Lack of personal contact • Collecting and handing papers back • Hard to gauge the progress of students • More difficult to control the environment, disruptive behavior becomes a bigger problem • Students may have perception it is not necessary to pay attention in a large class • Hard to assign a single project to the entire class • Diminished opportunities for active & cooperative learning • Harder to get student participation, but if you do, then you won’t have time to cover the material that you do • All require a lot more organization (to deal with the above issues) March 16th – 18th, 2003 Share The Future IV ConferenceTempe, Arizona

8. Demonstration of anElectronic Response System • Classroom Performance System • http://www.einstruction.com • Basic system configuration • Individual transmitters (issued to the student) • Receiver(s) located around the classroom • Disclaimer: • Workshop is not endorsing CPS • Variety of products exist in the marketplace • Functionality is quite similar • Comments • Keep our list of “problematic issues” in mind during the demo • Will examine costs and requirements later March 16th – 18th, 2003 Share The Future IV ConferenceTempe, Arizona

9. CPS Demonstration • Short demonstration of the system • Class rosters • Attendance • Questions/quizzes • Opinions and thoughts on a topic • Q & A regarding the system • Focus on its functionality • Will discuss cost/implementation later March 16th – 18th, 2003 Share The Future IV ConferenceTempe, Arizona

10. Using an ERSGroup Exercise #1 • Working in a group (self-selected): • Identify a subject (topic) of interest to the group • Identify a lecture within this topic • Identify three different activities/exercises that you could use in a large classroom to check student comprehension and understanding • Report out to the rest of the workshop March 16th – 18th, 2003 Share The Future IV ConferenceTempe, Arizona

11. Activity #1 Group Reports • Appropriate for definitions, one-step questions • Had trouble with multiple-step problems • Could ask questions per step, (what is the next step?) • Had trouble with having them give us a process (as an answer) as opposed to a concept or idea • Saw a good application when talking about their perceptions of their understanding • How well did you understand this idea • Talked about how you could capture their feelings about the issue • How do you feel about this? • Do you think this is important? March 16th – 18th, 2003 Share The Future IV ConferenceTempe, Arizona

12. Activity #1 Group Reports • Followed the suggested format, picked a topic of statics – resolution of forces/vectors • Discussed how to use something like this as a tool in three areas • Inventory of concepts prior to beginning the lecture or presentation (where are they now) • Out in the middle of the lecture, do a ‘check-quiz’ to see what they’ve learned after 20-30 minutes • Measure what they learned at the end, could be done in a competition-based way (how many people got the answer in a specified time?) March 16th – 18th, 2003 Share The Future IV ConferenceTempe, Arizona

13. Using an ERSGroup Exercise #2 • Working in your groups: • Same topic, same subject • Identify three different activities that you could insert into the classroom presentation that would change the behavior in the classroom (and hopefully increase thinking and learning) • Report out to the rest of the workshop March 16th – 18th, 2003 Share The Future IV ConferenceTempe, Arizona

14. Activity #2 Group Reports • More interaction, more cooperative learning situations • Allows improved attention (keeps students involved) • Helps the attention span (cycle of learning) • Figure out what the most optimum/efficient way of teaching a concept out • Based on background or interests of the class • Figure out some base point • Do we repeat if less than N% understand? • Allows you to determine the direction the presentation goes (speed up, slow down, etc.) March 16th – 18th, 2003 Share The Future IV ConferenceTempe, Arizona

15. Activity #2 Group Reports • Shift the control of the lecture to the students • Examples: ask them “which of the two topics we cover today do you want to emphasize?” or “do you want to see another example” • Active involvement • A combination of understanding versus perception questions will probably get more responses • Eliciting prior knowledge • Example: statistics, some students might claim they do not know it, but they do have some prior knowledge • Peer review • Other students can evaluate/score a student presentation • Motivation • Give concrete examples of how certain principles or theories is applicable before we teach it March 16th – 18th, 2003 Share The Future IV ConferenceTempe, Arizona

16. ERS Information Dump • About 8 to 10 companies active in the area • Same basic functionality for all products • Some designed for corporate setting, others focus on education arena • Basic system package includes: • Software (PC-based) • Transmitters for the students • Receiver(s) to collect responses March 16th – 18th, 2003 Share The Future IV ConferenceTempe, Arizona

17. ERS Information Dump (continued) • Large classrooms require multiple receivers • Can connect receivers together seamlessly • Individual transmitters vary in complexity • Low-cost/simple versus elaborate/expensive • Student-owned versus tethered to classroom • Different processes for attendance, both options work • Tethering can be an issue (esp. w/ expensive models) • Investment costs (150 person classroom) • Prices range from $4K to $40K March 16th – 18th, 2003 Share The Future IV ConferenceTempe, Arizona

18. ERS Vendors • Classroom Performance Systemhttp://www.einstruction.com • Fleetwood Reply Systemshttp://www.replysystems.com • Group Response Systemhttp://www.xtol.com • Interactive Horizonshttp://www.inthorizons.com • Meridia Audience Response Systemshttp://www.meridia-interactive.com • Personal Response Systemhttp://www.educue.com/Home.htm • Quick Tally Audience Response Systemhttp://www.quick-tally.com • StarNet Interactivehttp://www.mg-interactive.com March 16th – 18th, 2003 Share The Future IV ConferenceTempe, Arizona