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Active Learning in College Science pp 123–139Cite as

Personal Response Systems: Making an Informed Choice

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Abstract

The use of personal response systems, commonly referred to as clickers, lends itself well to supporting active learning, particularly in a large classroom setting. However, the market is expanding and the options available to instructors can be overwhelming. This chapter serves as a guide to instructors, presenting some factors to consider when choosing a personal response system. It includes a brief discussion about how clickers can be used in the college setting to promote active learning, with a focus on the importance of clicker question design and effective strategies for implementation. Informed by faculty interviews and student surveys, it provides an overview of the types of clicker-based technologies currently available, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each. It ends with a discussion about what students and faculty think about the various options for clickers and their use, as well as questions to consider when selecting a personal response system for one’s classroom.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Kathleen M. Koenig

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  1. Kathleen M. Koenig
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Correspondence to Kathleen M. Koenig .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Biological Sciences and Science Education, California State University, Chico, CA, USA

    Joel J. Mintzes

  2. Science Learning Associates, Wrightsville Beach, NC, USA

    Joel J. Mintzes

  3. Department of Biological Sciences and Center for STEM Education, California State University, Fresno, CA, USA

    Emily M. Walter

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Koenig, K.M. (2020). Personal Response Systems: Making an Informed Choice. In: Mintzes, J.J., Walter, E.M. (eds) Active Learning in College Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33600-4_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33600-4_9

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-33599-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-33600-4

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

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