| Classroom Response System
(Clickers): We will be using a classroom response system that is based on radio frequency technology. The goal is to encourage student participation and assist in your learning and my teaching. |
1.
Required
Equipment: InterWrite
PRS RF (Handheld Transmitter, also known
as a clicker or classroom remote) made by
GTCO CalComp. You can find more information on the remote and the technology at: http://www.gtcocalcomp.com/supportprsrf_students.htm You can purchase the InterWrite PRS RF at the campus bookstore for $46.70, but you might want to buy the textbook first, since the Campbell/Reece text bundle at the bookstore ($156.85), includes a $20 rebate towards the price of the remote. You can also purchased used remotes. Net cost: When you are through taking courses that use the remote (there is no extra charge to use the system for multiple classes), you can sell the remote back to the bookstore (or directly to another student). The amount you get back from the rebate and resale should make the net cost for use less than $10. One set of three AAA batteries should easily get you through the quarter. 2. Registering your remote: Registration is automatic. The first time you use the remote in class you'll enter your student ID #. That's it. Once you are registered for the course, your PID and clicker # will get matched up with your name. Concurrent enrollment students should make up a PID # and E-mail it to the instructor with their full name. 3. How it will work: Throughout the course, you will use a transmitter (or "clicker") like a TV remote to answer questions that I pose during class time. A receiver linked to my laptop will enable me to project a graph showing the distribution of responses among all the students in the class. This rapid feedback will let you see whether you grasp the material and will provide me guidance as to how well I am communicating particular important ideas. I will use the technology in two ways that will count toward 10% of your course grade* : a. Daily quiz. At the start of each class I will ask several multiple choice or multiple true-false questions. For each you will receive full credit for correct answers and no credit otherwise. These questions will usually be based on material covered in the previous class or in assigned reading and will test learning rather than memorization. b. Student participation. I will ask questions during class designed to help you and me gauge learning. You will get the same credit for responding to the answers whether or not your response is correct. * For the first three class sessions, we will only practice using the H-ITT system. During these classes, your answers will not count toward your grade. This practice time should give everyone enough time to purchase a remote transmitter, register it online, and become familiar with its use. Beginning July 9th, your answers and participation will count toward your grade. 3. Forgotten, missing, or malfunctioning clickers: Providing correct answers for 80% of the quiz questions and any answers for 80% of the participation questions will earn you full clicker credit. What this means is that you can come to class and discover that you have dead batteries or no clicker and not have to inform me or worry. The responsibility for limiting such problems to just one or two class sessions is entirely yours. |
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Last update: June 27, 2007
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