Abstract:

This paper describes use of an online Student Response System (SRS) in pre-qualification course for engineering studies in Norway. The SRS in use, where students answer quizzes using handheld mobile devices like Smartphones, PAD`s, iPod`s etc., has been developed at Sør-Trøndelag University College. The development of the SRS was co-funded by the Lifelong Learning Program as KA3-ICT action in 2009-2010. SRS has been designed to help teachers in an easy way to i) break the monotony of a lecture and allow the students to actively take part in the lecture, ii) increase teacher-student interaction, and iii) give teacher and students “real-time” anonymous feedback on learning effect.

A total of 237 students were divided in four groups, two of which were exposed to SRS and two control groups with traditional education. A total of nine lecturers have been involved in the subjects where SRS has been used. The preferred pedagogical method in use has been “peer instruction”. The paper will describe the pedagogical methods in use, and provide an analysis of the obtained results in form of student marks and throughput. Finally we will discuss further examinations on the effects of SRS on students learning, including emerging online peer learning assessment systems.

Keywords:

Student Response Systems, mobile learning, smartphones, peer instruction and learning, Peer Learning Assessment Systems.