CELLS, CLICKERS, CHATS ---, OH MY! – COMMON TECHNOLOGIES ADD PRODUCTIVITY, LIFE, AND EFFICIENCY TO THE CLASSROOM

Do you sit in your office during office hours waiting for students that never come? Are you tired of answering the same questions over and over and over again? Is all the grading grating on you? Looking at your undergraduate class do you see blank faces, stoic note takers, blind stares to the meaning of what you are staying? Students having no time to think and their attitude is just give me the material, test me, and let me go on to the next subject, group project or class. Can the use of simple technology enhance the classroom experience, increase productivity and efficiency, while bringing new life to the learning experience?

Consider the simple cell phone. Most students have them and use them for instant knowledge. What happens if you get a dedicated phone for yourself that students can call any time day or night for quick questions? Call or text whenever you want and if I am on I will answer. No excuse for not having the work done because you can’t get an answer. Have a discussion board running where students post questions and other students post answers that are indexed by specific problems. Credit given for good questions and good answers. You know what they are thinking as they work toward the answer. If they get off on the wrong track gently lead the back to the right path. If they buy into this mode do you really need to test them as often? Do you really need to spend hours grading?

A live chat/discussion board, a topic stated and a rush for the answer. Perhaps in teams or on their own. All available are on the board at the same time and again they get credit for participation and you have a complete record of who says what and how much they know. The competitive spirit flows. Or they are in the class and each has a clicker. The clicker registers their answers on a screen. Can’t get the right answer maybe we should vote? It is live and it leads to greater interaction between student and teacher and between student and student?What do you think? Press 1,2,3,4,5,6.

The use of these simple education tools is explored in several classroom situations. The conclusion is much time is saved in office hours, classroom time, and grading while increased productivity is gained in learning. In addition they add more life to the class and a reduction in frustration from both students and faculty.