QWIZDOM INTERACTIVE VOTING SYSTEM FOR LARGER CLASSES Mary Jacob E-learning Advisor, Information Services

What is Qwizdom?  ‘Ask the Audience’ classroom response system  ‘Clickers’  Voting system  Personal response system  Questions in PowerPoint

Learning & Teaching Enhancement Fund  Enhance large group teaching  Summer doubled equipment stock 2006: 28 handsets + hub 2007: 28 handsets + hub 2008: 32 handsets + hub

AY 2008/9 usage to date Staff using Qwizdom16 Total handsets120 Teaching sessions booked131

NOTE: Some staff use one handset per small group or pair, not per student. MonthStaffTotal1 set2 sets3 sets4 sets Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar AY 2008/9 usage to date

Who is using it?  Academic departments  Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences  Computer Science  Management and Business  Mathematical and Physical Sciences  Sport and Exercise Science  Support and other  Commercialisation and Consultancy Services  Information Services  Widening Access Partnership

How are they using it?  Undergraduate teaching  Linking lectures with previous material  Building foundational skills such as numeracy  Summarising at end of lecture  Contingent teaching  Move away from transmission model, promote active learning, peer learning  Break up 2-hour lectures  Revision for exams  Module evaluation

How are they using it?  Other  Library induction activities  Outreach  145 secondary school pupils debate for Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification  Coleg Ceredigion library activity  Recruitment activity for History A-level students

Tips  Give ‘don’t know’ option  Problem-solving  Limit time

Student response  More engaged  Perceive improved learning  Want Qwizdom used more widely Using Qwizdom in lecture is helpful and makes us concentrate

Impact of additional kit  Benefits –  Use in larger classes  Easier to book, can be used more widely  Easier to use outside of Penglais campus  Drawbacks –  Large, heavy bags of kit  Logistics of using multiple sets

Conclusions – method  Proven valuable, pedagogies embedded  Large group teaching  Active learning  Further uses  Module evaluation  Outreach/recruitment

Conclusions – technology  Well-received, some limitations  Some depts considering buying  Centrally supported software  Committed to Qwizdom

For further information  Aberystwyth Learning & Teaching Online (ALTO)    Equipment booking  Queries  Training booking (CDSAP) courses.php courses.php