1. Engaging students via their mobile phones: easy ways to have a personal response system
Tilly Harrison
University of Warwick, UK
11th ATECR International Conference
9th September 2016

3. Outline What is a personal response system?
Rationale for classroom polling
Feasibility of classroom polling
Types of poll
Survey of three of the free options

4. Personal Response System (PRS)
A system using technology to gather responses from individuals in the class (polling)
Originally required bespoke handsets (clickers)
Interactive Whiteboard software often included the option of a PRS
Now many are internet-based
No longer necessary to issue clickers – students simply need an internet-connected device.

5. Styles of Clicker USB dongle See notes for image acknowledgements
Images from:
See notes for image acknowledgements

6. Smartphones / tablets These replace
clickers especially in ‘Bring Your Own Device’
(BYOD) classrooms

7. Survey – find out what learners think
Main types of poll
Survey – find out what learners think
Quiz – find out what learners know

8. Teacher interface http://www.polleverywhere.com/
Show this

9. Student interface for Poll Everywhere
Go to PollEv.com/tillyharriso170 OR
Text TILLYHARRISO170 to once to join then text your message

13. Polleverywhere Features
Free for up to 40 users but upgrade vigorously promoted
Easy to start with but has some complicated features
Varied options for questions and reports (clickable images, word clouds etc.)
More options for response (text messages, Twitter)
Can embed in to PowerPoint

14. Please sign in as a student to room
Online
Free to use
Separate student and teacher logins
Please sign in as a student to room
07F26B2D

15. Teacher Choices on Socrative

16. Orientation Questions Answer on Socrative room 07F26B2D
I have never used a personal response system before. True / False
If you have, which one have you used? (Type your answer)

17. Answer on Socrative room 07F26B2D
3. (Choose an answer)
What is your main interest in classroom polling?
To make my classes more interactive
To use more technology in my classes
To stop learners using their smart phones for Facebook
All of the above
None of the above
Pause to gather answers

18. Discussion Why should we poll our students?
Discuss your answers to the poll and to the question above with the person(s) near you.
What are the advantages of ‘Quick Questions’?
What might be the disadvantages?

19. Answer on Socrative room 07F26B2D
Why should we poll our students? Quick Question – please choose an answer from those you have discussed and type it in.
Pause to gather answers

20. Why should we poll our students?
Interaction creates engagement
Anonymous responses build class community
Polling the class gives you valuable feedback that you may not get otherwise
All can respond not just most confident
It adds variety to your lecture / teaching technique
It energises large classes
Teachers can get responses even when new to the class / students
Students get feedback as to how they are doing
Responses are saved and can be used for reflection

21. What does research say?
The following pedagogical theories have been invoked to support classroom polling:
Active learning
Agile Teaching
Assessment for Learning
Engagement
Game-based Learning
Immediate Feedback
Learning Styles
Motivation
Peer instruction
Positive Reinforcement
Socratic Questioning
Spacing Effect
Turning Technologies literature
This is also a useful bibliography:

22. Active Learning Charles Bonwell and James Eison (1991)
Definition: instructional activities involving students in doing things and thinking about what they are doing
Recognised potential barriers:
limited class time
increase in preparation time
large classes
a lack of resources
risk
Bonwell C.C. and Eison, J. A. (1991) Active Learning: Creating Excitement in the Classroom. ERIC Digest.

23. Active Learning
Doing
Thinking
Student Focus

24. Agile Teaching Derek Bruff (2009) – blog and book
On-the-fly (unplanned) questions
Following class discussion
Created from rhetorical questions
Probing understanding so far
Adapt teaching according to feedback
Bruff, D. (2009) Teaching with Classroom Response Systems: Creating Active Learning Environments Published by Jossey-Bass, A Wiley Imprint. Fourth Edition. Copyright 2009 Vanderbilt University.

25. Teacher Focus Agile Teaching Pace Instant Feedback Content Faster
Slower
Pace
Adapt
Instant Feedback
Harder
Easier
Content
Teacher Focus

26. Engagement / Game Based Learning
Nicola Whitton (2014)
Wrote ‘Digital Games and Learning: Research and Theory’
Engagement = meaningful student involvement requiring:
a goal
an appropriate level of challenge
decision-making (collaboratively or competitively)
Games
instigate active learning
create motivation
allow meaningful play
act as learning technologies
Whitton, N. (2014) Digital Games and Learning: Research and Theory

27. Engagement / Game-based learning
Motivating
Student-centred
Competitive / Collaborative
Experiential
Student Focus

28. Motivation Zoltan Dörnyei and Ema Ushioda (2011) evolves gradually,
a complex mental process
initial planning and goal setting,
intention formation
task generation and action implementation,
action control and outcome evaluation
sociocultural construct
cooperative learning
collaboration
Dörnyei, Z.& Ushioda, E. (2011). Teaching and Researching Motivation UK: Pearson Education Limited.

29. Motivation Motivation Interest Relevance Expectancy Satisfaction
Dörnyei, Z.& Ushioda, E. (2011). Teaching and Researching Motivation UK: Pearson Education Limited.

30. NB Be patient – the quiz may take a few minutes to load.
Bicycle Race!
07F26B2D
Answer the questions as accurately as you can and see if your team wins!
NB Be patient – the quiz may take a few minutes to load.

31. Choose the colour of your team
Choose the colour of your team. The faster and the more accurately you all answer, the faster your bicycle will move across.

32. Feedback How does it feel to be ‘tested’?
Is it better / more fun to work in a team?
What are the advantages of instant feedback?
What might be the disadvantages?

33. Socrative features Easy to use and set up Free Simple, clear interface
Racing is always fun for students
Follow up to answer allows for further reflection, especially if got the question wrong
BUT sometimes slow to load

35. For teachers

36. For learners

37. Easy poll creation

38. Kahoot Features Choice of survey or quiz Bright, bold and colourful
Music creates atmosphere
Very easy to create / edit
Many free public Kahoots to adapt
Graphics or video more or less built in
Always exciting although for some, motivation wanes if not winning!

39. Thank you! Please take a handout
Any questions I can’t answer now, please contact me at