CEHS 9th graders input answers using "Clickers" in Dr. Efron's physics classIs that Your FINAL Answer?  

Clicker Technology at CEHS Gives Students Game-Show Interaction in the Classroom

In the fall of 2008, a CEEF grant was awarded to purchase “Clickers” for use in some CEHS science classrooms. Clicker technology allows students to provide instant feedback to the teacher by using hand-held devices which record their answers for the teacher to view on his or her computer. This April, members of CEEF visited a 9th-grade physics class taught by Dr. Michael Ephron to see the clickers in action.

Dr. Ephron used the clickers to poll the students on a physics problem in which they had to calculate how far a marble would roll under a certain set of conditions. The students used their clickers to ‘vote’ on what they thought was the correct answer. (The problem was pretty tricky, and most of the class got the wrong answer the first time.) Then, Dr. Ephron had the students break into groups based on their vote and “white-board” their solution. It was during these group discussions comprised only of students where great interaction, and learning, by the students was clearly visible. Once each group of students presented their answers, all then voted again with the clickers, and this time most got the correct answer.

Dr. Ephron has plans to use the clickers more interactively as their use becomes more ‘normal’ for the students. He hopes to have students register their understanding throughout a lesson, giving him indications when further discussion may be necessary on a topic. The anonymity of clickers lets students vote without feeling pressured to vote the same as the rest of the class. Other teachers are now creating lessons around the use of clickers, and their ease of use and portability will allow many students in various classes take advantage of this unique, innovative, and effective tool available in our schools.