Teaching with Classroom Response Systems: Creating Active Learning Environments

243 Pages·2009·1.135 MB·English

by  Bruff, Derek;Bruff

Teaching with Classroom Response Systems
This innovative book offers faculty across disciplines a hands-on guide for B
R
incorporating classroom response systems into their classrooms. The use of
U
classroom response systems, or “clickers,” which enable instructors to rapidly
F
collect and analyze student responses to questions during class, has proven
F
DEREK BRUFF
to both engage students in course material and provide valuable feedback on
student learning and perspectives for instructors. Derek Bruff—an expert on (cid:127)

the use of classroom response systems—includes illustrative examples of the (cid:127)

(cid:127)
range of questions that can be used effectively with clickers, such as conceptual,
procedural, critical thinking, opinion, and student experience questions.
T
e
a
Based on the author’s seven years of experience and interviews with fi fty
c
instructors from a variety of disciplines and institutions, the book explores key h
strategies, ideas, and suggestions for successfully incorporating a classroom i
n
response system in a class of any size. g Teaching
with
w
i
Praise for Teaching with Classroom Response Systems t
h

C
“No other available resource on teaching with clickers rivals Bruff’s amazingly Classroom
l
a
thorough treatment. Not only does he explain the many ways instructors can use
s
them to enhance student engagement and learning, he also provides invaluable s
r
advice on writing productive multiple-choice questions (many samples provided),
o
responding to different clicker results, and balancing clicker use with content o Response Systems
coverage.” m
— LINDA B. NILSON, director, Offi ce of Teaching Effectiveness and R
Innovation, Clemson University, and author, Teaching at Its Best and The
e
Graphic Syllabus and the Outcomes Map s
p
o
THE AUTHOR n
s
DEREK BRUFF is an assistant director at the Vanderbilt University Center for
(cid:127) e Active
Teaching and a senior lecturer in the Vanderbilt Department of Mathematics. (cid:127) S Creating
Formerly he was a faculty preceptor in the Harvard University Department of y
(cid:127)
Mathematics, teaching several courses and coordinating multisection calculus s
t
courses. e
m Learning Environments
s
EDUCATION
Cover design by Michael Cook
www.josseybass.com
(cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127)
Bruff ffirs.tex V2-12/01/2008 12:35pm Pageii
Bruff ffirs.tex V2-12/01/2008 12:35pm Pagei
Teaching with
Classroom
Response
Systems
Bruff ffirs.tex V2-12/01/2008 12:35pm Pageii
Bruff ffirs.tex V2-12/01/2008 12:35pm Pageiii
Teaching with
Classroom
Response
Systems
Creating Active Learning
Environments
Derek Bruff
Bruff ffirs.tex V2-12/01/2008 12:35pm Pageiv
Copyright©2009VanderbiltUniversity.Allrightsreserved.
PublishedbyJossey-Bass
AWileyImprint
989MarketStreet,SanFrancisco,CA94103-1741—www.josseybass.com
Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmittedinanyform
orbyanymeans,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording,scanning,orotherwise,exceptas
permittedunderSection107or108ofthe1976UnitedStatesCopyrightAct,withouteithertheprior
writtenpermissionofthepublisher,orauthorizationthroughpaymentoftheappropriateper-copy
feetotheCopyrightClearanceCenter,Inc.,222RosewoodDrive,Danvers,MA01923,978-750-8400,
fax[phone],orontheWebatwww.copyright.com.Requeststothepublisherforpermission
shouldbeaddressedtothePermissionsDepartment,JohnWiley&Sons,Inc.,111RiverStreet,
Hoboken,NJ07030,201-748-6011,fax[phone],oronlineatwww.wiley.com/go/permissions.
ReadersshouldbeawarethatInternetWebsitesofferedascitationsand/orsourcesforfurther
informationmayhavechangedordisappearedbetweenthetimethiswaswrittenandwhenitisread.
LimitofLiability/DisclaimerofWarranty:Whilethepublisherandauthorhaveusedtheirbestefforts
inpreparingthisbook,theymakenorepresentationsorwarrantieswithrespecttotheaccuracyor
completenessofthecontentsofthisbookandspecificallydisclaimanyimpliedwarrantiesof
merchantabilityorfitnessforaparticularpurpose.Nowarrantymaybecreatedorextendedbysales
representativesorwrittensalesmaterials.Theadviceandstrategiescontainedhereinmaynotbe
suitableforyoursituation.Youshouldconsultwithaprofessionalwhereappropriate.Neitherthe
publishernorauthorshallbeliableforanylossofprofitoranyothercommercialdamages,including
butnotlimitedtospecial,incidental,consequential,orotherdamages.
Jossey-Bassbooksandproductsareavailablethroughmostbookstores.TocontactJossey-Bassdirectly
callourCustomerCareDepartmentwithintheU.S.at800-956-7739,outsidetheU.S.at317-572-3986,
orfax317-572-4002.
Jossey-Bassalsopublishesitsbooksinavarietyofelectronicformats.Somecontentthatappearsin
printmaynotbeavailableinelectronicbooks.
Example3.3onpage78copyrightEricMazur.
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Bruff,Derek.
Teachingwithclassroomresponsesystems:creatingactivelearningenvironments/
DerekBruff.—1sted.
p.cm.—(TheJossey-Basshigherandadulteducationseries)
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN978-0-470-28893-1(pbk.)
1. Activelearning.2. Simulatedenvironment(Teachingmethod)3. Teaching—Aids
anddevices.I.Title.
LB1027.23.B782009
371.39—dc22
2008043433
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
firstedition
PBPrinting10987654321
Bruff ffirs.tex V2-12/01/2008 12:35pm Pagev
The Jossey-Bass
Higher and Adult Education Series
Bruff ffirs.tex V2-12/01/2008 12:35pm Pagevi
Bruff ftoc.tex V2-12/01/2008 12:41pm Pagevii
Contents
Preface xi
TheAuthor xix
1 EngagingStudentswithClickers 1
GeneratingClasswideDiscussions
GeneratingSmall-GroupDiscussions
CreatingTimesforTelling
StructuringClassTime
MakingClassMoreFun
2 AssessingStudentswithClickers 39
UncoveringStudentLearning
EvaluatingStudentLearning
3 ATaxonomyofClickerQuestions 71
ContentQuestions
ProcessQuestions
4 TeachingChoices 113
UseofClassTime
WritingQuestions
StudentResponse,Participation,
andGrading
ClassroomChoices
SmallClasses
5 TechnicalandLogisticalChoices 161
TechnicalChallenges
VendorSelectionandAdoption
SupportingandPromotingtheUse
ofClickers
vii
Bruff ftoc.tex V2-12/01/2008 12:41pm Pageviii
viii Contents
Low-TechOptions
High-TechOptions
6 WhyUseClickers? 197
IncreasedStudentParticipation
IncreasedStudentEngagement
FrequentFeedbackonStudentLearning
FinalSuggestions
References 209
Index 215