Clickers Create Interactive Learning In Classrooms

Following the trend of lap tops and online schools, another new form of technology that aids in education is turning up in college classrooms. "Clickers," or hand-held wireless devices that visually resemble a TV remote control and range in price from $30 to $70, can provide professors with information about their students-from which students are present in class, to which students are actually paying attention and engaging in the lecture.

In a classroom that utilizes such devices, students are assigned a clicker that registers when they walk into the room. In addition to automatically taking attendance, the clickers are used to respond to multiple choice questions, or to signal to the professor that a student is confused or has a question.

Northwestern University professor Bill White uses the devices in his "Organizational Behavior" class of 70 students. In class, students are required to respond with their clickers to a multiple choice quiz each day, which contributes to 20 percent of their overall grade in the course. Professor White also conducts surveys among his students via clicker and displays the results for the entire class, allowing students to see the opinions and thoughts of other students in an anonymous fashion.

The most significant impact of clickers may be creating an interactiveeducation environment where students are more compelled to pay attention and resist distractions like email and text messages.While some students may not appreciate the use of clickers for that exact reason, others like them.

Jasmine Morris, a senior at Northwestern feels that using clickers in the classroom "reinforces what you're supposed to be doing as a student" by motivating you to read and pay attention. "I like them," she said.

Alli writes about Online Education for University-bound.com - a resource site for those interested in earning a degree online.