Emerging Technology 3- Classroom Response Devices (CRD)

What is the number one method of assessment used by most teachers in American school systems? I bet if you're a teacher you use it all the time without even realizing it! The answer is verbal inquiry. Classic scenario, teacher has their students answer a question to themselves, then asks one student what their answer was. Now here is where it gets classic....The teacher most likely will ask the entire class next "how many of you also got that answer?" And you watch at the kids raise their hands in the air....or not....How many really had the same answer? How many of those students raised their hand anyway because they didn't want to look foolish in front of their peers? Is there a solution beyond the classic write on your paper or dry-erase boards? Well, absolutely! The answer is Classroom Response Devices (CRD).

Devices like this are simple ad-on's to your basic program of power point. However, the beauty of CRD's is it allows each student to submit an answer via their handheld device, track their individual answers, compare their answers to their peers, allowing the teacher to check for all student's learning while the student gets to maintain anonymity.

Click on the link below to go to a specific clicker to see the perks! Very lightweight, easy to use and set-up without requiring a lot of maintenance.


http://www.turningtechnologies.com/audienceresponseproducts/responseoptions/responsecards/responsecardrf/

Turning Technologies is a good website for different types of technologies that could be used in the classroom.

http://www.turningtechnologies.com/

These are different types of clickers available for students. Our school has the first type in the list. They are VERY easy to use and the application to power point is simple!

http://www.turningtechnologies.com/studentresponsesystem/studentclickers/



Another type of a similar device is also called a Classroom Response System (CRS).

http://www.einstruction.com/products/assessment/cps/index.html

These types of devices can be used at every level of education as well as every subject. I use the devices when I want to check for understanding with in a unit, after a new topic is taught, for quizzes, for review and surveys. The kids absolutely love it!

These devices are not cheap. Often however, these student clickers are offered as part of a textbook adoption option. There are ways to get them! Don't forget the money available in technology grants all over the country that go unclaimed every year. Once you have them, you need to make sure there are clear procedures that kids can follow to maintain the "health" of these devices.

Below is a link to a teacher's testimonial of her experiences with CRD's.

http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=139599&title=Classroom_Response_Systems