“Today’s students are known as digital natives have an attention span of just about seven minutes.” (TurningTechLA, 2012). With this being said, it is important to remember this when you are lecturing in the classroom. However, if you are using diverse technologies, then you will a higher chance of keeping your students engaged and participating. Interactive technology, such as classroom response system (clickers) is a great way to keep the students involved during the lesson. I have had some personal experience as a student with the clicker in the classroom. I remember having to be continuously focused on the teacher because you would never know when she was going to ask a clicker question. The following video gives an overview of a student response system (TurningTechLA, 2012).
I feel that the biggest benefit on the curriculum side would
be the factor of quickly knowing whether or not the students are obtaining and
grasping the content of material. Using a classroom response system can also
keep the entire class involved (TurningTechLA, 2012). Teachers have a constant
battle of trying to include all students which using the clicker would prevent
that. Since these students are part of the technology generation, why not allow
them to reach their full potential in the classroom using technology? I would use the clickers to ask random questions during the lesson to check if they are paying attention. I also would give quizzes via clicker. It would insure quick grading and would not waste paper.
I have always though that technology is great but only if it
works. The same thing goes for if you can afford it. Although some schools do
receive the funds to buy intensive technology, there are many schools that do
not (Byrne, 2011). Since I have acquired a Google Reader, I have learned of the
“Free Technology for Teachers”. It has provides some information on using other
ways than a clicker and still get them same effect (Byrne, 2011). Free Technology for Teachers
References
TurningTechLA. (2012). Student response systems. Retrieved
from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUIy1TzHSNQByrne, R. (2011). Three alternatives to clicker response systems. Retrieved from http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/10/three-alternatives-to-clicker-response.html#.UWdQUVfYxAJ
I used the clickers some when I taught 4th grade. It was great when reviewing for the ARMT test. We just made it into a trivia type game.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about including all of the students by using the clickers. My school does not have clickers yet, but they are next on our technology list. I like how you said it is easy to keep the student's attention because the students do not know when the teacher is going to ask you a question. I cannot wait until our school gets clickers. Wonderful blog!
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