Tech&Learning: The Answer Is…
Aug 5th, 2010 | By admin | Category: News, News Coverage
In an August feature by Ellen Ullman, Tech & Learning Magazine compared leading brands of Student Response Systems by asking educators how they use the product and why. Check out the section on Qwizdom below.
Clickers. Audio response systems. Student response systems (SRSs). Whatever you call them, wireless response systems, which allow students to answer questions by means of handheld response pads, are the answer to some teachers’ prayers. SRSs take the guesswork out of instruction, helping teachers see exactly who understands the material and who doesn’t. But don’t let us sell you on these systems; let the proponents speak for themselves.
CLEVELAND CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL CLEVELAND, TENN.
WHAT DO YOU USE?
Qwizdom
www.Qwizdom.com
WHY DID YOU BUY THIS PRODUCT?
“I had seen similar products at a conference and thought they could be useful,” says Barbie Buckner, who teaches science at Cleveland (Tenn.) Central High School. “Students often give me the feedback I want, but Qwizdom shows me what the kids don’t understand, so I don’t have to re-teach entire lessons.”
BEST FEATURES
Buckner, who has used Qwizdom clickers for five years, loves the new Q6 because “it was designed with cell phones and texting in mind. The Q6 lets us use symbols, which is very important for math and science.”
I GET COMPLAINTS ABOUT…
“I had the Q6 before it was released, and it got stuck sometimes. The minor software glitches were taken care of for the release in May.”
HOW ARE TEACHERS USING THEM?
Buckner uses them to give tests and quizzes, to check homework, and to ask questions on the fly. “When I’m giving a lecture, I can use my Q7 [wireless tablet] to click one button and prepare a question. I can get feedback for myself or on the big screen. The kids love watching the graph change.”
WHAT KINDS OF RESULTS HAVE TEACHERS SEEN?
Buckner has covered more material in her chemistry classes since she started using clickers. “No more wasting time re-teaching what the students don’t need.”
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SCHOOLS THAT DON’T HAVE THEM?
“Do whatever it takes to get them. Today’s students are driven by immediate feedback and hands-on touch-and-click. It will revolutionize your classroom.”