The Use of “Clickers” in the Classroom: Teaching Innovation or Merely an Amusing Novelty? (2009)
The individual response system, or “clickers” are now being used in many classrooms as an active learning component of courses. Educators considering the use of clickers in their own classrooms may wonder whether the clickers are a worthwhile, pedagogical tool or merely an amusing novelty. As Pengfei (2008) points out, research has examined the clicker effects on interaction within the classroom, but little research has examined whether clicker use can affect the understanding of concepts. This chapter will discuss ways in which clickers may help students organize and understand material presented in the classroom.
Michael Lantz is a professor of psychology at Kent State University.