Journal article
Instructor perceptions of using a mobile-phone-based free classroom response system in first-year statistics undergraduate courses
International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, Vol.43(8), pp.1041-1056
2012
Abstract
Student engagement at first-year level is critical for student achievement, retention and success. One way of increasing student engagement is to use a classroom response system (CRS), the use of which has been associated with positive educational outcomes by fostering student engagement and by allowing immediate feedback to both students and instructors. Traditional CRS rely on special and often costly hardware (clickers), and often special software, requiring IT support. As a result, the costs of implementation and use may be substantial. This study explores the use of a low-cost CRS (VotApedia) from an instructor perspective. The use of VotApedia enabled first-year students to become anonymously engaged in a large-class environment by using their mobile phones to vote on multiple-choice questions posed by instructors during lectures. VotApedia was used at three Australian universities in first-year undergraduate statistics classes. The instructors in the study collected qualitative and quantitative data specifically related to interacting with the VotApedia interface, the in-class delivery, and instructor perceptions of student engagement. This article presents the instructors' perceptions of the advantages and challenges of using VotApedia, the practicalities for consideration by potential adopters and recommendations for the future.
Details
- Title
- Instructor perceptions of using a mobile-phone-based free classroom response system in first-year statistics undergraduate courses
- Authors
- Peter K Dunn (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringA Richardson (Author) - University of CanberraC McDonald (Author) - University of Southern QueenslandFlorin I Oprescu (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Publication details
- International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, Vol.43(8), pp.1041-1056
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis Ltd.
- Date published
- 2012
- DOI
- 10.1080/0020739X.2012.678896
- ISSN
- 0020-739X
- Copyright note
- This is an electronic version of an article published in Peter K. Dunn , Alice Richardson , Christine McDonald & Florin Oprescu (2012) Instructor perceptions of using a mobile-phone-based free classroom response system in first-year statistics undergraduate courses, International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 43:8, 1041-1056, DOI: 10.1080/0020739X.2012.678896. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology is available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/openurl?genre=article&issn=0020-739X&volume=43&issue=8&spage=1041
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Engage Research Lab; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy; School of Health - Public Health
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450030702621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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