Wireless-cps system a new teaching tool

 

Overview: The system has the potential to enhance the interactive teaching atmosphere in a classroom. During the lecture, when a multi-choice-type of question is posed by the instructor, each student can enter his/her anonymous choice through the use of a wireless-remote. Among other things, the use of the system when used appropriately can help to engage student’s attention and, can make the instructor more aware of the class’s understanding of the material as the lecture progresses.   With the present setup, the computer keeps track of students’ attendance/participation records and posts them on the web on the same day. This helps to raise class attendance level.  The plan  using the system was conceived in Fall 2001, and tested in Spring 2002 and Summer 2002.

 

Fall 2001: A preliminary Investigation

Spring 2002:  Professor Art Woods pioneered the use of the system in his Biology 301M. Survey on cps.

Summer 2002:

o        Professor Charles Chiu used the system in his Physics 303L class.  Survey on cps, (bigprint)

o        Professor  K. Sathasivan investigated the use of the system especially in connection with small classroom teaching.

               Fall 2002:  CNS-multimedia classrooms where Wireless-cps system will be available.

 

Presentations:

Presentation: pdf, ppt,  Handout, Students survey_fall02, Demo on a lesson plan: Origin of Life 

 

Articles related to UT-cps system:

 

 

Acknowledgement

Special thanks to:

Mel Oakes: for his encouragement and advice to us in going from Classtalk (a precursor wired system) to a wireless system.

Kevin Nelson: for his relentless effort in investigating and conquering computer related issues in going from Classtalk system to the wireless system.

Deans’ office of CNS:

Jeff Brumfield, for his interest and the support of CNS dean’s office, to make the system available to our College. 

CNS Technology Classroom Team led by  Kurt Bartelmehs in effective maintenance of the hardware system.

Michael Marder:  for his advice and his effort in arranging the assistantship grant.

Grant support of assistantship:

·         Educational Advancement Foundation, for a special assistantship grant from Summer02 to Spring03.

·         eInstruction: for a special grant of an assistant support: Spring 03 –Spring04