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:
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