'Clicker' pioneer speaks to profs

One of the inventors of “clickers” — those devices (left) that students can use in class to choose answer A, B, C or D — will be at UW tomorrow to talk to instructors about ways of using them.

A flyer from the Centre for Teaching Excellence says physicist Mats Selen of the University of Illinois will speak about “how to integrate peer instruction and formative assessment into the lecture to increase student engagement, interest and learning”.

That’s exactly what he and three colleagues had in mind a decade ago when, after an overhaul of the physics curriculum at Illinois, they developed a wireless radio system for classroom use. Their device, which they sold to textbook firm Macmillan in 2005, is now marketed as the iClicker, and “over 500,000 students at more than 450 institutions” are now said to be using it.

Mark Morton of CTE defines clickers as “small, handheld devices that allow students in large classes to answer in-class, multiple-choice questions. Their responses are tabulated by the software and can be displayed as a bar graph for the instructor and students to see.” A background paper from CTE notes that many people were first introduced to clickers on the television show ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’, in which a contestant had the opportunity to poll the audience.

Several brands of device are on the market, and have been used in various courses at UW, where CTE estimates that “there are probably about 3,000 students using clickers in any given term, spread among 10 to 15 instructors”. The bookstore, CTE, and the information systems and technology department will be announcing this fall that the university will now support just one brand: the iClicker, the one developed by Selen and his colleagues at Illinois. "We chose the iClicker because of its simplicity," says Andrea Chappell of IST, noting that the decision was made last spring by the associate deans and other officials who make up the University Committee on IST.

More from the background document: “Classroom Response Systems were invented in the late 1980's as a way to increase student participation in class. A CRS is a small network (radio frequency, infrared, or wired) for an individual classroom. It is comprised of three, sometimes four elements: A computer with a projection device, student transmitter units, a receiver unit, and sometimes an instructor unit. The computer runs a software package that processes and displays the student feedback as it comes into the receiver. Students use this system to give immediate feedback to questions posed by the instructor.

“Clickers allow an instructor to gauge how well students have mastered the material in question: they provide an instant snapshot of whether the students are 'getting it,' so that an instructor is better able to determine whether he or she can move on to the next unit or needs to revisit the current unit. Instructors should realize, though, that clickers should not be used as a mere add-on, but rather that their use needs to be thoughtfully integrated into every class.”

Morton says more about the pros and cons: “Studies have shown that clicker use can improve learning, attendance, and retention. On the other hand, there are some potential concerns about clickers: for example, a student might come to class with the clickers of his or her friends, and answer on their behalf; additionally, the cost of the clickers falls on the students, rather than on the institution.” (A typical price at the UW bookstore: about $35.)

CTE has a number of suggestions for instructors on how to use them and how not to: “Develop effective clicker questions,” its tip sheet says. “Don’t use clickers to simply take attendance. Do allow clickers to transform your teaching.” (For example: “Many instructors have found that clickers have helped them shift from a ‘sage on the stage’ approach to a ‘guide by the side’ approach; that is, class time becomes more of a time for discussion and less a time to deliver a lecture. An instructor might, for example, assign a reading in place of a lecture; at the beginning of the next class, the instructor might then test the students on the assigned reading (to ensure that have completed it); class time can then be devoted to discussion, with the discussion being fed by clicker questions and answers.”)

Tomorrow’s event runs from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in Math and Computer building room 2034. In addition to hearing from Selen, instructors who attend will “be able to test the product, ask questions and share ideas of how you have used or are planning on using Student Response Systems,” CTE says. Among those who will be there: UW chemistry professor Carey Bissonnette, thought to be the pioneer of clicker use on this campus. “Carey has said that they have transformed his teaching,” Morton notes.

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Banana makes its grand entrance

Wednesday is a relatively light day in the long chain of getting-to-know-you events that make up orientation week for 6,000 new students. Most students have sizeable blank periods in today’s schedule, though it could be a day to remember for those in the faculty of environment, who will experience both the Big Banana Games this morning and an encounter with Laurel Creek this afternoon.

For students in engineering, software engineering and mathematics, today brings the English Language Proficiency Exam (those in the other faculties won’t face ELPE until December). Sessions, divided by faculty and surname (A to L or M to Z) are scheduled at 10:00, 12:00, 2:00 and 4:00 in the Physical Activities Complex. “Students should bring pens or pencils, WatCards, great ideas, but no aids (either paper or electronic),” says Ann Barrett of the UW writing centre, which administers the test.

Three more performances of “Single and Sexy” are scheduled for today (9:30, 1:00 and 4:00 in the Humanities Theatre). And this evening the new first-year throngs will be streamed to one of three social events: “Under the Sea” in the Student Life Centre, the Science Luau in Federation Hall, or the “Bomb-omb Bush Bash” (I don’t make this stuff up, you know) at the Bombshelter pub.

Meanwhile, today brings the first in a series of international student orientation sessions for those from other lands. They’re scheduled for students in applied health studies and mathematics, today at 9:00, Rod Coutts Hall room 101; engineering and software engineering, today at 1:30, also in RCH 101; arts, environment and science, Thursday 9:00, Davis Centre room 1350; graduate students, Friday 12:30, DC 1350. Details are online.

Thursday orientation events include the very photogenic “Junkyard Wars” for engineering students, starting at 9:00 on the Village green, and the semi-formal Monte Carlo Night that will take over the Student Life Centre starting at 8 p.m.

One other note today is a deadline of importance to any of the new students — or returning students, for that matter — who haven’t yet paid their fall term fees. It’s already too late to make payment by cheque, without penalties applying; payment by bank transfer is due no later than today. Details are online. The last day to pay fees on any conditions, even with late penalties, is set for September 30. Meanwhile, classes for the fall term begin next Monday, September 8.

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Staff association in search of leaders

This Call for Nominations was circulated to members of the UW staff association in late August.

The following positions will be effective at the UW Staff Association Annual General Meeting of October 30, 2008: President (two-year term, plus Past-President term); Three Directors (two-year terms).

Make a difference! You play a vital role in the UW community and you can help to define and shape that role by serving on the UW Staff Association’s Executive Committee (SAEC). UW is one of Canada’s leading universities, and you can help to strengthen its reputation. With your enthusiasm and commitment, the UWSA can make our workplace even better, addressing our issues and concerns to improve our working environment.

Please consider serving the UW community by becoming a candidate for one of these Executive positions or nominating a fellow staff member. As UW adapts and evolves in a changing world, we need a strong voice to ensure that our perspective is clearly presented.

We need a strong Staff Association that advocates for staff on topics like salaries and benefits, and helps to shape University policies and procedures that govern staff working environments. As an SA Executive Member, you represent not only UWSA members, but all University Support Staff. You will have the opportunity to play an important and vital role on one or more University-wide committees:

• Provost's Advisory Committee on Staff Compensation (PACSC). The committee meets regularly to discuss issues regarding University Support Staff compensation and other related issues. For example, it is responsible for negotiating salary increases for USG staff. This year PACSC achieved a significant improvement to vacation entitlement for staff.

• Staff Relations Committee (SRC). The committee meets regularly to discuss any matters of concern with respect to staff-University relations or staff working conditions. SRC’s mandate includes revising all policies affecting staff. This year, the UWSA Executive worked through SRC to implement a major revision to Policy 36, the “grievance” policy.

The UWSA has its own committees independent of the University-wide committees. As an Executive Committee member you can participate and direct the activities of these committees. One important committee is the UWSA Members' Advisory Committee, which provides a confidential service to all who are experiencing a work-related problem. This year, SAEC created a new UWSA staff position, the Executive Manager, who will assist the Members’ Advisory committee by providing dedicated full-time representation for staff.

Release time from your regular staffing duties: staff that serve as SAEC members are granted the time spent in participating on University-level committee meetings. Additionally, UW grants the President four days per month and the Past-President three days-per month of release time.

The nominee must have been a Staff Association member for one year prior to the beginning of the term of office. The Nominator and Seconders must be members of the Association and are required to sign the nomination form.

This nomination form, along with a brief bio-sketch (100 words maximum), must be returned to the Staff Association Office, DC 3603, by September 18, 2008. If an election for a position is required and a candidate chooses to campaign, the total spending limit for the campaign shall be up to $120 excluding taxes. The total amount spent must be paid by the candidate.

CAR

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