Integrating Technology with Classroom Clickers

Integration of Technology is important for classrooms today and in the future. The idea is not to take away things that are not technology but to use all of the available resources we have. Using all of our resources shows that we are up to learning about new things as well as the old. I am finding that technology is making education more fun for students as well as teachers because it is bringing the hands on approach to the mix. One very cool piece of technology that I feel would make learning more fun for students is Classroom Clickers. Each student in the class would have a wireless handheld response pad, or clicker, with which they are able to answer questions. The teacher would ask a question verbally or through the computer onto a projector or television screen, and the students respond with their handheld device. The links that I have used to research this further are http://www.educause.edu/ero/article/clickers-classroom-active-learn... and http://www.engaging-technologies.com/classroom-clickers.html#sthash....

In my ideal classroom setting I would integrate classroom clickers by using them to answer questions with vocabulary or finding the correct spelling for a word. What the students would do is pick the best word that corresponds to the meaning in the sentence given on the screen and/or the correct spelling for that word. I would use them to take polls throughout my lessons, even with younger students to see if they are learning the points that are being covered that day. I would also use the clickers to see what students need more guidance (help) with their work and what students understand the lesson. The immediate feedback from the clickers will be both beneficial to me and the students. It will make grading papers go by faster and it will be fun for the students to see if they got the correct answers right away instead of having to wait.

The equipment I would need for my classroom would clickers for every student or wireless handheld response pads. The clickers sell for about $40.00 in stores and on Amazon. I would also need a projector or television screen to project the questions on, especially for elementary aged students, who need to see and hear instruction.