Interactive lecturing using a classroom communication system

Abstract

Large lecture classes are a dominant feature of many first year university courses. Is there a way to transform passive lectures into environments in which students are actively engaged in learning? Interactivity can be introduced into lectures through mini group quizzes, buzz sessions and a ‘show-of-hands’. Although these strategies are successful they are not very effective in informing students about what and how their classmates think. Current instructional technology based on information technology, enables instantaneous and unbiased feedback from students during a lecture. Such systems are called classroom communication systems (CCS). In this paper we discuss the implementation of such an interactive lecturing system. The effectiveness of the CCS is being evaluated by comparing the results of examination questions addressed by the CCS during the lecture course with those from examination questions that probe similar concepts but which have not been addressed by the CCS. The method by which this evaluation is being carried out is described.