subject: Student Response Systems Can Allow Better Judgements to Be Made [print this page] Student Response Systems Can Allow Better Judgements to Be Made
One of the biggest reasons for using student response systems in the classroom, and this has been backed up by research, is that they improve the level of attentiveness shown by pupils in the learning environment. The pupils know that their answers when using this system can be logged and traced so they understand that they are being recorded, so need to be ready to provide an answer.
However, pupils also know that they are able to answer in private and that other pupils do not need to know of their answer. This can provide a greater degree of confidence to any pupil, who may be wary of answering the question wrongly and being embarrassed in front of their peers. Removing the potential for embarrassment from the answering process allows pupils to answer honestly which in turn, allows teachers to get a better gauge of their pupil's understanding of a certain topic.
Another reason why the anonymity of the student response system works well is that pupils are not able to rely on others for guidance or support in answering a question. If a teacher was to take a poll of their classroom where the answer was returned with a show of hands, there would likely be a skew in the figures obtained. Some pupils would look to see what their friends were saying before making their own mind up, which may lead to them providing a different answer to the one that they truly believe.
Peer pressure is extremely important for school children and being seen to be part of the group is an essential part of growing up. Removing this element from the schooling process will encourage children to stand on their own two feet and make their own decisions. This should also help teachers to know if there are any pupils lagging behind in class, which should allow them to act accordingly. There will be times when teachers have to provide extra assistance to some pupils so being aware of the knowledge levels of each pupil is extremely important for teachers.
This style of learning is enhanced by the sense of fun that is created through using technological products to supply the answer. The vast majority of pupils have a great degree of confidence when it comes to using gadgets or hand-held remotes, so there should be no issue with them answering questions in such a manner. Anything which allows for a greater level of engagement has to be considered a positive in the education process.
