Library Instruction Meets Game Show Technology
ACRL Poster SessionPresented by: Susanna Eng
[email protected] Susan Gardner
University of Southern California, Leavey Library
What is PRS Technology?
Personal Response System (PRS) “clicker” technology was used for instant audience polling on the game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”
It can be adapted for use in the library instruction setting to achieve instant, interactive assessment
How Does PRS Work?1. Students see a multiple-
choice question displayed on the screen and choose an answer on their clickers.
2. The answer goes to a receiver in the wall via infrared technology.
3. The receiver sends the information to a computer via USB port.
4. The PRS software displays a histogram with the breakdown of class responses.
PRS HARDWARE: Wireless Keypads Keypads are
powered by 2 AAA batteries
Have their own unique ID
Buttons have alpha numeric values (1A, 2B, 3C)
Manufactured by GTCO CalComp
PRS Hardware: Receivers Use infrared
technology similar to a TV remote control
One receiver can accommodate up to 40 keypads
A single receiver accepts one signal at a time, but multiple receivers possible
Accepts signal from up to 60 feet away
Additional Hardware
Receiver connects to the computer via serial port of computer or serial-to-USB adapter
Receiver powered by AC power adapter
PRS Software: TurningPointTM
Used in conjunction with MS PowerPoint to create interactive slides
Allows you to create multiple choice questions and identify the correct answer
Creates detailed reports in Excel spreadsheet form, which analyze individual sessions
Reports include: results by question, graphical results by question and participant results, among others
Sample question in TurningPoint slide:Which of the following keyword searches will get you fewer results?
1 2 3 4
0% 0%0%0%
1. cognition and emotion
2. cognition or emotion
3. 1 and 2 will retrieve the same number of results
4. cognition and emotion and achievement
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Sample question with responses:Which of the following keyword searches will get you fewer results?
1 2 3 4
0% 0%
50%50%
1. cognition and emotion
2. cognition or emotion
3. 1 and 2 will retrieve the same number of results
4. cognition and emotion and achievement
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
(percent) (count)28.57% 421.43% 314.29% 235.71% 5
Totals 100% 144. cognition and emotion and achievement
Responses
1. cognition and emotion2. cognition or emotion3. 1 and 2 will retrieve the same number of results
1.) Which of the following keyword searches will get you fewer results?
Sample TurningPoint report:“Results by Question”
29%
21%14%
36%
1. cognition and emotion
2. cognition or emotion
3. 1 and 2 will retrieve the same number of r...
4. cognition and emotion and achievement
Sample TurningPoint report:“Graphical Results by Question”
Sample TurningPoint report:“Participant results”
Keypad Comm Port Last Name ID 1) Which of the following keyword searches will get you fewer results?2) For a paper on the decline of California’s public schools, which search would get the most relevant results?3) What is the best tool to find the citation for a journal article that is about tax evasion?4) A professor wants you to find “scholarly” sources for your research. Which of the following articles can you use?5) Which of the following keyword searches will get you fewer results?6) For a paper on the decline of California’s public schools, which search would get the most relevant results?7) What is the best tool to find the citation for a journal article that is about tax evasion?8) A professor wants you to find “scholarly” sources for your research. Which of the following articles can you use?1 4 Student 1 310521 3 3 3 3 4 2 3 22 4 Student 2 310522 1 2 1 1 4 4 3 23 4 Student 3 310523 2 2 1 3 4 2 3 24 4 Student 4 310524 4 2 3 1 4 2 3 25 4 Student 5 310525 4 2 3 3 4 2 3 26 4 Student 6 310526 4 2 3 2 4 2 3 2
Benefits of PRS for Students
Attention-grabbing Integrates technology with learning
(especially good for Generation Y) Student responses can remain
anonymous Facilitates peer learning Allows for non-threatening, non-
graded testing
Benefits of PRS for Librarians
Allows for automatic tabulation of responses -labor saving
Allows instant assessment of class strengths/weaknesses
Facilitates classroom discussion Incorporates active learning Can analyze individual responses to
gauge teaching effectiveness
Bibliography GTCO CalComp, “InterWrite Products:
PRS,” http://www.gtcocalcomp.com/interwriteprs.htm (accessed 3/24/05)
Turning Technologies,”TurningPoint Software,” http://www.turningtechnologies.com/features.htm (accessed 3/24/05)
Bibliography The Center for Scholarly Technology,
Teaching and Learning Services, “Theme: Networked Interaction & Classroom Engagement With Personal Response Systems,” University of Southern California, http://www.usc.edu/isd/locations/cst/tlsnew/currentthemes/nice.html
Eric Goldscheider, “In Class, Gadgets for Interacting, and No One Need Nod Off,” New York Times, November 12, 2000.
Bibliography James L. Fitch, “Student Feedback in the
College Classroom: A Technology Solution,” Educational Technology, Research & Development 52, 1(2004): 71-81.
Elisabeth Butler, “Who Wants to Be a Physicist?,” Arkansas Business 17, 46 (Nov 13, 2000): 13.