Classroom Response System (Clickers)

[Andrea Jackson]

I teach 2nd grade, and I have a set of clickers to use. Does anyone have any experience or ideas on how to use them effectively in the lower elementary grades?

Thanks

[Ben Rimes]

I use my clickers for everything from gathering data to turn into graphs to brainstorming. I really like using them to ask open ended questions during the pre-lesson. Get their brains thinking, and ask them some questions and then let them text in their answers without the risk of seeming silly in front of their peers.

Of course, if you don't have clickers with full texting abilities, you're a bit more limited. You could always use them during math. If you have the students write answers or work out problems on the board, you could have 3 or 4 students put answers on the board, and then ask the kids which method they think is better, or possibly use it for matching games of vocabulary or spelling.

[Andrea Jackson]

Thanks for your suggestions, I need to get those things out and start using them!

[Ben Rimes]

Once you start using them and you get familiar with how to get through the software, and collect data, you'll start to explore questions and uses much easier :)

[Matt Cortez]

I have used them in coordination with a reading program around five years ago in DPS. The clickers were a great way to get the attention of the students and it drove faster response time, but control of the situation is a must. Be careful how they are used and that the routines and the process of the classes are outlined and understood by all students. I have also used a clicker in training my dog and the results were great, not to really correlate the two but be careful because some people will try it.

[Rick Becker]

Tell me a little more about the clickers? Sounds like a techy extension of the old clickers that started operant conditioning training?

[Ben Rimes]

When someone refers to "clickers" it's usually the remote control type device that students use to respond to questions on a computer screen. They're formally called "student response systems" in the industry, but we in the trenches just call them clickers. They come in a variety of functions from the simple 6-button clickers good for multiple choice, and the cellphone-like texting version. Here's a few images below to get the idea of what they look like.

[Andrea Jackson]

I didn't even know text capable ones existed. The ones I have are the same as the ones in the bottom picture. I talked to some more people about uses of them, and I'm very excited. I will be using them tomorrow!

[Ben Rimes]

My school has several sets of the Promethean Expressions, the clicker shown on top that looks like the cell phone. It's amazing to have the kids be able to text, but you'll find more than enough reasons to use yours.