Anonymity and in class learning: The case for electronic response systems

Mark Freeman; Paul Blayney; Paul Ginns

doi:10.14742/ajet.1286

Anonymity and in class learning: The case for electronic response systems

Australasian Journal of Educational Technology ◽

10.14742/ajet.1286 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Mark Freeman ◽

Paul Blayney ◽

Paul Ginns

Keyword(s):

Student Perceptions ◽

Teaching Strategy ◽

Critical Factor ◽

Lecture Hall ◽

Willingness To Participate ◽

Alternative Response ◽

Interactive Teaching ◽

Large Lecture ◽

Electronic Response ◽

Response Systems

<span>This research presents the results of a study of alternative response methods for in class formative questioning. Students' anonymity from their peers and instructor was studied through a research design that maintained a constant interactive teaching strategy in a large lecture hall, in all respects except for the method used by students to respond to the in class questions. A handheld electronic response keypad was the only approach affording complete anonymity. Student perceptions of the benefits of anonymity were obtained from a survey conducted at the end of the course. The results suggest that anonymity is a critical factor affecting student willingness to participate with in class exercises. Furthermore, the results indicate that students' propensity to engage with in class questions increases with the degree of anonymity provided to the student in revealing their response. The benefit of anonymity, combined with the increased availability and affordability of electronic response systems, will be of interest to academics keen to design engaging learning environments.</span>

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Is Hay for the Birds? Investigating Landowner Willingness to Time Hay Harvests for Grassland Bird Conservation

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11041030 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 1030

Author(s):

Matthew Gruntorad ◽

Katherine Graham ◽

Nico Arcilla ◽

Christopher Chizinski

Keyword(s):

Great Plains ◽

Critical Factor ◽

Information Support ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Bird Conservation ◽

Willingness To Participate ◽

Population Declines ◽

Grassland Bird ◽

The North ◽

Hunting Activity

Birds in agricultural environments have exhibited steep global population declines in recent decades, and effective conservation strategies targeting their populations are urgently needed. In grasslands used for hay production, breeding birds’ nest success improves substantially if hay harvests are delayed until after mid-July. However, few studies have investigated private hay producers’ willingness to alter their harvesting practices, which is a critical factor for bird conservation where most land is privately owned, such as in the North American Great Plains. We surveyed Nebraska hay producers to examine whether livestock production, wildlife knowledge, and hunting activity affects their willingness to alter haying practices for bird conservation. The majority (60%) of respondents expressed willingness to delay harvesting hay to allow birds time to nest successfully. Livestock producers and those more knowledgeable about wildlife were more willing to delay hay harvests, whereas active hunters were less willing to do so. Our findings suggest that a majority of private producers show a high potential for engaging in grassland bird conservation activities. Landowners’ willingness to participate in bird conservation programs and actions could be further encouraged through extension and education efforts connecting hay producers with information, support, and funding for bird conservation.

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In Defense of the Populist Lecture

Political Science and Politics ◽

10.1017/s1049096510001289 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 43 (04) ◽

pp. 759-765 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mark Lawrence Schrad

Keyword(s):

Student Engagement ◽

Active Learning ◽

Student Learning ◽

Full Advantage ◽

Information And Communication Technology ◽

Communication Technology ◽

Lecture Hall ◽

Large Lecture ◽

Information And Communication ◽

Visual Variety

AbstractInformation and communication technology (ICT) programs like Microsoft PowerPoint and Apple Keynote have become the norm for large university lecture classes, but their record in terms of student engagement and active learning is mixed at best. Here, the author presents the merits of a “populist” lecture style that takes full advantage of the variety of features available from the latest generation of ICT programs. Based on visual variety, audio and visual sound bites, and the incorporation of humor and pop-cultural references, this populist approach not only facilitates greater student attention and engagement with the class materials, but also offers unmatched opportunities for extending student learning beyond the confines of the large lecture hall.

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Technology-engagement Teaching Strategy Using Personal Response Systems on Student’s Approaches to Learning to Increase the Mathematics Pass Rate

Journal of Information Technology Education Research ◽

10.28945/4393 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

pp. 331-353 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sibongile S Simelane-Mnisi ◽

Andile Mji

Keyword(s):

Academic Performance ◽

Teaching Practices ◽

Teaching Strategy ◽

Approaches To Learning ◽

Pass Rate ◽

Personal Response Systems ◽

Response System ◽

Strategic Approach ◽

Personal Response System ◽

Response Systems

Aim/Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether the effectiveness of the Technology-engagement Teaching Strategy using personal response systems with student’s approaches to learning will increase the pass rate in the Mathematics course Background: The challenge in this study was to develop the learning activities that accommodate individual differences and diversity in learning. Furthermore, Studies investigating students’ approaches to learning have mostly done this in a face-to-face learning environment as opposed to incorporate exploration thereof when integrating educational technology. Methodology: A mixed method approach was used. The basis of using this method was a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches which gives a clearer understanding of research problems than either approach alone. Participants were 240 students registered for Mathematics II at a study University of Technology in South Africa. Purposeful, convenience and simple random sampling were used to select the participants. Contribution: No study that has investigated the utility of personal response systems with students’ approaches to learning is currently available as observed by the researcher. In this case, the combination of the two variables in this study makes it unique and therefore important in contributing to the body of knowledge focusing on the role of technology in pedagogy. Findings: The results showed that while the majority of students followed the Strategic Approach the same Technology-engagement Teaching Strategy was used for students following Surface Approaches. The Technology-engagement Teaching Strategy was developed in such a manner to accommodate students following different approaches. The personal response system continuous assessments, as well as the semester test, revealed the improvement in academic performance as well as the increase in mathematics pass rates. It was also found that using personal response system enhances students’ mathematical communication skills, and helps to develop the skills needed to write and read mathematical proofs. Recommendations for Practitioners: It is recommended that academics take into consideration the students approaches to learning in their teaching practices. It is crucial that lecturers take advantage of technology to enhance their teaching practices and decrease the fear of the unknown and open up to new innovations in teaching. Recommendation for Researchers: It is recommended that the use of personal response systems should be explored in different mathematics settings (different lectures and universities). Such an exploration according to the researcher will be useful in endorsing what has been reported in this paper. Impact on Society: The results revealed that the Strategic Approach was the most dominant among the participants in this study. The results also showed the improvement in students’ academic performance as well as the number of students who passed increased. Future Research: A further research study could be conducted with students in a different discipline where poor academic performance is experienced.

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