Teaching and Learning with Interactive Student Response Systems: A Comparison of Commercial Products in the Higher-Education Market

Abstract

This paper is addressed to the college or university faculty member contemplating adoption of an evolving form of classroom technology - the interactive student response system (SRS). Marketed under a variety of brand names, this student-polling technology is designed to maximize student participation, especially in large-enrollment lectures. We will look at the components and operation of the two most common types of student response systems, wireless keypad and Web-based input devices. Also provided is a brief survey of four decades of published research assessing the generally positive impact of student response systems on teaching and learning.