Engineering Education Reinvented-Unleashing the Clicker Potential
In the realm of engineering education, “Easy Test” student response systems (SRS), commonly known as clickers, have emerged as “game changers.” By integrating clickers into the teaching and learning process, Professors can create an engaging and interactive environment that fosters active participation and deepens students’ understanding of engineering concepts.
In this blog post, we explore real-world case studies and examples that illustrate the transformative impact of clickers in engineering courses, both theoretically and practically.
Anonymous Participation in Engineering Problem-Solving
Engineering students employed clickers to help them solve complicated problems in a class at one of New Delhi’s well-known engineering institutes. While resolving the design issues, the lecturer displayed MCQs at each crucial stage, allowing students to respond with their choices using clickers to continue with the design process, such as material selection, etc. By permitting anonymous involvement, students were able to freely share their thoughts and solutions without worrying about making a fool of themselves. Due to the encouragement of a collaborative environment, students actively participated in discussions, put up various strategies, and together came up with novel solutions. Students’ ability to consider alternative viewpoints and develop their problem-solving abilities was facilitated by the SRS’s anonymity.
Enhancing Engineering Lab Learning with Clickers
With clickers, viva-voce exams can be conducted in less than 5 minutes for every 3-hour laboratory session. Instead of individual assessments taking up excessive time, clicker-based exams allow for a collective evaluation of student’s understanding and progress. This time-saving approach enables instructors to dedicate more time to hands-on learning and conceptual discussions during lab sessions.
A computer science lab instructor can conduct clicker-based viva-voce exams for students after their programming exercise is completed. The immediate feedback from clicker responses will help the instructor offer timely guidance, fostering a dynamic and interactive learning environment.
With quick viva-voce assessments and real-time feedback on assessments, lab instructors can dedicate more time to hands-on learning and meaningful discussions, promoting better interaction between teachers and students.
Author:
Dr. R. K. Suresh, M.E., Ph.D., F.I.E., C.I.E., P.G.D.M.M.
Founder and CEO
LPP Learning Technology Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Coimbatore-4