Conference Recap and Presentations

Conference Photos

Keynote presentation: "Classrooms Reconsidered: Understanding and Engaging Students with Clickers"

- Dr. Derek Bruff, Vanderbilt University

• PDF for Derek Bruff's presentation
• Video capture of his presentation (This video includes some opening remarks. Jump to scene 8 to catch the beginning of his presentation.)
• An outline of Derek Bruff's book: Teaching w/Classroom Response Systems

Abstract:
Instructors who teach with clickers have many choices to make: What kinds of clicker questions work best?  How should I structure class around clicker questions?  What grading scheme is most appropriate?  Answers to these questions depend on the instructor’s particular teaching context—the institution, the discipline, the course, the students, the instructor’s teaching philosophy and experience, and so on.  This keynote presentation will expose attendees to a variety of possible answers to these and other teaching choices they might encounter when teaching with clickers and, perhaps more importantly, provide participants with useful frameworks to help them think more intentionally about their teaching choices.

Bio:
An assistant director at the Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching and senior lecturer in mathematics at Vanderbilt, Derek Bruff consults regularly with instructors in a variety of disciplines at Vanderbilt and elsewhere about educational technology and other teaching and learning topics. Bruff's research interests center on investigating effective uses of "classroom response systems". His book on the topic, Teaching with Classroom Response Systems: Creating Active Learning Environments, was published by Jossey-Bass in February 2009. Prior to his current position, Bruff taught in the mathematics department at Harvard University.

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"Who is Pushing our Buttons?"

- Liz Pearce, IDT Manager in ITS and adjunct faculty for Communication Studies

• PDF of her presentation
• Video capture of her presentation (The introductory part of this video is missing. Sorry for the inconvenience.)

Abstract:
The presentation focuses on learning behaviors and traits of the generation that is literally (and perhaps metaphorically) pushing our buttons.

According to the research on Iowa Student Experiences (RISE) Report there are two key aspects of student engagement: “(1) the amount of time and effort students put into their studies and other activities that lead to experiences and outcomes that constitute student success and (2) the ways an institution allocates its human and other resources, and organizes learning opportunities and services to participate in, and benefit from such activities.”  This session will focus on the University of Iowa students as a product of not only this institutional cultural milieu but a wider milieu that Prensky (2001)  termed “Digital Natives” and Ting Toomey and Chung (2008 ) termed “e-netters.”

Bio:
Liz Pearce manages the Instructional Design and Technology unit in ITS instructional Services and teaches one large lecture every semester in the Department of Communication Studies to keep herself grounded in the field.   In addition to the Department of Communications Studies, Liz has taught in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the Rhetoric Department and the Department of Health and Sports Studies.  Liz has used a clicker for the past three years.

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"Clickers in the Large Lecture Classroom: Practical Examples"

- Cornelia Lang, Physics and Astronomy

• PDF of her presentation
• Video capture of her presentation

Abstract: This presentation will be focused on using clickers in the large lecture environment for a general education requirement (GER) course in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.

I have been using clickers in the large lecture format (in this case, Introduction to Astronomy) over the past 6 years with great success and with a lot of fun, too! In this presentation I will highlight some "real life" experiences of mine using clickers, some examples from clicker activities I often use in class, and general advice about using clickers in the large lecture format.

Bio: Cornelia C. Lang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy here in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Her research interests include the study of the interstellar medium in our Milky Way Galaxy using radio telescopes and x-ray satellites such as the Chandra X-ray Observatory. Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, NASA, and several University of Iowa internal awards. In 2007, Professor Lang received the U Iowa Collegiate Teaching Award, and she especially enjoys teaching undergraduates in the popular GER science course entitled, "Stars Galaxies & the Universe".

Professor Lang has used routinely clickers for the past 6 years and relies on them to increase participation and attendance in this large lecture course.

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ifolio: The University of Iowa’s Innovative Learning Portfolio Tool

- Annette Beck, ITS Instructional Service Technology Consultant

The University of Iowa has a wide array of clients with diverse needs and goals. ifolio is a modular electronic portfolio system that scales to include new clients in a timely manner. While ifolio is an excellent example of technology supporting an effective teaching method (portfolios), the development project itself as also proved to be an excellent example of faculty and  IT staff working together to created effective tools.

Bio: Annette Beck is an Instructional Design Consultant with the University of Iowa. She holds a B.A. in Graphic Communications and an M.A. in Instructional Technology. She is a course management system administrator and serves as project manager for instructional design projects such as electronic portfolios (ifolio), training, and also was the chair of the clicker standardization committee and former project manager of the clicker project. She also provides input in evaluating new and emerging technologies and their potential applications in teaching and learning. Annette leads training sessions for Kirkwood Community College for Microsoft Office and Adobe products.

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"The use of Automated Response Systems in lectures to large PharmD classes"

- Aliasger Salem, Pharmacy

• PDF of presentation
• Video capture of the presentation (The volume is a little low on this one. We do apologize.)

Abstract:
This presentation will summarize some of the approaches (including the use of clickers) that we have used to increase participation of students in large class size lectures in pharmaceutics.

Bio:
Aliasger Salem is an associate professor of pharmaceutics. Prof. Salem has a well funded (NIH, NSF and American Cancer Society) research program on the development of cancer vaccines. Prof. Salem teaches and co-ordinate Pharmaceutics 1 to professional students on the PharmD program. He uses clickers in class to help improve participation of students in the classes, to evaluate performance, measure attendance and provide a real-time gauge of how the students are understanding the material. He also utilizes clicker technology to identify students that need additional help before they take exams. In 2008, Prof. Salem received a Council of Teaching Instructional Improvement Award for his efforts at increasing student participation in large classes which included plans for the integration of clicker technology throughout the College of Pharmacy.

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"One Digital Immigrant’s Experience using Clickers to Help Nursing Students Learn"

- Ellen Cram, Nursing

PDF of presentation

Abstract:
A one year experience in using clickers in large and small classes in nursing education will be presented. We’ll talk about why this technology was adopted, the benefits and challenges, use of the reporting tools and learning difference measurement.

Clickers have been used in large classes (~80 students) to increase engagement, assess student understanding of concepts, create opportunities for “real time” remediation when a misconception becomes apparent and developing student test taking skills. Data will be presented regarding student perceptions of the use of clickers and measurement of student performance.  Buoyed by the positive student acceptance in larger classes, the use of clickers was expanded to smaller seminars (8-30 students) with both undergraduate and graduate nursing students. Discussion of some instructor choices will be included. Some choices will be focused upon such as whether to use anonymous or student identifiable responses, timed responses, types of questions, and how many questions positioned where in the class period. Turning Point software will be used to show examples of several different types of questions; the purposes and effectiveness of each type of question will be discussed. Clickers can be misused by students and issues of academic integrity have arisen; resolution strategies will be discussed. Lessons learned in the first year’s experience will be shared as well as how these lessons have shaped clicker use in the second year.

Bio:
Ellen Cram, PhD, RN has taught at the College of Nursing since 2004. Prior to joining the faculty, Dr. Cram was in practice at UIHC in clinical and administrative roles for ~30 yrs. Clicker use was presented at a CoN faculty meeting. Within 1 month, the software and reporting system was able to be mastered and incorporated into all class sessions and exam reviews for the semester.

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"Using clickers for continual assessment in large classes"

- Mary Campbell, Sociology

PDF of presentation

Abstract:
This presentation will focus on the use of clickers for quizzes that provide continual assessment of learning and replace major exams in a large class, including discussion of student feedback regarding the use of clickers and their impact on learning.

I will focus on how I use clickers in my Introduction to Sociology course, including their use for sensitive questions and immediate feedback but focusing on their use for quizzing that replaces major exams. I will include comments from students about why they like this method, and their feedback about its effect on their learning.  I will do a TP/PowerPoint presentation that includes a few clicker questions, showing them how I standardize the quiz questions to make sure everyone has enough time, etc. I will speak for about half the time and leave about half the time for Q&A.

Bio:
Mary Campbell is an Assistant Professor of Sociology, and her research focuses on two related themes: racial identification - how racial categories are used in surveys and daily interactions - and racial inequality - how race and ethnicity shape all aspects of American life. She has used clickers in Introduction to Sociology courses and sporadically in other courses.

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"My Vulcan Death Grip, or Academic Rigor and Assessment"

- Megan Gogerty, Theater Arts

• PDF of her presentation
• Video capture of her presentation (The volume is a little low on this one. We do apologize.)

Abstract:
I will discuss how using clicker technology has helped me adopt teaching strategies that promote academic rigor and allow me to more quickly assess students’ progress.

At the University of Iowa Collage of Liberal Arts and Sciences, we are trying to promote academic rigor in our undergraduates. This effort can be hampered by large lecture-based courses where little or no formal discussion takes place, which can often mean there is little direct oversight of individuals’ progress.  I will share some of my strategies to promote rigor in my lecture-based course using clicker technology. I will incorporate clickers into my PowerPoint lecture and discussion.

Bio:
Megan Gogerty is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the University of Iowa Theatre Arts Department specializing in playwriting and dramaturgy.  Her plays include:  HILLARY CLINTON GOT ME PREGNANT (Riverside Theatre, Atlanta’s Synchronicity Theatre), LOVE JERRY (New York Musical Theatre Festival, Actors Express) and BAD PANDA (WordBRIDGE, West Virginia Wesleyan College).

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Maggie Jesse, Instructional Services Manager in ITS at the UI - Opening Remarks

Maggie Jesse joined Instructional Services in September 2006. Maggie has an MBA from the University of Iowa and 20+ years of management experience. She has been an IT leader at the University of Iowa since 1996, formerly the director of IT in the Tippie College of Business.
As a longtime member of the University of Iowa IT community, Maggie has been a strong proponent of wise use of IT to enhance teaching and learning, including many years of service on the Academic Technology Advisory Committee (ATAC) and as a member of the eLearning Core Group.

Ellen Gordon, College of Medicine - Member of panel discussion

Professor of Internal Medicine (Clinical)
UI Heart Care
Carver College of Medicine

Director of Internal Medicine Sub-internship for 4th Year Medical Students
Course Instructor - "Evidence-based Medicine - What to do with a journal article in 10 minutes"

Mary Starry, Pharmacy - Member of panel discussion

Graduated from Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids with a BA in English and minor in Secondary Education. Graduated from U of Iowa College of Pharmacy in 1980 with a BS in Pharmacy. Currently she is enrolled in a distance PharmD program through the U of Florida.

Mary worked in the area of adult education for 17 years, teaching diabetes education classes. Currently she is a clinical instructor at the College of Pharmacy. She provides, with her co-faculty, three lectures and 9 lab sessions each week of the school year.

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