"Clickers" used at Brown University to Increase Student Engagement

An article published in the Boston Globe discusses how wireless handheld response devices are being used at Brown University to increase student engagement and check for understanding. The article brings up an interesting question: should these devices be used for credit quizzes or should they be used only to encourage participation and check for understanding? The article mentions that some instructors have chosen not to use the technology for quizzes that are for credit because they don't want it associated with high stakes situations. Instead, they choose to use the devices only in a positive environment to further foster engagement.

A Harvard professor interviewed for the article discusses how he sees laptops and cell phones being the "wireless handheld devices" of the future to increase student engagement. However, one of the strengths of "clicker devices" that only can be used in the classroom to respond to instructor-led questions is that they limit distractions and off-task behavior. Imagine a classroom filled with 100 students with cell phones in hand... it is unlikely that students would be engaged in the class activities. While integration of multiple technologies into a single device is a laudable goal, in this case, it is probably best to keep student wireless handheld response devices as a single function technology.