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Interactivity in the classroom

Digital Responses

Digital Responses is a teaching and learning approach drawing on the use of digital technologies in the classroom. Students are invited to develop a response to weekly readings and lecture material in groups of three to four over the early part of the semester. Students are required to produce a response in digital form and can use audio, video, online and/or Windows based applications (such as Word or PowerPoint) to construct their responses. Group responses are posted to a Discussion Forum in MUSO where students can download and view the work of their peers and participate in peer review. Digital responses have been used successfully in the Faculty of Education in a Fieldwork unit to help students interface theory and practice prior to completion of a childcare practicum.

Refer also:
Presentation from Vice-Chancellor's Showcase of Teaching Excellence 2007

Contact : Dr Suzy Edwards, Faculty of Education, +61 3 990 44326

Student Polling
There are several trials of technology for student responses / polling across the university.

Victorian College of Pharmacy

The ‘lecture’ remains the mainstay of the university learning experience despite the impact of the revolution in information technologies in higher education. The use of Audience Response Systems is becoming increasingly common across the sector as innovative teachers recognise their potential to ‘reinvigorate’ the lecture. Audience Response Systems provide immediate feedback and create interactive learning opportunities. This paper reports a pilot study undertaken at the Victorian College of Pharmacy (VCP) using an Audience Response System in a lecture program in the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree. The findings demonstrate that, used effectively, Audience Response Systems have the potential to engage students more actively in the lecture with the lecturer and their peers, and to give them meaningful opportunities for immediate feedback which tests their understanding of key concepts.

Refer to: White, P., Malone, D., Spratt, C., Warren, D. & Duncan, G. Audience response systems as a tool to stimulate dialogue and increase active learning during large group lectures to Pharmacy students: a pilot study (not yet available)

Contact: Dr Paul White, VCP, +61 3 990 39074

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science

Wireless keypads are an electronic teaching and learning tool that creates an interactive learning environment. The system uses infrared student transmitters, an infrared receiver which collects the responses made by the students and software capable of embedding into PowerPoint slides. This project in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (MNHS) was funded by the Learning and Teaching Performance Grant 2006

Refer to: Williams, B. Can the use of wireless keypads facilitate interaction amongst health science students in interprofessional education contexts?

Contact : Mr Brett Williams, MNHS, +61 3 990 44283