The New World of Computers (1965)
Our Sons their Father's failing mainframes see, And where lies reel-to-reel goes USB.
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Here's an interesting new use of computers in the classroom:
Computers give students, teachers instant feedback
Associated Press
12:01 AM CDT, May 8, 2008
CLARKSVILLE, Ind.
Test time in some classrooms at a Clarksville school looks a bit like a TV game show, with students' answers instantly recorded through handheld devices and then displayed on a screen next to the teacher.
Providence Junior/Senior High School has installed a computerized system called SMART -- or self-monitoring, analysis and reporting technology -- in four classrooms. School officials hope to install more units, which cost about $7,500 per classroom, as more money becomes available.
Teachers can ask questions of students, who then enter their answer into a handheld device similar to a small remote control. The teacher can see how many students got the right answer and determine whether more review on a subject is needed.
"It's a very quick way to gauge the understanding of everybody across the board without that fear of being made fun of" by getting the wrong answer in front of the entire class, said School President Joan M. Hurley.
The technology is an effective way to engage students and is being adopted widely, said Amy Schellenberg, director of curriculum and instruction for the Greater Clark County schools.
The school district is incorporating the SMART system in classrooms as it builds and renovates schools, Schellenberg said, and it will be part of the $99 million high school now under construction.
The system gives immediate information about how each student is performing and can print out personalized study questions for each student who missed a question, said eighth-grade science teacher Ginger Shirley.
Shirley's students seem to be sold on the technology.
"It's a lot more fun," said Mackenzie Elliott, of Charlestown. "Five minutes after a test we all know our grade."
I've experimented with those classroom poll systems -- not with a hand-held clicker, but via a network application.
Fortunately at Seton Hill, all my classes have been small enough that we can also do that sort of thing with a show of hands.