Online Classroom Response Systems

This guide is intended to assist you in learning more about online classroom response systems and selecting which system will work best for your classroom. Use the tabs on the side to navigate through the guide and learn more about using each CRS.

What are Online Classroom Response Systems

Online Classroom Response Systems/Audience Response Systems are in essence electronic voting systems that allow instructors to engage students and introduce active learning techniques into the classroom or lecture.  Response Systems began as hand-held voting devices (clickers), a "show of hands" approach, or flashcards. New online systems allow data to be collected faster, more visually appealing interfaces, confidentiality, and ease of use are quickly making online platforms classroom favorites - by both teachers and students.*

Role in the Classroom

Online CRS are an easy to use active learning method and a way to engage with students.  Most systems allow students to answer via cell-phones, computer, or tablets -- solving the issue of student or departments purchasing clickers, installing software, outdated models, and boring interfaces.  Online CRS can be created, updated, and published from anywhere giving faculty a wider-range of classroom abilities.  Online CRS allow teachers to harness student reliance on technology in a fun and engaging manner. 

Advantages of Using an Online CRS

• Immediate feedback on student understanding, knowledge retention 
• No software downloads
• Portable, just sign-in via any web browser
• Students can use their personal technology devices (phones, laptops, tablets, etc.) in a constructive manner
• Quickly compile statistics reports 
• Most Online CRS platforms can be used free of charge
• Results are anonymous
• Many platforms offer team options or competition modes
• Quickly perform formative and summative assessment 
• Make class more interesting

Compare Platforms

Learn More!

Articles

• Effectiveness of Flipped Classroom with Poll Everywhere as a Teaching-Learning Method for Pharmacy Students
• CRiSP: An Instrument for Assessing Student Perceptions of Classroom Response Systems
• Beyond Clickers, Next Generation Classroom Response Systems for Organic Chemistry
• Let’s Kahoot! Anatomy
• Evaluating Impact of Small-Group Discussion on learning Utilizing a Classroom Response System

Books 

• Teaching with Classroom Response Systems: Creating Active Learning Environments
• Teaching Mathematics with Classroom Voting: With and Without Clickers
• What Successful Science Teachers Do: 75 Research-Based Strategies
• Clickers in the Classroom: Using Classroom Response Systems to Increase Student Learning

References

* Middleditch, Paul & Moindrot, Will. "Using Classroom Response Systems for Creative Interaction & Engagement with Students." Cogent Economics & Finance 3, no. 1 (2015). DOI: 10.1080/23322039.2015.1119368.

* Draper, S.W. & Brown, M.I. "Increasing Interactivity in Lectures Using an Electronic Voting System." Journal of Computing Assisted Learning 20 (2004): 81-94. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2729.2004.00074.x