Instructors Use PRS to Assess Students' Understanding

A Personal Response System (PRS) allows instructors to assess students' understanding of topics in real-time during class meetings. UCit’s implementation uses TurningTechnologies hardware and software. The software operates as a PowerPoint plug-in in which instructors can create interactive slides. Students respond to the slides using transmitters purchased from UC Bookstores. The University of Cincinnati employs PRS technology in both large and small enrollment courses, allowing instructors to increase involvement, take attendance, and employ a supplemental method of grading.
 
PRS use has grown steadily since the inception of its use in UCit Electronic Classrooms. Several departments use the technology in all of their survey or introductory, large enrollment, courses. Please see  http://www.uc.edu/UCit/eclassroom/prsclass.asp for a listing of the classrooms where the technology is installed.
 
Several changes over the last academic year have made the technology easier to use and administer. Switching from an infrared (IR) based system to radio-frequency (RF) based system allows for feedback to the student that his or her response has been received, and allows for quick installations due to the switch from hardwired to simple USB receivers. Tighter integration of the PRS with Blackboard allows instructors to easily populate participant lists and facilitates the upload of results to the Blackboard grade book.

When a student registers his or her transmitter in Blackboard, a unique number is linked to the student, allowing instructors to track individual student responses.

Improvements in the application have made training much simpler – a responsibility which is shared between the Faculty Technology Resources Center (FTRC) and Electronic Classroom Support Services (ECSS).
 
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you have about this technology and its applications.

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