MET:SMART Response Interactive Response Systems
Originally Created by Rosalynn Lapointe March 2012
Introduction
SMART Response Interactive Response Systems are like bringing in part of a game show into your classroom. Using the Teacher Tools software, teachers can collect and analyze individual student responses to a variety of questions. The questions can be displayed on a SMARTBoard, or printed as a hardcopy using SMART Notebook. At this time there are a variety of systems available with different capabilities.
SMART Response LE
This system is targeted for younger students with a simple easy to use design.
SMART Response PE
This system is an improvement from the LE system where students can input words, as well as choose from multiple choice answers.
SMART Response CE
This system is to be used in a computer environment, where students will use their computers as the response unit.
SMART Response XE
This system has responders for each student with a full QWERTY keyboard.
SMART Response VE
This system is currently in beta testing, and will collect responses from students personal devices.
Uses in Education
There are two different ways that these response units can be used in the classroom. The first way, the students are all using the remotes anonymously. Using this method is faster and will show results of how many students have picked each answer. The second way, students can enter ID numbers. The response unit will then welcome the student by name. Using this method will take longer as each student must enter their ID number, but the software will then score each students responses, and save the results to show improvement between assessments.
This can also be used in the classroom for two different types of assessment, formative and summative. When working with your students in a formative assessment setting, each question can be answered, and then the answer shown to the group. This will lead to discussion of why the answer chosen is the correct answer, or why people may have chosen a different option. During a summative assessment, students can enter answers to all of the questions in the assessment. When the teacher finishes the assessment on their computer, all students responses will be marked on their individual receivers. They can then review their answers and see their overall score.
With the SMART Response Interactive System, many different types of questions can be used. Multiple choice is available on all units. For the PE and higher systems, Numerical Response, True/False and word answers can be done. This leads to a higher flexibility in the assessments that can be done.
Learning Theories
Using the SMART Response Interactive Response Systems can increase Educational interactions within the classroom. Student to Content Interactions are increased through a medium that the students find entertaining and engaging. Student to Teacher interactions are increased when Teachers take the time to discuss class results with the group. Teacher to Content interactions can also be strengthened when teacher take the results from class testing to evaluate the learning that has occurred and what concepts may need to be retaught. [1]
As standardized testing becomes digitalized, it is important to practice these skills with students so that they will have the skills that they need before they are in the standardized testing situation. When paper and pencil testing is done in the classroom, but at the end of the year, students are expected to use computers and online tests to evaluate their year long learning students will experience a disadvantage. Systemic change needs to occur so that instructional systems can be matched to the assessment systems. [2] Time should be taken to explain that both the hardcopy and the digital copy should be used by the student. Timing is an important focus as well, as students could answer all questions in a short period of time, and then "finish" their test. This locks in their answers, and they need to learn that finishing quickly doesn't mean that they will receive the best score.
Advantages
- 1. SMART Response Interactive Response Systems can be easily moved and shared between classrooms. This will allow several teachers to use one system throughout one class day.
- 2. When assessments are created through the SMART Notebook, hard copies can be easily created to distribute to students.
- 3. After the assessment is finished, graphics can be shown to the class showing the percentage of the people that chose each answer. As a class, discussions can revolve around why certain questions were more difficult than others.
- 4. There is a chance for self reflection when students see their marks immediately after the assessment is completed.
- 5. This is excellent preparation for digitalized standardized assessments.
Disadvantages
- 1. SMART Response Interactive Systems can be expensive, but prices are dropping in the past couple of years.
- 2. Teachers will need some support to start with, so planning some Professional Development could alleviate many problems.
- 3. There can sometimes be software conflicts when operating systems are upgraded by school divisions.
- 4. Receivers are not sold separately, and must be purchased in class sets of 24 or 30. This does not work well for large secondary classroom setting.
Future Classrooms
As this technology continues to develop, teachers will be able to save money. Classrooms can be Bring Your Own Device, and teachers will be able to collect this data with minimal difficulty. At this time, SMART Response VE is available to teachers that have SMART Response Software already. They can upgrade to this software at no cost.
References
SMART Technologies [1]
SMART Response LE http://www.teachsmart.org/School%20Technology/SMART%20Technologies/SMART%20Response/SMART%20Response%20LE.aspx
SMART Response PE http://www.teachsmart.org/School%20Technology/SMART%20Technologies/SMART%20Response/SMART%20Response%20PE.aspx
SMART Response CE http://www.teachsmart.org/School%20Technology/SMART%20Technologies/SMART%20Response/SMART%20Response%20CE.aspx
SMART Response XE http://www.teachsmart.org/School%20Technology/SMART%20Technologies/SMART%20Response/SMART%20Response%20XE.aspx
SMART Response VE http://www.teachsmart.org/School%20Technology/SMART%20Technologies/SMART%20Response/SMART%20Response%20VE.aspx
Bright Hub Education [2]
Sharp's Audio Visual [3]
Classroom Teacher Blog [4]
Anderson, T. (2008). “Towards and Theory of Online Learning.” In Anderson, T. & Elloumi, F. Theory and Practice of Online Learning. Athabasca University.
Reigeluth, C.M. (1999). What is instructional-design theory and how is it changing? In C.M. Reigeluth (Ed.), Instructional-design theories and models: A new paradigm of instructional theory, Vol.2 ,. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Related Sites
Mrs. Blossom's Resource Area Online SMART Board Training [5]
Using the SMART Response System [6]
SMART Online Tutorials [7]
- ↑ Anderson, T. (2008). “Towards and Theory of Online Learning.” In Anderson, T. & Elloumi, F. Theory and Practice of Online Learning. Athabasca University.
- ↑ Reigeluth, C.M. (1999). What is instructional-design theory and how is it changing? In C.M. Reigeluth (Ed.), Instructional-design theories and models: A new paradigm of instructional theory, Vol.2 ,. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.