THE IMPACT OF STUDENT RESPONSE SYSTEMS ON STUDENT BEHAVIOR AND PERFORMANCE IN A MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS COURSE

Abstract

Student Response Systems are an instructional technology that allows instructors to display questions on a screen in the classroom and students to respond using a handheld device called a clicker. There are numerous academic research studies and surveys documenting the benefits in terms of student enjoyment, interest, attendance, participation, comprehension, and preparation. This research study conducted a survey asking students their perceptions of how Student Response Systems influenced their behavior inside and outside of the classroom. In addition to the survey, student performance was analyzed by comparing the final grades in two semesters of a Management Information Systems course, one in which clickers were used and one in which clickers were not used. Most students agreed that clickers increased their interest during class, helped them understand the material, encouraged them to listen, and helped them prepare for exams. Students overwhelmingly enjoyed using the clickers but not all aspects of their use. There were mixed opinions about several features of the system and the students did not necessarily agree that clickers encourage some of the behaviors preferred by instructors. However, student performance significantly increased during the semester with clickers compared to the semester without clickers. Instructors should carefully examine their teaching style and the nature of the course before using a Student Response System. There are many, positive and proven reasons to use clickers, but instructors need to carefully plan the implementation and incorporate the desired benefits into their course.