Using Peer Instruction and I-Clickers to Enhance Student Participation in Calculus

Abstract

In my Calculus classes I encourage my students to actively reflect on course material, to work collaboratively, and to generate diverse solutions to questions. To facilitate this I use peer instruction (PI), a structured questioning process, and i-clickers, a radio frequency classroom response system enabling students to vote anonymously. This article concludes that PI and i-clickers enhance student participation and comprehension. It is important, however, that students write down their reasoning during PI so as not to be led astray by dominant group members.