SYLACAUGA — In mere seconds, we can send e-mails across the globe with just one click. We’ve become accustomed to surfing hundreds of television channels with one click on the remote, and with just a push of the finger, cars can now crank up their engines when the driver is nowhere around.
But the phrase ‘with the click of a button’ has taken on a new meaning for the students at Nichols-Lawson Middle School in Sylacauga. It’s technology with an educational focus — an opportunity to study, learn and interact in class with a little more fun and a little less embarrassment.
“They all hit their answers, and their responses show up on the screen, and then I can say, ‘50 percent of the class answered B, but that’s wrong,’ and we look at it again,” said Rhonda Courson, a seventh grade language arts teacher at Nichols-Lawson. “That way they aren’t embarrassed when they raise their hands and have to give their answer.”
The Clicker program came to Nichols-Lawson in October as a way of expanding on instruction styles, introducing the students to new technology and keying in on the variety of learners within each class.
Principal Gerald Douglass said the software and equipment was handed over to the language arts teachers on all three grade levels because they are often occupied with not only grammar and literature instruction, but also writing. Testing for grammar and literature can be more time-friendly, whereas instruction and testing for writing abilities is more involved.
“With this,” Douglass explained, “they can go through the tests rather quickly and spend the majority of their time focusing on their writing.”
Students are given hand-held remote clickers outfitted with lettered buttons. The teacher operates the program off of a small remote pad — or Chalkboard — anywhere in the room, and multiple-choice questions are projected onto the screen in front of the classroom. Each student locks in their answers with the clicker and the responses are sent to the computer.
Once everyone has answered, the correct answer is shown on the screen, and students know whether they got it right or wrong without having to give their answer out loud. The teacher can also see how many of the students are following, and how many may need some extra help, with immediate group results.
“Students love the program,” said 7th grade language arts teacher Chad Littleton. “It gives them the exciting feel of playing a game, while also showing them and the teacher how well they understand. Students are constantly asking me ‘Are we doing Clickers, today?’”
The program is compatible with the textbooks and can be used in a number of ways — from displaying mainstream videos to SAT preparation, projecting whole worksheets, administering pre-tests, reviewing for exams and daily review.
Sixth grade teacher Patti Richardson turns her clicker program into a fun game that keeps the children interested, learning and working as a team.
“Every child is engaged, and that’s what I think makes it so beneficial,” Richardson said.
Taking a cue from “Jeopardy,” students in Richardson’s class elect one person to pick a question in any of the four categories — noun, pronoun, verb or subject-verb agreement. The student picks a point value and the question appears on the screen.
The rest of the class punches in their answers, and once all the remote control indicators are lit up, the student in the hot seat shouts out her answer. Then the program shows the correct answer and shows how all the other students faired as well.
“Everybody wishes third period could go on for the rest of the day,” said student Elizabeth Legg.
Douglass said with the wonderful response and involvement both students and teachers have put into the program, the hope is to expand the Clicker software into other subject areas like math, science and social studies in the upcoming years.
