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Guide to This Websi﻿te ﻿Using Cell Phones to Improve﻿ Teaching  Created by John Titte﻿rton

__Introduction __
This Wiki is designed to introduce teachers to the use of cell phones as an Audience Response System (ARS). Specifically, this Wiki will show how an ARS can improve student engagement, improve teacher understanding of student comprehension, and help the teacher create adaptable lesson plans.

__Aim __
This Wiki will show teachers how to set up an ARS using cell phones. It will show how to design lessons to maximize the use of an ARS, and it will show teachers some of the benefits and drawbacks of such a system.

__Rationale __
Currently teachers solicit feedback from students in verbal or written form. Written form is a good way to determine interest and competency of students, but it takes a great deal of time for the teacher to review and synthesize this information. Verbal feedback should be the primary means of determining comprehension, but a large number of students are not comfortable expressing lack of understanding, or they simply do not trust the instructor or their classmates. Using an ARS can solve most of these problems. Feedback is collected in real-time and is collected in one spot for the teacher. Students can reply anonymously and teachers can be sure that their students understand the material being taught. Additionally, since today’s students spend so much time in the digital world, using a cell phone, one of their favorite tools, should increase their engagement in the classroom.

__General Goals __

 * Introduce teachers to the possibilities of an ARS in their classrooms.
 * Poll teachers on their readiness to use an ARS before they start.
 * Demonstrate ways an ARS can be used.
 * Discuss possible benefits and drawbacks.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Provide a detailed how-to on setting up an ARS.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Provide a forum for feedback and recommendations for improvement of this Wiki.

__<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Learner Description __
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">The users of this Wiki will be pre-service or in-service high school teachers, or others who wish to generate student feedback during their lessons.

__<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Prerequisites __

 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Facility with internet and cellular access.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Classrooms with projection devices.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Students with majority access to cell phones with texting.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Teachers with a basic understanding of how to access and use websites.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Teachers with a desire to increase their technological know-how.

__<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Subject Matter __
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">· What an ARS is. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">· How to improve teaching through student feedback and engagement.

__<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Learning Objectives __
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">After viewing this Wiki, teachers will be able to:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Describe what an ARS is, and describe the benefits and drawbacks of an ARS.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Create an ARS for their classroom using student cell phones.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Use an ARS to improve their teaching.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Use an ARS to try to engage students in higher order thinking.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Modify and improve their ARS system to meet the specific needs of their subject and classroom.

__<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Instructional Plan __
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">This Wiki is designed for teachers to use on his or her own. The instructional plan for this Wiki is that:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Teachers determine if using cell phone polling is right for them.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Teachers create an account at [|www.polleverywhere.com].
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Teachers use this account to create multiple polls of different natures.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Teachers test the use of these polls in their classrooms.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Teachers incorporate polls into their daily teaching.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Teachers provide feedback on the Wiki to make the Wiki better and to make the process of creating an ARS system better.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Instructors who can help teachers through this process should:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Present the contents of the Wiki and field questions.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Help teachers create accounts and polls to use in the teacher’s classroom.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Demonstrate the process in either their own classroom or in the teacher’s classroom.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Be a resource to follow-up on any questions during the process.

__<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Materials __

 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">An internet capable computer
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">A classroom projector
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Students with a majority of cell phones

__<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Plan for Assessment and Evaluation __
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Learning that is accomplished through use of this Wiki will be evaluated in email feedback via an online survey on the last page. All feedback will be collected and placed in an Appendix, which will be updated periodically.

__<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Resources and Standards __
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">See the Resources and Standards Page

__<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Glossary __
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Cell phones - Handheld devices that may vary from simple talking and texting to the latest smart phones with multiple capabilities. As long as the phone has the ability to text, it will be considered a cell phone.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Audience Response System (ARS) – A system designed to generate immediate feedback from students. For the purposes of this Wiki, the system consists of cell phones with texting capability and a website to compile the answers. The system would also have to include the teacher’s computer as well as a projector for sharing the input with the students.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Instructor – An expert teacher who has already created and used an ARS in their own classroom and feel competent enough to guide another teacher through the process.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Teacher – The user of this Wiki who has not created an ARS in their classroom yet. The teacher can have very different levels of technical comfort.