It can be a challenge to keep lectures engaging and stimulating, especially when there is so much material to cover and the physical layout is not conducive to interaction. Fortunately, mobile technology provides some tried and tested digital tools that can help get students thinking and responding to your teaching.
They can be used in a variety of ways, for example:
- Ascertaining what students know at the start of a lecture to direct your teaching for that session
- Breaking up long didactic sections with a bit of interaction
- Getting students to think and commit to a decision
- Indicating students’ understanding towards the end of a lecture to see if they are taking in the learning objectives
- Getting feedback on an aspect of the course or your teaching
Here is a list of some of these tools. If you would like some help in trying any of these out, get in touch with the BSMS Learning Technologists Tim Vincent or CJ Taylor. Several BSMS faculty are using PollEverywhere, for example, in their large group teaching – look out for future posts discussing their experience.