On the popular TV quiz game "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire" contestants can ask the audience to help them with tough questions. The audience picks up small handsets and instantly votes for several multiple choice answers. Now instructors can use this same technology to enhance adult learning environments. The results are significant.
How does it work?
A system consists of interactive software, wireless keypads (tv remote control-like transmitters) and a wireless base station (reciever) that plugs into a port on a laptop computer. One base station can typically handle 250 to 500 handsets.
Each keypad contains buttons corresponding to the numbers 0-5 or 0-10 and is identified by a unique ID number. When a button is pressed on the keypad, the signal is transmitted to the base station (receiver) and tabulated. The software records the ID of the keypad and sends a confirmation to the keypad that the vote has been tabulated.
Multiple choice game show questions are displayed on a data projector using a software add-in for PowerPoint. Our OptionPower software application and related Group Competition Module provide a versatile platform for TV-style quiz games.
During a game session, participants are asked to indicate their choice by pressing a button on their keypad. Tabulation of the votes takes less than a second with a typical OptionFinder classroom response system.
The instructor is able to show scoreboards at any time using hyperlink buttons on question slides. A typical scoreboard shows the top scoring keypads and the points each has earned.
Instructors using a digital roster to associate the keypad ID with the name of individuals in the class are able to display the names of the top scoring players along with their scores.
Team play is also possible. When the instructor presents a team log-in slide, participants can select and join a team. Their individual results are scored along with the other members of their team to earn team points.
Team scores are typically based on percentage math to allow for different sized teams. For example, if a question is worth 100 points and eight of ten team members answer correctly, the team will earn 80 points.
Team scoreboards show updated results for each team. Instructors can display team scoreboards at any time.
Why Games?
It’s fun! Interactive games add energy and enjoyment to any learning session. Instructors currently using the technology consistently tell us that OptionPower games immediately raise the energy level in the room and drive focus to the subject material. Post session evaluations from learners who participate in response system games suggest report that participants enjoy and appreciate the experience.
It’s effective! Research shows that adult learners under the age of 35 perform better in learning environments where they have opportunities for active participation. Games are particularly effective and helping to maintain attentiveness and engagement with highly technical or complex subject matter. Research suggests that learning games with an audience response system heighten attentiveness and retention by 25% or more over lecture based instruction.
