Engage K-12 Learners with Classroom Response Systems
Remote learning offers several advantages over traditional instruction methods, but K-12 students may fall behind if they lack experience working in an online classroom environment. Likewise, instructors may need to adjust their methodology to accommodate not sharing a physical classroom with their students. The problem behind both of these issues is that remote learners may lack the engagement that they would have in person. Luckily, simple classroom response systems can be a great way to bring engagement levels up for all involved.
We’re confident that our Point Solutions suite of products is among the best student response systems in the industry. The educational experts at Echo360 and Echo360 have teamed up to transform static educational content into active learning experiences for learners of all ages and ability levels. Our e³ philosophy of equity, evidence, and engagement applies to all learners, so please continue reading to learn more about how Point Solutions and our other products could help your K-12 students get on track.
What Are Classroom Response Systems?
Classroom response systems may be defined as any software that allows students to interact with either their instructor or their peers during a presentation. For example, Point Solutions facilitates polling and the collection of audience responses through smartphones, a web browser, or dedicated clickers.
This type of technology has a variety of uses in a classroom context. For instance, instructors can split the class into teams and play quiz show-style review games to promote engagement. Likewise, learners can participate in Anywhere Polling as part of their homework, allowing instructors to solicit honest feedback on lessons without burning valuable class time to do so.
Remote learners can get even more out of Point Solutions because it serves as an antidote to the feelings of isolation that frequently plague distance learning. It’s tougher to zone out during a presentation on the quadratic formula or the causes of World War I if your instructor is constantly asking questions and expecting a real-time response. Gamification elements can also encourage social connections between students, making remote learning feel a little bit more like going to school.
What Features Are Found in Leading Student Response Systems?
You don’t want learners or instructors to struggle with the technology they are using to communicate, so ease of use is a priority. Point Solutions leverages an intuitive interface to ensure equity for all learners. Instructors can also choose from scheduled or self-paced questions to exercise more control over the polling process.
Furthermore, video chat capabilities can add an extra layer to student engagement. Point Solutions integrates with services such as Zoom to facilitate face-to-face interaction. If you want something even better, Echo360 is a supplementary product with Universal Capture capabilities, allowing instructors to easily film themselves so their personalities can shine through during lessons. Automatic Speech Recognition, or ASR technology, automatically transcribes video to make content more searchable as well. Instructors can search for poignant discussions from previous class meetings, clip them, and insert them into future courses. These transcriptions can also help learners find the specific part of a lecture they want to review as opposed to trying to guess when the material was covered.
Evidence is also key in education, and Point Solutions offers built-in proctoring to ensure that all learners take tests without cheating. If you need help designing engaging exams for remote learners, EchoExam is a test generator that supports multiple question types. Open-ended essay prompts force students to think more than multiple-choice questions on the same topic, for example. Better yet, you can export the resulting analytics directly to your LMS to effectively monitor student progress over time.
Finally, the best classroom response systems can integrate with other technologies so instructors can keep using the content they trust. For instance, Point Solutions integrates with Microsoft Powerpoint to ease the conversion of in-person study material to remote learning aides. Our learning engagement platform, EchoPoll, integrates with a variety of learning management systems, making it even easier to use existing content in a remote environment.
Is There Anything Else I Should Know about Student Response Systems?
Transitioning to online learning may not be easy for younger learners, but it is far from impossible with tools like our suite of Point Solutions products in your corner. Contact us to learn more about it and the rest of our products!