Computer-controlled in-class feedback system for interactive lectures

Peer Instruction �PI� is a method that creates a more inter­ active lecture environment. Lectures are suspended at regular intervals to offer students short conceptual questions. The questions are generally taken from the material just pre­ sented and are designed to address common misunderstand­ ings among the students. Students are encouraged to work in small groups on these questions to actively engage one an­ other in the learning process. This interaction elicits more engagement from the students through student–student and student–instructor interaction, compared to a more tradi­ tional lecture format. Inherent to any PI lecture is the need to accept and imme­ diately process feedback from the students during the lecture. The instructor may then adapt the lecture based on the feed­ back. This paper discusses an electronic apparatus that we have created, whose purpose is to acquire and immediately process in-class feedback from students during a PI-style lec­ ture. We have been using this apparatus in our own PI efforts for 2 years and have found it to be very useful.