When I first read the headline for this article, I assumed they were clicker training these kids.

In Search Of Answers, Teachers Turn To Clickers

Now, I think this idea is a better one than my idea for clicker training. A lot of classroom participation is hindered by issues with confidence. Providing a way for students to posit an opinion or respond to a question, removing the judgment from the process, and providing an anonymous way to navigate a classroom of people with different abilities is a great, non-confrontational way to increase participation, improve student comprehension, and build student confidence. The process is both real-time and offline, allowing teachers a way to direct their attention to the subject areas requiring the most clarity for the class as well as direct their attention to specific areas where individual students are struggling. It cuts through the guess work to pinpoint areas that need improvement and does so in a way that is immediate and valuable. This idea is particularly appropriate, given the prevalence of the use of handheld devices and video games in this generation. By including a connection between hands and heads, this teaching method is instantly more engaging.

I’m curious to see how this works out in the long run.