Audience response system is a way to create an interaction between the speaker and his or her audience. It uses wireless hardware in combination with presentation software to connect not only the immediate audience but viewers who may be watching from electronic devices such as the radio or television. The audience can use essentially any electronic device to connect into the audience response system. This includes cell phones, web polls as well as hand held remote controls (generally used for students in a classroom). The remote controls are a way for each individual to convey his or her answer to a question with a "clicker" (by clicking the appropriate choice). The presentation software collects all of the "clicks" and combines them in a neat presentable fashion; like a poll or a chart.
There are many benefits to using an audience response system. First and foremost, it improves attentiveness of the audience. Studies done by professionals at large universities showed (through polls and surveys) that over 90% of professors believed that the use of audience response systems improved student engagement in the classroom. In similar studies, over 70% of professors believed that the use of the "clicker" system improved retention of the classroom material. This was based off of improved test scores as compared to times when an audience response system was not used. Professors can also track repeated responses of certain individuals to better understand where an academic issue may be coming from and develop a way to help out particular students. All the while, the polling of answers is anonymous to the audience as a whole, so individuals feel free to truthfully answer questions.
Audience response system also give the presenter the ability to quickly gather large chunks of information in an organized fashion for further analysis and study.
Despite these wonderful benefits, there are some downsides of audience response systems (and solutions to them as well). Most the the challenges and issues stem from the fact that audience response systems are complicated, technologically speaking. This makes them both expensive to buy (especially per unit if for example, a large organization such as a university is not purchasing a large set). In addition to this, a large amount of both time and money goes into maintenance and repair of the audience response system, as things can easily go wrong. This is probably the case because just about any presenter, no matter how experience in the software and hardware, can use it, often harming the system.
The best solutions to these problems for audience response systems is first to constantly update the system. The companies who sell the systems are constantly working to improve them. Almost yearly, different issues of the audience response systems are addressed and fixed in the newer versions. Secondly, it is important to train the general faculty of a university or company in how to properly use the systems, to reduce maintenance costs.
Having rooms that are audience response friendly, is the third solution. Not all auditoriums and large presenting rooms are set up in such a way to optimize the use of an audience response system. Fourthly, establishments that have audience response systems to troubleshoot all their computers to be audience response system friendly. When certain computers are not, it manifests itself in delays of presentations and sometimes incorrect polling. Finally, universities, companies and individuals using audience response systems should be aware of the fact that there are such things are ARS professionals who have been well trained in addressing a large variety of problems with audience response systems. Being resourceful is the best solution to audience response systems.
There are many benefits to using an audience response system. First and foremost, it improves attentiveness of the audience. Studies done by professionals at large universities showed (through polls and surveys) that over 90% of professors believed that the use of audience response systems improved student engagement in the classroom. In similar studies, over 70% of professors believed that the use of the "clicker" system improved retention of the classroom material. This was based off of improved test scores as compared to times when an audience response system was not used. Professors can also track repeated responses of certain individuals to better understand where an academic issue may be coming from and develop a way to help out particular students. All the while, the polling of answers is anonymous to the audience as a whole, so individuals feel free to truthfully answer questions.
Audience response system also give the presenter the ability to quickly gather large chunks of information in an organized fashion for further analysis and study.
Despite these wonderful benefits, there are some downsides of audience response systems (and solutions to them as well). Most the the challenges and issues stem from the fact that audience response systems are complicated, technologically speaking. This makes them both expensive to buy (especially per unit if for example, a large organization such as a university is not purchasing a large set). In addition to this, a large amount of both time and money goes into maintenance and repair of the audience response system, as things can easily go wrong. This is probably the case because just about any presenter, no matter how experience in the software and hardware, can use it, often harming the system.
The best solutions to these problems for audience response systems is first to constantly update the system. The companies who sell the systems are constantly working to improve them. Almost yearly, different issues of the audience response systems are addressed and fixed in the newer versions. Secondly, it is important to train the general faculty of a university or company in how to properly use the systems, to reduce maintenance costs.
Having rooms that are audience response friendly, is the third solution. Not all auditoriums and large presenting rooms are set up in such a way to optimize the use of an audience response system. Fourthly, establishments that have audience response systems to troubleshoot all their computers to be audience response system friendly. When certain computers are not, it manifests itself in delays of presentations and sometimes incorrect polling. Finally, universities, companies and individuals using audience response systems should be aware of the fact that there are such things are ARS professionals who have been well trained in addressing a large variety of problems with audience response systems. Being resourceful is the best solution to audience response systems.
