Student Response System Best Practices for Engineering as Implemented in Plickers

Abstract SRSs facilitate engagement in contingent teaching, knowledge scaffolding, formative assessment, and collaborative learning strategies, but in ways that encourage student motivation, interaction, and engagement in learning. Plickers, an innovative Student Response System (SRS) consisting of student response cards and an instructor website and instructor app, combines the many of the features of pre-technological, clicker, bring-your-own-device, and gamification SRSs. This paper presents a brief history of SRSs and an evaluation of the benefits and challenges of SRSs from the literature. The literature provides a context for the description and discussion of how SRSs in general and Plickers' unique features in particular might augment a range of pedagogical frameworks and instructor practices. Perspective surveys illustrate student satisfaction with Plickers as a specific SRS.