A student response system (SRS) consists of a set of key pads used by students in lecture classes, and specialized software that allows an instructor to periodically quiz students in real-time to evaluate their understanding of the lecture. Under the auspices of the Center for Educational Research and Teaching Innovation (CERTI), the Missouri University of Science and Technology is in the process of examining the feasibility of such a method for enhancing learning and engagement in high-enrollment, high-impact courses. The LITE lab, with funding provided by CERTI, is carrying out this evaluation. In the first semester of this feasibility study, the system was used in a set of sections of General Chemistry. The evaluation of this implementation was generally positive (Hall, Collier, Thomas, & Hilgers, 2005), so the second stage was carried out in the fall of 2005. This included a number of courses in various disciplines. An extensive amount of data was collected, including numerous classroom observation, with a special focus on identifying best practices. These data are currently being analyzed.

Hall, R.H., Collier, H. L., Thomas, M.L., & Hilgers, M.G. (2005). A Student Response System for Increasing Engagement, Motivation, and Learning in High Enrollment Lectures. Proceedings of the Americas Conference on Information Systems 621 - 626.