CPS
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What is CPS? CPS was first used at U of C in Fall 2004 in Chem 201 and Chem 351. Since then, the use of CPS has gradually grown especially in Science. In Fall 2007, the Schulich School of Engineering
started using CPS
in their first year courses. Courses in the Haskayne School of Business
were / are also using the same system. |
CPS is used to promote active learning
in the lecture. Each student needs a small hand held wireless transmitter
or a "clicker" (see left). During class questions will be asked in
relation to course materials that will require that you answer by entering
an answer via your handset. The answers from the class are collected via
a wireless receiver and analysed immediately. In this way, lecture
content can then be adapted to respond to the immediate feedback.
Why is the Department of
Chemistry using CPS?
We believe CPS can help envigourate the modern classroom
and lead to a better, richer learning environment. The Chemistry Dept is
prepared to lead the way by exploring and adopting this exciting new technology.
Experience shows that asking students to raise their hands in response
to questions typically only gets about a 30% response rate. The other 70%
are either to shy to respond to the instructor and / or don't want to show
either their knowledge or lack of knowledge to their fellow students.
Since CPS is anonymous, this factor is
minimised.
In some classes, a small number of students can dominate the proceedings
by being the ones that respond to the instructors questions.... CPS means every students answer is
part of the response.
Many students are too passive in lectures, blindly copying notes and not
thinking about the content. Instructors often stop to ask questions
but many students don't really try to answer them because they will not
raise their hand. Hence they are missing and therefore losing a possible
valuable learning opportunity. CPS
will be used to encourage participation by asking students to respond to
course content.
The CPSrf clicker will be
used to collect answers to in-class questions for coursemarks. A mark for
a student will be based on the number of questions that they respond to
and how many questions they get correct. The mark created from the
use of CPS will count as one unit in the e-Learning component (see course
information sheet). In creating the e-Learning course coursemark,
the worst unit from the multiple e-homework (CAL) units and CPS unit will
be dropped.
CPS allows students to :
- respond to in-class questions anonymously
- be a part of every class response
- gauge their understanding
immediately
- identify "trouble spots" in
course content
- actively participate in the
class
- gauge class understanding immediately after teaching a concept
- gauge class understanding before teaching a concept
- adapt lecture content based on identifiable needs
How do you get your CPSrf clicker for FALL 2010 ?
- A new CPSrf clicker can be purchased from the University Bookstore ( about $27)
- A used CPSrf clicker may be available from student clubs : The Chemistry Student Chapter (CSC) and Biological Students Association (BSA).
- There are several generations of CPSrf clickers available (see pictures top left). The blue / yellow clicker is the oldest model. The white clicker is a little more user friendly and the right (grey) "pulse" clicker is new this year. At present, to the best of our knowledge, only the white clicker and grey pulse clicker with the current software.
How do you activate your CPS account ?
- You need to register for the appropriate lecture (pay attention to which section you are in) after creating your personal account at E-Instruction
- Note that in evaluating your
CPS mark, it will
be the CPS usage
in the section that you are officially registered at UofC that is used.
- Follow this link in order to activate your CPS account.