Presentation: "Formative, Summative, and Cooperative Clicker Instruction in Astronomy" (Q & A)

Questions from workshop participants at the "Formative, Summative, and Cooperative Clicker Instruction in Astronomy" workshop presented at the Astronomy Society of the Pacific Cosmos in the Classroom National Symposium on Teaching Astronomy for Non-Science Majors, August 5, 2007, 2:00-3:00 PM, Session H3 in Hahn 108, Pomona College, Claremont, CA.

How much are clicker questions worth?
There are a total of 600.0 course points for Astronomy 10 at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, CA, of which 75.0 points are for using clickers. There are approximately 100-120 formative/summative clicker questions @ 0.3 points each = 30.0-36.0 points. There are exactly 100 collaborative (review) clicker questions @ 0.3-0.6 points each (depending on doubling if a cumulative review session score > 80%) = 30.0-60.0 points. Thus students who respond to every clicker question can get a maximum of 60.0-96.0 points, depending on how often the doubling bonus is attained. The average cumulative review session score is 82% +/- 17%, and a class typically reaches the doubling bonus threshold perhaps two-thirds of the time. If there are more than 75.0 clicker points awarded, those are considered extra-credit (and can only be awarded in a class that reaches the doubling bonus for collaborative (review) questions nearly every session, and to a student that has perfect attendance and responds to every clicker question).

Are clicker questions posted for students?
Clicker questions are posted online after each class, so students can download them from the course website instead of having to write down the questions in class. The posted questions do not have the correct choices indicated; these students can record for themselves in their class notes. These questions are taken down a short while afterwards, and some responses are scrambled for the subsequent semester.

Are clicker questions posted for other instructors?
Clicker questions (and exam multiple-choice questions and short-answer essay questions) for introductory astronomy are regularly posted on weekdays during the school year, and can be accessed by clicking on the links at right. For each posting, the context is given, and student responses are tabulated.

Can other education researchers use the tabulated student responses for these questions?
According to the Human Subject Regulations Decision Charts from the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), tabulation of student responses as research is exempt under 45 CHR 46.101(b)(1) from all 45 CFR part 46 requirements, and exempt under 45 CFR 46.101(b)(2) exemption from 45 CHR part 46 requirements. However, these results should not be used by other education researchers in their own research, unless prior permission is sought.

The presentation for this workshop is in the previous post: Formative, Summative, and Cooperative Clicker Instruction in Astronomy (Cosmos in the Classroom 2007).