Are Clickers Effective in the Classroom? A Meta-Analysis

• In Event: Poster Session 7
  In Poster Session: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis SIG Poster Session 2

Abstract

Clickers are thought to be a good way of using technology to increase engagement in classrooms and have been widely adopted by many instructors seeking to improve academic performance through student engagement. Some studies comparing classes that used clickers to non-clickers found clickers to foster gain in cognitive and non-cognitive learning outcomes, while some others did not. To resolve these differences, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies comparing clicker and non-clicker classrooms on different cognitive and non-cognitive learning outcomes to estimate the potential effects of clickers in different learning outcomes. Overall, we found small but significant effects of clicker use on cognitive and non-cognitive measures. Moderators of observed effects are discussed. The paper concludes with implications of the study.

Authors

• Nathaniel Hunsu, Washington State University

• Olusola Olalekan Adesope, Washington State University