ERIC Number: EJ1019711
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Oct
Pages: 5
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1090-1981
EISSN: N/A
The Use of an Audience Response System in an Elementary School-Based Health Education Program
DeSorbo, Alexandra L.; Noble, James M.; Shaffer, Michele; Gerin, William; Williams, Olajide A.
Health Education & Behavior, v40 n5 p531-535 Oct 2013
Background: The audience response system (ARS) allows students to respond and interact anonymously with teachers via small handheld wireless keypads. Despite increasing popularity in classroom settings, the application of these devices to health education programming has not been studied. We assessed feasibility, engagement, and learning among children using an ARS compared with traditional pencil-paper formats, (ARS) for a stroke health education program. Method: We compared outcome data generated via an ARS-based intervention to pencil-paper controls, including test scores and missing data rates among 265 schoolchildren 9 to 11 years old participating in stroke education. Among 119 children, we evaluated the feasibility of ARS use and explored student motivation with a 10-item questionnaire. We assessed facilitator experience with both methods. Results: ARS use is feasible. Students reported having more fun ("p" < 0.001), increased attention ("p" < 0.001), participation ("p" < 0.001), and perceived learning outcomes ("p" < 0.001) compared with pencil-paper controls. Test scores showed highly positive improvement for both ARS and paper without additional benefits of ARS on learning. There was no difference in missing data rates ("p" < 0.001). Educators preferred the ARS. Conclusion: The use of an ARS among children is feasible and improves student and facilitator engagement without additional benefits on stroke learning.
Descriptors: Audience Response Systems, Elementary Schools, Educational Technology, Handheld Devices, Technology Integration, Health Education, Brain, Neurological Impairments, Questionnaires, Student Attitudes, Scores, Elementary School Students, At Risk Students, Minority Group Students, Intervention, Learner Engagement, Pretests Posttests
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 4; Grade 5; Grade 6
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New York
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A