Student Response Systems: Learning and Engagement in Preservice Teacher Education

This study presents findings from an investigation of student response systems (SRS) in an undergraduate preservice teacher education classroom to investigate the impact of SRS use during lecture on the topic of learning disabilities (LDs). Participants were randomly assigned to the SRS group, a written response group, or a no response group, and evaluated at pre- and posttest for content knowledge, during lecture for reading accountability and engagement, at posttest regarding satisfaction with the learning experience, and following lecture, participants were asked to respond to a case study of a student with LD. Findings indicated that all participants performed significantly better at posttest on the measure of content knowledge, with no significant differences between groups. On the during lecture measure of engagement, students in the written response group outperformed peers in the SRS group on reading accountability items, but students in the SRS group demonstrated significantly better understanding of content and reported higher efficacy for their learning in comparison with peers. Participants were satisfied with the learning experience created by SRS use and reported that it improved their accountability for reading, increased their engagement with content, and that given a choice, they would prefer to use SRS in future classes. However, in response to the case study, relatively low percentages of participants were able to generate viable suggestions for evidence-based practices that could improve academic and social outcomes for students with LD like the case student. Future research should further investigate the impact of SRS on learning and transfer.