title: Using audience response technology in hospital education programs.
abstract: An audience response system (ARS) is an interactive teaching tool that permits an instructor to poll an audience, either anonymously or in a tracked manner, in response to questions. The instructor can then display the responses to the audience. An ARS can be used in hospital-based education programs to assess group learning. The instructor receives immediate feedback that allows review of concepts that were not grasped by the majority of students. This article reviews systems currently on the market and offers tips for choosing an ARS for hospital-based use. Survey data of nurses attending in-service education sessions show that participants overwhelmingly favor the use of an ARS and the nonthreatening learning environment that these systems create. Instructor survey data show positive responses regarding the benefits of ARS use in hospital-based education programs.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Surgery, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Marion E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: McRae
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elgie-Watson
mesh_terms: D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*