title: Individual response technology to promote active learning within the caring sciences: An experimental research study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One major challenge in delivering lectures to large and diverse classes is the maintenance of a high standard of lecturing in order to engage students and increase their participation and involvement. The lecturer's assignment is to arrange and prepare the lecture before teaching, hence enabling students' enhanced learning. Individual response technology could encourage students' active learning and activate higher cognitive levels.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate individual response technology as a complement during lectures for students in higher education, in terms of the students' experiences of participation, engagement, and active learning. Also of interest was whether this technology can be considered a supportive technical system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected through a questionnaire where levels of each condition were reported on a numeric rating scale (0-10) at baseline and after the introduction of individual response technology. To get a broader perspective, two types of lectures (pediatric and statistical) were included, giving a total of four assessment times.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants comprised 59 students in Bachelor of Nursing program at a Swedish metropolitan university.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, when individual response technology was used, students reported increased experience of engagement (n=82, mean 6.1 vs. n=65, mean 7.3, p<0.001), participation (n=92, mean 6.1 vs. n=79, mean 7.7, p<0.001), and active learning (n=92, mean 7.3 vs. n=79, mean 8.2 p<0.001). Additionally, the students experienced this technology as a supportive technical system during lectures (mean 6.6 vs. mean 8.1, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of individual response technology during teaching is one way to enhance students' experiences of engagement, participation, and learning within the caring sciences.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Caring Sciences, University of Borås, Borås, Sweden; Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: Lena.heden@hb.se.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hedén
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Caring Sciences, University of Borås, Borås, Sweden; Department of Public Health & Community Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address: Linda.ahlstrom@hb.se.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ahlstrom
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D015399:Nursing Research; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Active learning; Clicker; Nursing education; Participation in education; Teaching