Exploring the use of Plickers for conducting assessments in higher education

Abstract

The emergence of new technologies has necessitated the need to explore new and innovative tools to conduct assessments in Higher education. One of these newest technologies is plickers which represent a student centered and student engagement during the delivery of course content. The focus of this paper is to explore the use of plickers for conducting assessments in higher education. Issues to be examined are, usability of plickers, tools that create student-centred and student engagement environment. The issues to be explored include the following, first, the selection of appropriate technological assessment tool that does not hinder student learning. Second, the technology that provides immediate feedback to students and to guarantee effective teaching. Third, the cost effectiveness of the tool and its availability to facilitators. The paper is theoretical in nature and use and is mainly interpretive (qualitative inquiry). It is argued that plickers is one of the innovative and yet unexplored tools that can be embraced to conduct assessments in the current technological changes. Furthermore, the paper argues that plickers enhances student engagement during class and provide immediate feedback to the formative assessment.