Background. Student personal response systems in the university classroom have gained popularity in the last five years. Suggested benefits of this technological innovation include improved class attendance, student engagement and student performance. However, barriers arise with the adoption of any innovation in education.

Description of the Innovation. An overview of the hardware and software components of a radio-frequency personal response system will be provided.  Clicker use for class attendance, concept review and understanding, opinion survey, peer discussion and quizzes will be explained. Examples of clicker questions, clicker response tables, and grade-book functions and links to a course management system, Web-CT, will be shared.

Innovation Implementation. Key steps of faculty and student preparation for clicker use will be addressed including training, in-class trials, and syllabus considerations. Challenges faced during two semesters of clicker use in a junior level adult health nursing course will be discussed. Solutions to such barriers as student cost, the learning curve for the personal response system, student and faculty apprehension, episodes of student irresponsibility and resentment, technical malfunctions, time constraints, academic dishonesty, and students with learning disabilities will be highlighted based on the presenter’s experience and review of relevant literature.

Innovation Evaluation.  Faculty and student evaluation of the clickers will be shared through consideration of class attendance, in-class participation, grades, course appraisals and anecdotal comments. The audience will be invited to share their insights and experiences.