8 Creative Uses for a Student Response System in Education

While these systems are commonly used for quizzes and polls, there are many creative ways to leverage an SRS to enhance the learning experience. The key to successful implementation lies in thoughtful question design, clear instructions, and a well-planned integration of the student response system into the course structure. 

Here are eight ways instructors can use a student response system in their classroom:

1. Gamification: Turning lectures into interactive games can be a powerful way to engage students. Instructors can create quiz competitions, where students form teams and compete against each other using the response system. This approach reinforces concepts and promotes collaboration and healthy competition among students.

“Some students may hesitate to ask questions in front of their peers. The response system can provide an anonymous platform for students to submit questions or concerns, which the instructor can address in real time or during dedicated Q&A sessions.”

2. Attendance and Participation Tracking: Instructors can automate attendance, assign attendance points, and have results sent directly to their learning management system (LMS) gradebook to remove the manual aspect of this potentially time-consuming task. They can also see which students are actively engaging with materials and who may need extra help. 

3. Concept Mapping: Instead of using the response system for traditional quizzing questions, instructors can use it for concept mapping exercises to show the relationship between concepts. This helps instructors assess understanding and organization, promotes active learning, and can help identify misconceptions and develop critical thinking skills. 

4. Real-Time Quizzes and Polls: Instructors can add interactive quizzes during lectures and ask multiple-choice, true/false, or short-answer questions related to the course material. Live polls can provide instant feedback on teaching methods, content, or class dynamics.

5. Peer Instruction: A student response system can facilitate peer instruction, where students answer a conceptual question individually, discuss their responses with peers, and then answer the question again. This approach encourages active learning and collaboration and helps identify and address any learning gaps.

6. Flipped Classroom Activities: In a flipped classroom structure, instructors assign videos or readings to review before class. During class, instructors can use an SRS to assess students’ understanding of the material. This allows you to focus on deeper discussions and applications during designated class time.

7. Anonymous Questioning: Some students may hesitate to ask questions in front of their peers. The response system can provide an anonymous platform for students to submit questions or concerns, which the instructor can address in real time or during dedicated Q&A sessions.

8. Multimedia Integration: Response systems can be integrated with multimedia presentations, allowing instructors to embed questions or polls within their slides or videos. This approach keeps students engaged and reinforces critical points throughout the multimedia content.

YuJa Panorama Digital Accessibility Platform to Be Featured at Illinois Community Colleges Online Webinar

 Hosted by Illinois Community Colleges Online (ILCCO), the webinar will include a comprehensive overview of YuJa Panorama, including its cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning capabilities designed to enhance the accessibility of digital media and course content automatically. The event is set for Thursday, April 11th, at 1 p.m. CDT. 

“By embracing technologies like YuJa Panorama, institutions can break down barriers and empower learners of all abilities to fully engage with course materials, fostering an equitable educational experience for all.”

“We are excited to present to ILCCO so schools throughout the state can see how Panorama is used to increase the accessibility of courses and webpages,” Said Christian Touhey, Account Executive at YuJa, Inc.

Lisa Dennis from Spoon River College will share her firsthand experience using YuJa Panorama to improve accessibility initiatives at the institution. These insights will give attendees a practical perspective on how this powerful tool can be used to create more inclusive and accessible learning environments.

“At YuJa, we firmly believe that accessibility should be at the forefront of every educational endeavor,” said Nathan Arora, Chief Business Officer at YuJa, Inc. “By embracing technologies like YuJa Panorama, institutions can break down barriers and empower learners of all abilities to fully engage with course materials, fostering an equitable educational experience for all.”

As a membership organization dedicated to promoting quality online learning and providing additional opportunities for students, ILCCO’s vision aligns seamlessly with YuJa’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and excellence. 

This webinar will serve as a catalyst for exploring cutting-edge technologies and instructional strategies that drive positive change in online teaching and learning. Learn more.

Celebrating Braille Literacy Month

January is Braille Literacy Month. In 2019, the United Nations General Assembly established January 4 as World Braille Day. Both are aimed at raising awareness of the importance of Braille, though the month also commemorates the legacy of Louis Braille. 

What is Braille? 

The UN describes Braille as “a tactile representation of alphabetic and numerical symbols using six dots to represent each letter and number, and even musical, mathematical and scientific symbols. Braille (named after its inventor in 19th century France, Louis Braille) is used by blind and partially sighted people to read the same books and periodicals as those printed in a visual font.

According to the New England Consortium on Deafblindness, Braille is used in nearly every country in the world, and there is a braille code for almost every language. Braille has transformed the lives of millions in the context of education, freedom of expression and opinion, and social inclusion. World Braille Day serves as a reminder of Braille in promoting independence, literacy, and equal opportunities for the blind and visually impaired.

About Louis Braille

Born on January 4, 1809, in Coupvray, France, Louis Braille lost his sight at the age of three after an accident that took place in his father’s harness shop. An infection caused him to lose sight in both eyes. 

He received a scholarship and, in 1819, he went to Paris to attend the National Institute for Blind Children (where he later taught). At the age of 15, Braille developed the system of touch reading and writing as it’s known today. 

Braille based his system on Charles Barbier’s “Night Writing,” which was created for soldiers to communicate safely at night. Barbier’s system was a raised 12-dot cell with each dot or combination of dots representing a letter or phonetic sound. “The problem with the military code was that the human fingertip could not feel all the dots with one touch,” BrailleWorks shared. 

Braille’s code was based on a six-dot system. “This crucial improvement meant that a fingertip could encompass the entire cell unit with one impression and move rapidly from one cell to the next. Over time, the world gradually accepted braille as the fundamental form of written communication for blind individuals. Today it remains basically as he invented it.”

The Impact of Braille

Braille is more than a tool for reading and writing; it is a gateway to education, employment, and social inclusion. By providing an alternative means of communication, Braille empowers individuals to navigate the world around them independently.

Promoting Literacy: One of the key contributions of Braille is its role in promoting literacy among the blind and visually impaired. Access to written information is a fundamental right, and Braille facilitates this access for visually impaired individuals. By learning to read and write in Braille, people who are blind can pursue education, access books, and engage in intellectual pursuits, enhancing their overall quality of life.

“Braille is used in nearly every country in the world, and there is a braille code for almost every language. Braille has transformed the lives of millions in the context of education, freedom of expression and opinion, and social inclusion.”

Equal Opportunities in Education and Employment: Braille Literacy Month and World Braille Day emphasizes the need for equal opportunities in education and employment for blind individuals. Integrating Braille into the curriculum and workplace helps ensure that those with visual impairments have the tools they need to succeed. Technology has also played a significant role in expanding access, with Braille displays, electronic Braille books, and assistive devices making information more readily available.

Advocacy and Awareness: Recognizing Braille Literacy Month provides an opportunity for advocacy and awareness campaigns to promote the importance of Braille. Community events, workshops, and educational programs can help dispel myths and misconceptions about blindness and foster a more inclusive society. 

By understanding the significance of Braille, we can work toward breaking down barriers and creating a world that is accessible to all.

How to Create a User-Friendly Online Test Proctoring Experience

Institutional leaders should consider that students have different needs, and remember that creating a flexible, yet secure and user-friendly online proctoring experience is important to students’ educational experience. To create a consistent and positive online test proctoring experience:

Choose a Reliable Proctoring Solution: Look for an online proctoring solution that offers basic and advanced features your institution needs, such as LMS integration, ID verification and secure browser options to ensure a robust and secure test environment.

“Ensure students understand technical requirements, proctoring process, how to start and end their exam, and how to get support during a test.”

Provide Clear Communication: Effective communication is key to a successful online proctoring experience. Ensure students understand technical requirements, proctoring process, how to start and end their exam, and how to get support during a test. 

Offer Flexibility in Exam Settings: Different courses require different levels of student monitoring. Look for a solution that offers Instructors the choice to record video and audio through webcams and microphones, monitor web traffic to track visited sites and URLs, limit screen usage to a single monitor, disable new tabs, close open tabs, disable the clipboard, and implement ID verification. For enhanced monitoring, look for live proctoring options. 

Ensure a Seamless Learning Management Systems Integration: Integrate the online proctoring solution with your institution’s Learning Management System to simplify the test setup process and help instructors create a cohesive experience.

Continuously Educate Faculty and Staff: Train instructors and staff on how to use test proctoring effectively. Ensure they are familiar with the features available and can troubleshoot common issues and they understand how to view and interpret results.

Data Security and Privacy Compliance: Prioritize data security and comply with privacy regulations. Ensure the proctoring platform adheres to industry standards for data protection, safeguarding student privacy throughout the proctoring process.

As higher-ed technology and online proctoring solutions continue to evolve, it’s important to refine strategies to meet the needs of remote students and instructors. Through a thoughtful and proactive approach, institutions can maintain the integrity of online assessments while fostering a positive and inclusive online learning environment.

Case Study: YuJa Video Platform and Panorama Digital Accessibility Platform Are a ‘Game Changer’ at Saint Francis University

When the administration at Saint Francis University needed a video solution to be used for teaching and learning, it asked the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) to help evaluate tools. At that time, the university did not have an institution-wide tool for recording and distributing video to students. 

“In 2020 we saw an increased usage in videos by both faculty and students, and we were really looking for a tool that offered options for recording and video storage, and then an important component to us was a video tool that had closed captioning and automatic captioning,” said Briana Keith, Assistant Dean of Academic Quality, Assessment, and Compliance. “We discovered YuJa in our search and the Video Platform stood out because it had the features we were looking for and additional features that went above and beyond, like the option to edit videos, add video quizzes to instructional videos instructors were providing for their courses, and more.”

Read the full case study here.

How Single Sign-On Streamlines Access in Higher Education

What is SSO?

Single Sign-On (SSO) is an authentication process that allows a user to access multiple applications or systems with a single set of login credentials, such as their username and password. Instead of requiring users to remember and enter different usernames and passwords for each application, SSO enables them to log in once and gain access to all authorized systems without the need to re-enter their information. In higher education, SSO simplifies access to an institution’s learning management system (LMS) and other applications.

Enhancing the Higher-Ed User Experience 

In higher education, students, faculty, and staff interact with many digital platforms, from learning management systems to email, library resources, and more. SSO simplifies this experience, reducing the frustration of managing multiple login credentials and saving time for more meaningful academic and administrative tasks. Institutions can foster a more collaborative and streamlined learning and administrative environment by unifying access to all platforms under a single authentication umbrella. 

“Institutions can foster a more collaborative and streamlined learning and administrative environment by unifying access to all platforms under a single authentication umbrella.“

Key Components of Single Sign-On

With  SSO integration, institutions can provide seamless access to websites and applications regardless of a student’s physical location or device. Key components of SSO include:

Authentication Mechanisms: SSO systems use robust authentication mechanisms to verify the identity of users. This can include traditional username and password combinations, biometric authentication, or multi-factor authentication (MFA) for an added layer of security.

Identity Provider (IdP): The IdP is a crucial element in the SSO infrastructure. It is responsible for authenticating users and providing tokens or assertions that can be used to access other services within the SSO ecosystem.

Service Providers (SP): Service providers are the applications or platforms that users want to access. These services rely on the authentication the IdP provides, allowing users to move between them without needing additional logins.

Advantages of SSO in Higher Education

The benefits of SSO in higher education are numerous:

Simplified user account management –  From an administrative perspective, SSO simplifies user account management. When a user’s credentials change, such as when they update their password, the changes are reflected across all connected services, reducing the workload for IT teams. 

Robust security measures – SSO systems often incorporate robust security measures, such as multi factor authentication, ensuring user accounts remain secure. Institutions can better monitor and control access to sensitive data by centralizing authentication processes. 

Ability to quickly scale and integrate new applications – As new applications are adopted, integrating them into the SSO system is more straightforward, which promotes scalability and adaptability.

Embracing Single Sign-On is not just a technological choice; it’s a strategic move toward a more agile, secure, and user-friendly educational ecosystem.

Six Reasons to Incorporate In-Video Quizzing Into Higher Education Lectures

1. 1. 1. 1. Active engagement encourages a deeper understanding of course material: In-video quizzing prompts students to think critically about course content. Instead of passively absorbing information or walking away from a video as it plays, students become active participants in their learning journey, fostering a deeper understanding of the material. In addition, studies have shown that in-video quizzing can help boost retention as students are prompted to recall information as they learn it and are encouraged to learn key concepts before moving on.
            

            “Students become active participants in their learning journey, fostering a deeper understanding of the material.”

         2. Students receive immediate feedback to help them course correct: One of the key benefits of in-video quizzing is that students get immediate feedback, which allows them to identify and address areas they don’t understand right away. This quick feedback loop contributes to a more effective learning process.
         3. Formative assessments help gauge understanding: In-video quizzing serves as a formative assessment tool, providing instructors with valuable insights into student understanding. This data can guide instructors on how to adjust their teaching approach to address areas where students may be struggling.
         4. In-video quizzing caters to different learning styles: By providing a multimedia approach to learning, in-video quizzing accommodates diverse learning styles, including visual and auditory. This makes the material more accessible to students. In addition, instructors can customize their quizzes to align with learning objectives, catering to individual student needs and creating a more adaptive learning experience.

         

         5. Analyzing assessment data can guide instructors on intervention: By analyzing analytics from in-video quizzing, instructors can identify problem areas that exist both for individuals and among larger groups. This data-driven approach allows targeted interventions to support students in areas where they may need additional help.
         6. In-video quizzes help students prepare for summative assessments: In-video quizzes serve as valuable preparation for larger, summative assessments. They help students identify knowledge gaps early on, providing them time for review and clarification before major exams.

         YuJa Gears Up for Annual EDUCAUSE Conference

         EDUCAUSE is packed with timely content, prominent presenters, and numerous ways for attendees to engage, learn, and connect with others in the field while advancing professional skills. The event provides essential opportunities for education, networking, and growth to higher ed IT professionals where professionals and technology providers from around the world gather to network, share ideas, grow professionally, and discover solutions to today’s challenges. 

         “All EDUCAUSE activities and services aim to strengthen higher education. From building the IT profession, to connecting and facilitating collaboration across the community of practitioners, thought leaders and key influencers to providing expert research, data and analysis to better inform strategic decision-making on campus, EDUCAUSE helps members understand the strategic role of IT on campus as well as make the most of that role,” the EDUCAUSE LinkedIn page states. 

         As the premier event for higher education IT professionals, EDUCAUSE serves as a vital platform for the YuJa team to attentively engage with educational institutions, gain insights into successful practices and identify their education solution needs. This enables YuJa to consistently deliver top-notch, collaborative, and innovative learning experiences to institutions in a constantly evolving educational environment.

         Visit us at Booth #201. To see a full list of upcoming conferences and events, visit yuja.com/events.

          

         IntelliVid Research Discusses Future of Video in Higher Education With YuJa

         Steve Vonder Haar, a Senior Analyst with IntelliVid Research, recently interviewed YuJa Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer, Nathan Arora, on the evolving role of video in education, how the market has changed since the pandemic, and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education technology tools.

         

         Intelligent Video Today is a video podcast that interviews newsmakers and thought leaders of developing technologies that help higher-ed institutions and organizations generate more value from the video they produce. The discussion emphasized how video has evolved from a supplement to traditional lectures and then to a central component of modern educational experiences.