Response cards: Increasing individual responding during whole-class teaching

Jennifer Stephenson
Macquarie University

Abstract
All students learn more and are less likely to be off-task when they are involved in actively making responses. The use of response cards is a cost effective and practical strategy to increase individual responding in whole class and group teaching with students from pre-school to university level. It may be particularly useful in classes that include learners with learning or behaviour difficulties. Response cards may be pre-printed, where students select a response, or may require students to write a brief response. The research shows that students make more responses with response cards, are less likely to be disruptive and score better on quiz and test results than they do with conventional oral questioning.