Abstract

This article is an introduction to classroom response systems (“clickers”) for philosophy lecture courses. The article reviews how clickers can help re-engage students after their attention fades during a lecture, can provide student contributions that are completely honest and free of peer pressure, and can give faculty members a rapid understanding of student understanding of material. Several specific applications are illustrated including using clicker questions to give students an emotional investment in a topic, to stimulate discussion, to display change of attitudes, and to allow for the use of the peer instruction technique, which combines lectures and small groups.