![](https://www.physport.org/images/guides/tefa_logo-342x363.png)
Technology-Enhanced Formative Assessment
Developed by: Ian D. Beatty & William J. Gerace
Level
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middle schoolhigh schoolintro collegeinter-mediateupper levelgrad school other
![Intro College Calculus-based](../images/methods/icons/3.png)
calc based
![Intro College Algebra-based](../images/methods/icons/4.png)
alg based
![Intro College Conceptual](../images/methods/icons/5.png)
conceptual
![](../images/methods/grayLeftCap.png)
![](../images/methods/grayMainBar.png)
![](../images/methods/greenMainBar.png)
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![](../images/methods/blueMainBar.png)
![](../images/methods/blueMainBar.png)
![](../images/methods/grayMainBar.png)
![](../images/methods/grayRightCap.png)
![](../images/methods/blueLeftCap.png)
![](../images/methods/blueRightCap.png)
middle schoolhigh schoolintro collegeinter-mediateupper levelgrad school other
![Intro College Calculus-based](../images/methods/icons/3.png)
calc based
![Intro College Algebra-based](../images/methods/icons/4.png)
alg based
![Intro College Conceptual](../images/methods/icons/5.png)
conceptual
Topics
![Mechanics](../images/methods/icons/50.png)
![Electricity / Magnetism](../images/methods/icons/51.png)
![Waves / Optics](../images/methods/icons/52.png)
![Thermal / Statistical](../images/methods/icons/53.png)
![Modern / Quantum](../images/methods/icons/54.png)
+3
![Mechanics](../images/methods/icons/50.png)
![Electricity / Magnetism](../images/methods/icons/51.png)
![Waves / Optics](../images/methods/icons/52.png)
![Thermal / Statistical](../images/methods/icons/53.png)
![Modern / Quantum](../images/methods/icons/54.png)
Setting
![Lecture - Large (30+ students)](../images/methods/icons/10.png)
![Lecture - Small (<30 students)](../images/methods/icons/14.png)
![Recitation/Discussion Session](../images/methods/icons/11.png)
![Lab](../images/methods/icons/12.png)
![Studio](../images/methods/icons/15.png)
![Lecture - Large (30+ students)](../images/methods/icons/10.png)
![Lecture - Small (<30 students)](../images/methods/icons/14.png)
![Recitation/Discussion Session](../images/methods/icons/11.png)
![Lab](../images/methods/icons/12.png)
![Studio](../images/methods/icons/15.png)
Overview
What? A pedagogy for using clickers to accomplish highly interactive, student-centered science instruction, focusing on using provocative, meaty questions to engage students in extended whole-class discussion as a context and vehicle for learning.
Student skills developed
Designed for:
- Conceptual understanding
- Making real-world connections
Can be adapted for:
- Problem-solving skills
- Metacognition
Instructor effort required
- Medium
Resources required
- Clickers / polling method
- Projector
Resources
Intro Article: I. Beatty and W. Gerace, Technology-enhanced formative assessment: A research-based pedagogy for teaching science with classroom response technology, J. Sci. Educ. Tech. 18 (2), 146 (2009).
Research
RESEARCH VALIDATION
![](../images/sbDetailResBased.png)
This is the lowest level of research validation, corresponding to at least one of the validation categories below.
Research Validation Summary
Based on Research Into:
- theories of how students learn
- student ideas about specific topics
Demonstrated to Improve:
- conceptual understanding
- problem-solving skills
- lab skills
- beliefs and attitudes
- attendance
- retention of students
- success of underrepresented groups
- performance in subsequent classes
Studied using:
- cycle of research and redevelopment
- student interviews
- classroom observations
- analysis of written work
- research at multiple institutions
- research by multiple groups
- peer-reviewed publication
References
- I. Beatty and W. Gerace, Technology-enhanced formative assessment: A research-based pedagogy for teaching science with classroom response technology, J. Sci. Educ. Tech. 18 (2), 146 (2009).
- I. Beatty, W. Gerace, W. Leonard, and R. Dufresne, Designing effective questions for classroom response system teaching, Am. J. Phys. 74 (1), 31 (2006).
- R. Dufresne, W. Gerace, W. Leonard, J. Mestre, and L. Wenk, Classtalk: A classroom communication system for active learning, J. Comp. and Info. Sci. in Eng. 7 (2), 3 (1996).