Interactive Student Engagement Using Wireless Handheld Devices

This paper presents an experimental wireless Classroom Communication System (CCS) used for continuous and interactive engagement of students aiming at enhancing student critical thinking, extending attention span and enabling better student assessment. . The paper describes the main infrastructure upon which this CCS structure is based as well as some of its most important features. The system is designed mostly for engineering students it is designed to be used during lectures, tutorials or laboratory. The design enables students to use, amongst other software, standard engineering packages such as MATLAB, PSpice, or Electronic WorkBench to construct designs, perform simulations and obtain answers to design problems using just wireless handheld pocket PCs. The system can be used anytime during lectures or tutorials and may involve the guidance and personal intervention of a lecturer or tutor. It is designed to support several modes and allows group or one-to-one personal tutoring. The paper also describes how the system may serve as a means of assessing individual student performance and in assisting lecturing staff with other tasks. A partial assessment of the current limitations and experiences are also presented in this paper.