The design, development & implementation of an In-house SRS to enhance the teaching & learning experience: Case-study of the University of the Western Cape

Abstract

The Centre for Innovative Education & Communication Technologies at UWC has designed a Student Response System (SRS), which will enable students to respond electronically to questions posed by the lecturer during a class or for homework. The development of this SRS, utilising students’ mobile devices, will increase accessibility and enhance the teaching & learning experience. As SRS is web based, the majority of mobile devices are compatible. Quizzes are cached to the device so students may respond when no internet connectivity is present, & the answers are synchronised when Wi-Fi is available. In addition, student profiling takes place on a student's device itself. This allows targeted quizzes & tutorials to be sent to students, customised to the needs of the student. Furthermore, the SRS will be integrated into the institutional LMS. Two groups from Science Faculty have been selected for study to explore the efficacy of the SRS, aligned to learning theories & national HE imperatives.