On February 15, 2005 a group of 13 teachers from the Denver metro area met in Boulder for the first (Classroom Performance System) training in Colorado.  The majority of the training was focused on how to create and deliver Higher Ordered Thinking Questions (HOT-Q) in a classroom.  A sample of the questions that were developed and the “organizer” that helps to think of how to do this for your own classroom will soon be available.  During the training specific questions were also asked of these teachers.  Their response from these questions are listed below.

One way that CPS helps me be more effective as a teacher is…

1. ExamView gives me quick access to questions in CPS so I don’t have to make them up myself.
2. CPS allows me instant access to my exam data so I can quickly see where problems are occurring.
3. CPS allows ESL students to participate in class who might otherwise be too intimidated.  I have to remember to write questions that my ESL students can understand.
4. I do just a few questions (e.g., 5) in a “There It Is Activity” (rather than 10-20) to save time to review the questions that were missed.
5. I give daily lessons and tests so I know, and students know, what they know.
6. I use the Challenge Board and divide them into teams to compete on review questions.
7. I have students write down their thinking on paper (e.g., why they chose a certain answer, or the work to a math problem) rather than just clicking in fast to every question.  This allows them to slow down, and for me to see more detail of where problems in comprehension are occurring when many students miss the same problem.
8. I get review questions that are being used in college science courses and use those for CPS review sessions.  Students like the challenge of answering questions that college students are using.
9. I have my students develop their own questions (either in class or as a homework assignment) and then use these questions for my test review.
10. In our Spanish class students watch a movie as part of learning the language and culture.  I now give students questions while watching the movie so they are actively looking for the answers rather than passively zoning out on the movie. 
11. I used the Student Managed Assessment mode (SMA) – like for a test – so students can work at their own pace to answer the questions.  At the end we review the answers in a report to see how the students did.
12. I have my different classes compete with each other on review questions for the highest “cumulative percent correct.”  This really motivates the students to study because they all want to be the winning class.
13. As part of my class, students do presentations using PowerPoint to the rest of the students.  I now have them develop CPS questions to use as part of their presentation so they can engage their peers, assess for comprehension, etc. just as I do while I am teaching.
14. Using CPS allows my students to learn how to take a multiple-choice test (e.g., knowing how to eliminate choices that could not possibly be correct, etc.).  So, not only does their knowledge of the material improve, but also their skill in test taking.

What is the best lesson you ever gave with CPS?

1. Using the “There It Is” Activity as a review for tests.  The competitive energy of the game makes it fun and exciting.
2. I did a live demo of acids and bases and then had students click in with CPS to see how they were comprehending each step of the process.
3. I use CPS to do many small “mini-tests” during my class rather than one large “killer” test at the end of the semester.  This helps students not fall too far behind and allows me to see where they need remediation.
4. I surveyed my students and asked them how much, on average, they studied each night.  I then looked at the correlation of their responses to this question to their actual test grades.  I shared this information with the parents at the PTA night so they could see the direct connection with study time and tests scores.
5. I used CPS to survey my students about their opinions and behavior in terms of recycling.
6. We surveyed students about what elective classes they were interested in signing up for the next semester so we could make an early determination about staffing patterns.

 One thing I learned about using CPS that I can share with others

1. The Student Managed Assessment mode is something I was not aware of early on, but now I use it all the time.
2. ExamView has been a great resource for quick access to many questions.
3. I have students do review together where four have one clicker and work on problems together.  That gets them talking to one another and learning from each other.
4. I have my students make the questions, and this facilitates learning on many different levels (as well as saving me time!)
5. I have 2 students work a problem on paper, discuss their work with each other (i.e., come to consensus about the answer) and then have them share a clicker to put in one response.