ResponseCard SDK Case Study

Ruth Lilly Health Education Center

BACKGROUND

The Ruth Lilly Health Education Center (RLHEC) is an award-winning nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, whose mission is to teach health education to preschoolers through adults utilizing high-tech, interactive methods. Opened to the public in 1989, it is the largest health education center in Indiana, serving 37 counties and 500 schools statewide in 2010 alone. The organization was established by community leaders and six service clubs including the Exchange, Kiwanis, Lions, Optimists, Rotary and Sertoma. The Center was named in honor of Ruth Lilly who provided a very generous donation which was used for construction of the free standing building.

Recognized for its outstanding innovations in health education, the center has 13 educators on staff and offers classes in general health, human growth and development, disease prevention and control, drug education, nutrition and fitness, mental health and violence prevention. Serving groups both large and small, the facility provides programs for preschool age children to adults. To accommodate each age group, the RLHEC offers a completely interactive experience in eight teaching theaters equipped with extensive technology. In addition to its state-of-the-art facility, RLHEC offers an outreach program where educators travel to schools statewide. Its curriculum, developed by RLHEC educators, is aligned with National and State Health Education Standards along with Healthy People 2010 goals, making RLHEC programs in high demand.

CHALLENGE

Since its inception, the RLHEC has been equipped with some form of response technology in order to pose questions and gather audience feedback. Until 1994, the organization used buttons that were mounted on tiered steps for only true and false voting. Walking the audience through the process of responding would take valuable time away from the presentation since the system was not intuitive. Once new technology was available, RLHEC purchased a response system that functioned with wireless keypads. However, the new system also presented additional problems when implemented into the outreach program.

"Prior to purchasing Turning Technologies' keypads, we used another system that was much larger and heavier," said Director of Technology Verlyn Wilson. "Teachers had to carry out a large bin that contained the keypads and a big receiver. When you combined the system with a computer, additional props and other instructional material, our teachers were getting pretty loaded down."

SOLUTION

When looking for a new system to implement their outreach programming, RLHEC worked closely with partners Sonar Studios and Dr. Steve Spicklemire of the University of Indianapolis. Based on their recommendations, Turning Technologies' response solutions were selected for implementation. One of the main reasons for the selection was the ability to integrate with Turning's software development kit. RLHEC's custom software is able to communicate with Turning's ResponseCard keypads to create a seamless solution that provides for interactive voting while still allowing for access to blended material such as video, keynote presentations, images and much more.

"The most important aspect about the center is the premise for which it has been built since it opened its doors in 1989," said Health Educator and Technology Coordinator Kathy Lesch. "Its mission is to engage and empower students through very innovative, progressive and cutting-edge technology, and to reinforce and promote healthy choices. Many times that ability to empower choice today needs the help of technology to really put that choice in the hands of the students. The interactive voting technology is convenient, portable and reliable - it really fits our mission."

In addition to the ResponseCard keypads and SDK, RLHEC utilizes handheld receiver ResponseCard AnyWhere for on-the-fly polling without a computer or projector. Just recently the ResponseCard AnyWhere was used during a teacher workshop to ask an impromptu question before transitioning to the next topic. Observers of the event noted that after the impromptu question, the participants were more engaged in the presentation. During its use, the response system has provided a convenience and immediacy that other systems were unable to offer.

CONCLUSION

RLHEC educators have seen the most success with the systems in outreach programs. Now teachers are able to transport the ResponseCard keypads in small, soft cases that can be worn over-the-shoulder, eliminating the large, heavy bins of the previous system. Outreach classrooms have also seen the benefit of SDK integration, as the software is used regularly during presentations. This allows offsite students to enjoy the same interactive experience afforded those who visit the Center on a field trip. Turning Technologies has extended the Center’s reach well beyond its four walls.

Educators also use the ResponseCard keypads in combination with custom software to assess if students have been successful in learning. If the instant results indicate that not all participants understood a concept, it can be reviewed until understanding is proficient. Even when using the system in teacher workshops, the keypads are incredibly helpful to be able to teach to the point. In addition, use of the keypads, provides RLHEC the ability to do pre and post testing of students, the data from which is crucial when approaching potential funders.

"It's very hands-on. It puts the students in first position," Lesch explains. “The student is the one that is going to change his or her health; not me in the next 90 minute program. If we can put something in the hands of students that sets their wheels turning, gets them critically thinking and allows them to walk away remembering answering questions with the keypads; then we’ve met our mission: teaching health because lives depend on it.”

For more information about purchasing Turning Technologies' student response systems for your organization, contact us at 866-746-3015.