Steven first learned about Turning Technologies’ TurningPoint interactive polling software on the internet from a common search of audience response systems. Once he read more about the engagement and assessment device, TurningPoint, he realized that he had found the solution to his participation problems during his lectures.
The hardware and software combination offered by Turning Technologies lets instructors ask questions, immediately collect real-time responses from participants and evaluate answers. With TurningPoint, Steven would be able to uncover resident understanding of lecture content and ask questions to keep residents involved. Steven purchased TurningPoint audience response system along with 30 clickers.
Because TurningPoint seamlessly integrates into Microsoft Office products, it nearly eliminates the learning curve for those who already know PowerPoint, Excel and Word. Steven said that, while first using TurningPoint, he had “no problems whatsoever in learning or using the software. There were also no difficulties with the residents in responding to questions.”
Steven told us that because TurningPoint lets the 18 to 24 residents in the program reply to questions with keypads that immediately show real-time responses, he was able to increase the level of interaction and expand attentiveness in his lectures.
He also uses the audience response system software for a review of exam questions with his residents. The ability to rapidly detect important resident knowledge has helped Steven in designing his upcoming lectures.
When asked how much he thought participation had increased in his presentations, Steven said, “I think the way to look at it is the number of residents at a lecture who participate in that lecture. In the past, I would think that that number was around 50%. Now, with the ability to show how many people have answered a question, the percentage is very close to 100%.”