Development of a Classroom Response System: A Web-Based Approach Used in SEPT

The paper proposes an active-learning strategy aimed to increase class engagement and enhance student learning through the use of a Classroom Response System (CRS). A list of the commercially available CRS is reviewed. The motivation for designing an in-house CRS that addresses the limitations of the commercial CRS and solves specific needs of several automotive engineering courses is provided. The design and development of a mobile-based CRS at McMaster University in the School of Engineering Practice and Technology (SEPT) is presented. The CRS includes several modules that deal with the instructor and student interfaces, and with the infrastructure needed for a client-server application. The modules of developed CRS are described in detail. The paper presents the challenges that had to be mitigated during the development of the web-based applications and during its integration with the university’s Learning Management System. The benefits compared with commercial CRS justify the efforts to develop an in-house mobile web-based CRS software package.