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Student Perspectives on Using Clickers in Upper-division Physics Courses
written by
Katherine K. Perkins and Chandra Turpen
A growing number of faculty are using clicker questions and peer instruction in introductory physics courses at institutions across the US; however, this approach is rarely used in upper-division physics courses. At the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU), faculty have been incorporating clicker questions in upper-division courses since 2004 – clickers have now been used 24 times in 10 different upper-division courses by 14 different faculty. We surveyed students in 16 of these classes (including 2 classes of a graduate course), soliciting their perspectives on and recommendations for using clickers in upper-division courses. We find that 77% of the students recommend using clickers at this level. In all classes, a majority of students favor clickers and there are few negative responses. Through analysis of students' responses, we identify what they value about the use of clickers and the perceived mechanisms by which clickers support their learning. Finally, we find broad student agreement on how to best implement clickers in these courses.
Physics Education Research Conference 2009
Part of the PER Conference series
Ann Arbor, Michigan: July 29-30, 2009
Volume 1179, Pages 225-228
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/quantum/items/detail.cfm?ID=9489">Perkins, Katherine K., and Chandra Turpen. "Student Perspectives on Using Clickers in Upper-division Physics Courses." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 29-30, 2009.</a>
K. Perkins and C. Turpen, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2009, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9489&DocID=1363).
K. Perkins and C. Turpen, Student Perspectives on Using Clickers in Upper-division Physics Courses, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2009, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9489&DocID=1363>.
Perkins, K., & Turpen, C. (2009, July 29-30). Student Perspectives on Using Clickers in Upper-division Physics Courses. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Retrieved July 11, 2026, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9489&DocID=1363
Perkins, Katherine K., and Chandra Turpen. "Student Perspectives on Using Clickers in Upper-division Physics Courses." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 29-30, 2009. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9489&DocID=1363 (accessed 11 July 2026).
Perkins, Katherine K., and Chandra Turpen. "Student Perspectives on Using Clickers in Upper-division Physics Courses." Physics Education Research Conference 2009. Ann Arbor, Michigan: 2009. 225-228 Vol. 1179 of PER Conference. 11 July 2026 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9489&DocID=1363>.
%A Katherine K. Perkins %A Chandra Turpen %T Student Perspectives on Using Clickers in Upper-division Physics Courses %S PER Conference %V 1179 %D July 29-30 2009 %P 225-228 %C Ann Arbor, Michigan %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9489&DocID=1363 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2009 %O July 29-30 %O application/pdf
%0 Conference Proceedings %A Perkins, Katherine K. %A Turpen, Chandra %D July 29-30 2009 %T Student Perspectives on Using Clickers in Upper-division Physics Courses %B Physics Education Research Conference 2009 %C Ann Arbor, Michigan %V 1179 %P 225-228 %S PER Conference %8 July 29-30 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9489&DocID=1363
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