Turning+Point

=  __TurningPoint__   __™__ A quality production by Rob and Chris. = =      = = =   **Definition**

The TurningPoint ™  system, is a software/hardware bundle, produced by Turning Technologies, LLC. that allows users to integrate remote polling devices, -(primarily ‘clickers’) with quiz’s built into Microsoft PowerPoint® presentations, along with the options to share this data with other Microsoft Office Suite® documents. - (see: http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=I4A62QyAUHM          for a quick overview of clickers)

**Brief History**

 The first version of TurningPoint  ™  software was released in June 2002, by    Turning Technologies, LLC. The company’s first hardware released to support this software was an Infra-red based clicker system in early 2004, ‘ ResponseCard IR’.  In 2005 the company released TurningPoint ™ <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> 2006 and its next hardware installation, ‘ResponseCard RF’ a radio frequency clicker system. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> The most TurningPoint <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">™ <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> software released by <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Turning Technologies, LLC is TurningPoint  <span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">™    <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">  2008.

<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">** Key Features ** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The Turning Point  ™   <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> software essentially functions as a add-on/toolbar that slides into the following Microsoft Office Suite® applications- Microsoft Powerpoint®, Microsoft Excel®, Microsoft Outlook® and Microsoft Word® and transfers data gathered via the clicker system into the format and representation selected by the TurningPoint   ™   <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> toolbar options within the Microsoft Office Suite® document. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Essential TurningPoint  ™   <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> hardware consists of remote polling cards & a receiver unit. An Example of which is the Turning Point RF unit. (Below). <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">TurningPoint  ™   <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> software, can be also used in an integrated manner with RemotePoll™ software, which allows polling via computer or mobile  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">phone from remote locations, or through TurningPoint AnyWhere software™ which allows polling via a floating toolbar on any PC with any Applications open. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> __//TurningPoint//__ __  //™ works with;//   __ <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">-Microsoft Powerpoint®, to create interactive polling, such as quiz’s with graphic result displays. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">- Microsoft Excel® and Microsoft Word®, to store, track and view response information. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">- Microsoft Word®, to create and import question lists. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">- Microsoft Outlook®, to communicate and share the results of polling. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Additionally, The Turning Technologies, LLC. Website ([|http://www.turningtechnologies.com]) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Lists the following features for TurningPoint  ™   2008: <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">**
 * State Standards<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> - Link a question, set of questions or an entire test to individual or multiple state standards.
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">  Reporting<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> - The Report Wizard automatically organizes student response data at the individual student, class, grade and/or district level. Report types range from graded tests to state standards tracking by demographic.
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Data Slicing<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> - In real-time, view class responses by question grouped by demographic type.
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Grading and Point Values<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> - Track assessment or participation points, grade quizzes and tests automatically. Review results via TurningPoint reports or export into other teaching tools, such as grade book software.
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Compare Results<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> - Present a question to your students - later in the class present the same question and automatically display a side-by-side comparison of the results.
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Picture Response<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> - Create an interactive polling slide where each response option features a picture, graph, equation or symbol instead of text.
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Student Rosters<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> - Use Turning Technologies' classroom response system to create, store and manage student rosters, or import student rosters from a student management system.
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Student Monitor<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> - At any time during your interactive PowerPoint presentation instantly see how students are responding to questions and how they compare to the overall group.
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Formulas and Equations<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> - Create and display question slides with mathematical equations using the Microsoft Office Equation Editor.
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Competitions and Teams<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> - Track points by student or team. Display competitive standings through dynamic scoreboards.
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Video<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> - Create and display video content on question slides.
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Parser<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> - Automatically generate TurningPoint presentations from existing quizzes, tests and study guides created in MS Word or an XML document.

Educational Value. (links to learning theories and research)

** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> To identify links between Clicker systems such as turning point, and learning theory or theorists is by definition very difficult, Clickers offer a way in which to tailor lessons to student understandings, centring the tuition on student learning and engaging the students in actively considering the subject matter, however as Beatty, (2004. Pg. 8) said ““Technology doesn’t inherently improve learning: it merely makes possible more effective pedagogy” <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Clickers are less the fulfilment of a particular theoretical view of learning, and more a tool. The correct pedagogical use of which must be considered carefully if its use is to result in improved learning. (Judson & Sawada 2002.) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Reviews of the literature show, that studies where clicker systems were used in elementary, secondary and tertiary classrooms, demonstrated marked improvements in student learning. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> (Judson & Sawada 2002., Beatty, I. 2004. Ward, D.L. 2003. Burns, A. 2008). Ward (2003). found <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> that appropriate questioning practices could improve learning by up to 150%. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> However, many of these authors concluded that more study was needed to identify the exact impact that clickers make, and all authors acknowledged that, as Judson & Swada <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">(2002) indicated- “an electronic response system does not come pre-packaged in an interactive learning environment.” <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> It is up to the teacher to ensure pedagogical relevance in the use of this innovation according to their philosophy of teaching and based upon educational research into effective questioning practices. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> //__Turning Technologies,__// //__ LLC -( __//<span style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> http://www.turningtechnologies.com/k12studentresponsesystem/whyusesrs.cfm //__).__//  <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> //__List the following benefits of TurningPoint__//   ™   //__:__// <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">   <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Turning Technologies, LLC. Maintains an online learning forum, its content includes; tutorials, presentations/podcasts, online training links, an onsite training request form, a collection of case studies, best practice tips, and information about upcoming user conferences-(US only). <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> [|**http://www.turningtechnologies.com/audienceresponsecommunity.cfm**] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Turning Technologies, LLC. Also offers customer support, downloads, product guides/manuals and release notes. There is also a contact form and number (US) for technical support. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">[|**http://www.turningtechnologies.com/groupresponsesystemsupport/supportcontact.cfm**] Keepad Interactive, an international provider of audience participation software and hardware owned by<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> LUL Technology Pty. Ltd. Also offers product downloads, product information and quick start guides/manuals. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> http://www.keepad.com/downloads.php <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> They also maintain a forum for the discussion of Keepad products, and offer updates and Email support. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> http://www.keepad.com/support.php
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Engage students in active learning.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">    <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">  Encourage students' critical thought processes requiring synthesis of knowledge by providing them a way to answer questions.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">    <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">               <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Improve student participation-TurningPoint and ResponseCards take the fear out of getting an answer wrong and facing peer pressure. EVERY student can respond.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">        <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">                    <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">  Encourage student preparation prior to class (reading of class materials).
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">         <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">                       <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Quickly determine whether homework or reading assignments have been completed before the class. [[image:doobie.jpg width="139" height="105" align="right"]]
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">           <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">                              <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Improve teacher understanding of students' comprehension of curriculum.           <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">               <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Provide students with immediate feedback about the accuracy of their understanding of the curriculum.                <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">           <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Provide teachers with instant feedback of students' understanding of concepts and content knowledge.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">           <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">           <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Provide educators with the ability to customize instruction based on student responses.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">         <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">             <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">      Use analysis of student responses as the basis for class discussion.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">    <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">                  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Track student progress toward academic standards.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">    <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">    <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Align curriculum to state standards and produces reports quickly and easily ” -(US)
 * Future Learning and Teaching: **

**__REFERENCES:__** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> [|http://www.turningtechnologies.com] [|http://www.keepad.com] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Beatty, I. (2004). //Transforming student learning with classroom communication systems//. Retrieved November 2, 2008, from <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> http://www.educause.edu/content.asp?page_id=666&ID=ERB0403&bhcp=1 <span style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">  Burns, A. (2008). A practical Approach to Question Design for Classroom Response Systems. In K. McFerrin et al. (Eds.), <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Proceedings of Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference 2008 (pp. 3293-3297). Chesapeake, VA: AACE. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Judson, E., & Sawada, D. (2002). Learning from Past and Present: Electronic Response <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Systems in College Lecture Halls. //Journal of computers in mathematics and science teaching, 21//(2), 167-181. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Ward, D.L. (2003). //The classroom performance system: The overwhelming research results supporting this teacher tool and methodology//. Retrieved November 2, 2008, from <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">http://www.einstruction.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.display&Menu=newsroom&content=FormalPaper&id=66 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">. <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">

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