Hank will use Purdue’s Hotseat in ENTR200 Spring 2010

According to a recent article titled “5 Higher Ed Tech Trends To Watch in 2010,” Bridget McCrea makes the #1 trend to watch Purdue’s Hotseat. She states, “The days when professors lectured to a class of blank, unresponsive faces are long gone. Today, both students and educators are tapping technology to make the classroom environment more interactive and dynamic. Purdue University’s Web-based Hotseat application, which allows students to use handheld devices to interact with professors in the classroom environment, is just a taste of what’s to come.”

So what’s Hotseat all about. A given course/prof is provided a Hotseat area on the Hotseat server by Purdue’s ITAP. During class [or anytime for that matter], students will be encouraged to post Twitter-length comments about the on-going lecture/class activities. Other students can vote on comments on the fly, making them “hot.” Anytime during class activities/lecture/whatever, the prof/lecturer can bring up the Hotseat-based discourse, and if he/she so chooses, clarify and/or comment on same. It is thought to be a vehicle through which students who otherwise may not be heard will be, whether due to shyness, fear of being seen as “stupid,” or really in the dark. It will in essence encourage real-time off line but pertinent discussion(s) germane to course material. In large lecture hall type settings, TA’s may be assigned to bring to the “top” comments thought to be worthy of further clarification by the person up front. ITAP’s video about Hotseat is directly below followed by students in the roll out perceptions. Hank