Using web-enabled mobile phones for audience participation in database lectures

This paper evaluates the possible benefits of integrating audience response systems through mobile devices. Typically, existing clicker systems use proprietary radio remotes to send votes to a computer and display this information on screen. While proven to be a useful tool in lectures, adoption has been limited due to their up-front costs. Using mobile devices as a replacement is discussed as an alternative method by making it less intrusive and rootless. A prototype system was implemented to test these assumptions and was evaluated in a typical lecture with undergraduate students studying ‘Database Fundamentals’. The students chose between this system and a typical clicker system and were asked to answer identical quizzes. While their feedback shows little benefit of the prototype over traditional systems, the mobile system offers tangible benefits to the lecturer in speeding up preparation of quizzes and setup time.