Interactive lectures: encouraging student interaction using Quick Response codes

This article presents an ongoing project to encourage student interaction during lectures through the use of Quick Response (QR) codes and Google forms to generate rapid response polls and quizzes. Audience Response Systems (ARS) are generally expensive to purchase, require students to purchase a clicker and need to be installed in a dedicated room. This article proposes the use of Google applications (Apps) software combined with the students’ own smartphone as a viable free alternative to the current clicker systems. An investigation into the pedagogical issues associated with such a project will be explored and an attempt made to incorporate these into the student experience. The overall process from the creation of the software to the roll out and use of the software in an interactive lecture, the issues encountered and participant feedback will also be described.