[quoting Marcinkiewicz, 15 Mar 96] Perhaps one problem in integrating cooperative learning with computer technology is that only one person can be at an input device at a time--two with a SEGA. However, my colleague, Brian Carlson, at Dakota State University (bmc@alpha.dsu.edu) and I come across a board that allows up to 128 input devices to a microcomputer. No longer is a mainframe necessary for group activities. Unfortunately, this little piece of hardware is not widely known of or used. One institute, James Madison University uses it for testing in lecture halls.
This sounds like the HyperGraphics system. I beta-tested one about 5 years ago and have seen it in use at various institutions since that time. We were using it in a lecture hall where keypads at each seat were connected to a standard MS-DOS machine at the front of the room. The micro output to an LCD projector. Each lesson was presented by the computer and at the end of the presentation, multiple-choice questions were presented. The students answered via the keypads and a bar graph was displayed showing how many choose each answer. The instructor could also create his own questions.