Clickers

What is it?

Clickers (or Student Response Systems) are wireless handheld devices that allow students to respond to classroom polls and quizzes, regardless of class size and common student dynamics. These remote-like gadgets transmit individual student responses to an instructor's laptop to record and even share these results directly back to the class. Instructors can also use this data to customize their lessons for each learning group.

Uses and Benefits

Studies conducted on the usage of clickers demonstrate an improved learning environment for students. Effective use of clickers leads to greater class interactivity, increased student-teacher interaction, and consequently improved conceptual understanding of material for the learners.

Instructors can use clickers as a tool to gauge students' understanding and/or as a quiz/exam delivery system.

Clickers also allow instructors to:

• Increase class participation and improve attendance
• Spark debate and discussion in class
• Identify students who need additional assistance
• Instantly gauge student comprehension of a particular topic or question
• Take attendance
• Encourage class discussion among all students
• Instantly grade and record student results
• Give continuous feedback to provide students an active learning process
• Generate student assessment reports
• Easily deliver quizzes and assessments electronically
• Focus more time on teaching and less time on paperwork and grading

In the News

• Clickers give students incentive to go to class -- The Georgia Straight -- UBC’s Roland Stull is one of a growing number of professors to engage students in class with clickers, which allow him to identify their needs and generate more discussion. (Erin Millar, 2009-11-12)

Get Started

Note: Click for information about Clickers and the new LMS

Instructors

1. Place order with UBC Bookstore to ensure adequate stock for your students. Using the online method is preferred.

• UBC Vancouver

• Order online
• In-person: 6200 University Boulevard - Map

• UBC Okanagan

• Order online
• Email: ubco.coursematerials@ubc.ca
• In-person: 3333 University Way - Map

2. Stop by for a quick demo and/or pick up your UBC iClicker Instructor Kit at the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology (IKBLC 102-1961 East Mall - Map). You can also schedule a time by contacting clicker.support@ubc.ca. You can also contact your local Instructional Support Unit for more information. The Instructor kits include:

• Software (5.5) for iClicker/iGrader here:

Mac users: iClickerMac 5.5.4

PC users: iClickerPC 5.5.3

• Blue Instructor Remote: Which can be used to remotely start/stop polling, show/hide results, set correct answers, and advance slideshow presentations.
• Base Receiver: Which can receive responses from students (optional)
• Flash Drive: Contains the iClicker software (optional)

3. Check if your class is setup for iClicker (see List of Rooms) and if it is not equipped then,

a. Get your classroom equipped. An iClicker receiver base would be installed for you (as long as the room has a podium to lock the iClicker receiver base in)

b. Use a portable iClicker receiver base, CTLT will loan you a portable iClicker receiver base. These can be used in any room, but there are some important risks you will need to be aware of.

4. Check if two or more people in your class have the same clicker ID registered (There will be a pop up menu notifying you this when you download your course roster from WebCT Vista). You can send us a email to remove the clicker ID from the student(s) that are not using that particular clicker anymore. Afterward you can redownload your course roster from WebCT Vista into iGrader.

• Note: It is not necessary to remove clicker IDs for students that have more than one clicker registered under their name, if there are no conflicts with anyone else in the class.

5. Setup Clickers for your course on Vista. For a step-by-step guide, go to Setup Clicker in Vista

Loan Kits for Events

CTLT has clickers to loan out for events. If you have a training session or would like to use clickers for a bigger event, please contact clicker.support@ubc.ca. Currently, we have about 80 that can be out at any given time.

Student Info

• UBC Bookstore iClicker info
• $43.20 new / $32.40 used. Used clickers can be sold back to the UBC Bookstore for 50% of what you paid.

Sharing clickers

1. You and your friend should never be in the same class or section. If this is ever a possibility, do not share your clicker.
2. If you are confident that this will never happen, then both you and your friend should register the clicker in WebCT Vista as if it is your own.
3. Remember once you register, you cannot unregister a clicker.

New Remote

How to check if the base you are using can read 24 bit IDs?

New Clickers have 24 bit IDs; however, older bases read them as 21 bit IDs. Follow the following instructions to find the ID you should use.

• 1) Open iClicker
• 2) Go to Your Settings And Preferences
• 3) Go to the Polling Session (Windows) or Questions and Polling (Mac) Tab
• 4) Go to the Response Grid Section
• 5) Click Set For This Session
• 6) Start a Session
• 7) Vote with your Instructor Remote as if it is a Student Remote
• 8) Take note of the ID that appears in the grid

• a) If it is the same as the one on the back of the remote, then the base can read 24 bit IDs
• b) If another ID appears, then the base can only read 21 bit IDs

• 9) The ID that appears in the response grid is the ID you should use to enter into the Instructor's Remote ID field for that particular base

GOOD NEWS!!

• A) This does not affect students with new Clickers that have 24 bit IDs
• B) We are in the process of installing new bases that can read 24 bit IDs in the lecture halls. You will know a new base has been installed, if you see a base (image below) on the podium.

Resources

Effective Use

For the clicker to be used effectively, it is important to take into consideration the structure and format of the question being asked, how often you use the technology and the context in which questions are asked. The use of the clickers for the sake of using new technology does not necessarily improve learning. The following websites provide excellent suggestions on how to best incorporate clickers into your teaching practice:

• Carl Wieman Science Education Initative - Clicker Resources

• An Instructors Guide to the Effective Use of Personal Response Systems (Clickers) in Teaching

• i>Clicker Teaching Strategies and Activities
• Clickers in the Classroom: Transforming Students into Active Learners
• Twelve Tips For Using a Computerized Interactive Audience Response?
• 7 Things You Should Know About Clickers
• Research on the Effectiveness of Classroom Response Systems
• Audience Response System: Effect on Learning in Family Medicine Residents
• Experiences of Using an Interactive Audience Response System in Lectures
• Using a Personal Response System in Economics Teaching
• The science of teaching
• Prof Improves Probability of Learning Stats
• The Joy of Teaching: EOS Profs find new ways to enrich the classroom experience

Tips

iClicker ID Retrieval Service

Has your iClicker ID worn off?

If so, you can drop by our help desk to retrieve it.

Chapman Learning Commons

3rd floor of the Irving K Barber Learning Centre- [Map]

• Monday-Thursday 8am-12am
• Friday 8am-6pm
• Saturday 10am-8pm
• Sunday 10am-12am