Clickers: What are they? How can I use them?

Clickers: What are they? How can I use them? EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES CENTER

What are clickers? • “Clickers” are the common nickname for student response systems. • These systems allow for: • Real-time classroom assessments and polling • Automated grading of quizzes • Avenue for a classroom “back-channel” to assess comprehension and engagement • A way to break up a lecture and re-animate focus • A quick way to gain consensus

Student clickers: The i>clicker system was invented by a physicist. We’ve been using this system for the past 9 years, because of its simplicity. Each clicker has a unique ID, which can be assigned to a particular student (in the case of purchased clickers). Borrowed clickers will cast unique votes, but they cannot be assigned to a student.

The instructor kit: + The instructor remote number needs to be entered (once) in the clicker software. The receiver attaches to the classroom computer using a USB cable. A flash drive containing the i>clicker software is included in the kit.

When should I use them? • “Clickers” are best used: • In mid- to large-sized classes (seminars and small classes can use verbal feedback or hand-raising) • When comprehension of complex topics has proven to be an issue in the past • When anonymity is desired • When quick feedback is needed • When auto-grading is expedient (requires creating questions in the clicker software AND in a presentation)

How do I get them? - borrowing • “Clickers” can be borrowed: • The ETC has several hundred clickers that can be borrow for SINGLE CLASS SESSIONS (they must be returned after each class) • Grading and clicker assignment is not possible with borrowed clickers • Anonymous and impromptu voting is supported • The number of responses can be assessed, as can the answers, however, individual responses cannot be assigned to a particular student

How do I get them? - buying • “Clickers” can be purchased by students: • The clicker system we use is owned by an academic publishing house, Macmillan • The clickers have an ISBN number, and can be assigned as if they were a “required reading” using the Blackboard Course Reading List tool • Students get the Labyrinth book discount on clickers • A Blackboard plugin allows students to register clickers via Princeton’s Blackboard system • Clicker sessions can by tracked (and graded) by student, since each clicker is linked to a student’s ID in Blackboard

How do I use them? • Clickers have buttons labeled A-E, and support a variety of question types. • Questions can be true/false, multiple choice, opinion, voting, or any type of question that can be posed with 5 or fewer answers. • The most effective use of clickers allows for post-question or post-assessment discussion • Showing/hiding the votes as they are returned completely changes the dynamic of the question. Difficult questions might be influenced by “the herd’s” answers. • A clicker session is only as effective as the questions – don’t use them for trivial queries, which students perceive as a waste of time. • Using clickers effectively takes TIME. Plan for it in your lecture. Handing them out, collecting them, and allowing for discussion should all be part of your class plan. • If you ask student to purchase clickers, make sure you use them well – plan for what happens if a student forgets his/her clicker

Taking attendance is not the best use of clickers.You might include attendance as a goal, but it is best to use a good question to achieve the same result.

The Blackboard building block: • Clickers need to be enabled by the instructor in Blackboard “Course Tools” in the Control Panel • In order to integrate clicker responses in the grade book, every instructor/administrator who will upload clicker sessions needs to generate a SSO (single sign-on) Security Key in the i>clicker tools. • One the i>clicker tools are enabled for the course, the students will see a place to register a clicker in their Tools menu. • The “Instructor Report” shows how many students have registered clickers, and allows you to remind those who have not registered to do so.

Setting up the clickers (basic): • Install the software for your OS • Open the interface for i>clicker(.exe)

Setting up the clickers (basic): • Click on the Settings button • Create a new course • Set up the instructor remote

Setting up the clickers (advanced Bb integration): • Select your LMS and version (8 and above) in the i>clicker panel • Go to the Blackboard Help> How To>Tools> iclicker section and download the integration zip files for your OS. • Save the “Instructor Guide” in a convenient place • Copy the zipped integration files (4 for a PC, 3 for a Mac) into the Resources folder of your copy of the i>clicker software.

Setting up the clickers 2 (advanced Bb integration): • Open i>grader • Select your course name in i>grader • Select the right course name from the list of all your Blackboard courses • “Sync” or import your course gradebook with the i>grader software • Import your roster • Red names means the students have not registered their clickers

Now for a quiz. • Turn your clickers ON • Wait for the polling to begin • Confirm that your vote was received by a green light on your clicker • (notice the braille markings)

Test question: • How many answer buttons does your clicker have? • A. 1 • B. 2 • C. 3 • D. 4 • E. 5

In which country lies Mount Everest? • A. Pakistan • B. Bhutan • C. Cambodia • D. Nepal • E. Tibet Show answer

What is this pasta shape? • A. Conchigle • B. Farfalle • C. Fusili • D. Penne • E. Rigatoni Show answer

What is this pasta shape? • A. Penne • B. Rigatoni • C. Taglietelli • D. Fusilli • E. Ziti Show answer

What is this pasta shape? • A. Conchigle • B. Lasagne • C. Rigatoni • D. Strozzapreti • E. Tortellone Show answer

Who was the only president not to live in the White House? • A. James Monroe • B. Andrew Johnson • C. James Buchanan • D. George Washington • E. James K. Polk Show answer

Clickers: What are they? How can I use them?