Using iClicker at UMBA guide for faculty at UMass Boston using iClicker

Overview:

• Hardware: plug and play• Launching and using the software

• Simple student roster & registration

• iGrader and reports• Using iClicker in class• Questions

What is iClicker?

iClickers are easy-to-use hand-held remote devices with buttons that students press to respond to questions posed by their instructors.

iClickers are also sometimes referred to as classroom response systems or personal response systems.

The iClicker software transmits the student responses to a receiver attached to the instructor’s computer.

Display a graphical distribution of the results on the classroom screen.

For more information about the iClicker System, go to http://www.umb.edu/it/services_detail/iclickers_at_umass_bos

ton/ http://www.iclicker.com/

What you need to use iClicker

Computer Projector iClicker base/receiver Flash drive with iClicker software Instructor remote (optional) A classroom of students with iClicker

remotes

Hardware Hookup (instructor kit):

No installation: plug ‘n play

✔ Plug receiver/base into USB port✔ Plug flash drive into base✔ Use with any computer

What you’ll see

As you poll the class the results appear on the LCD screen of the base/receiver

What students see

Status light is green when students have voted

successfully and the vote has been recorded.

Students can vote as many times as they want while polling is open. The last vote is recorded into iGrader.

Status light is red when student tries to vote after

polling is stopped. This lets the student know the vote has not been recorded.

Software set up:

Let’s look at my computer✔ Locate your flash drive via “My computer.” (or

download from iclicker.com)✔ Open “iclicker win” or “iclicker mac” from

flash drive (Mac or PC) ✔ Click on iclicker.exe✔ Click Start Session and start polling!

Using iClicker

✔ Click on iClicker.exe✔ Click Start Session✔ A floating menu bar appears

How iClicker works in the classroom:

To start polling Start iClicker software Click Start button on

floating bar (manual or count down or up).

To stop polling: Click Stop button.

Display graph Click Display button.

Using the software in class

iClicker is Presentation NeutralThe iClicker toolbar floats above and works with

any application (PowerPoint, Word, Web site, Adobe, video footage, etc)

Does not require instructor to re-author lectures from within the clicker software

Use your pre-existing lecture materials

Importing your Roster and Student Registration

1. Populate your iClicker roster into the “Roster.txt” file in the iclicker win/mac folder in the following format:Last name, First name, student ID (UMS number)Example: Wallace, Victoria, 00123456

2. Have your students register their iClickers via “Roll Call” (for small classes) or online at www.iclicker.com

3. If your students register online, hit the “Synchronize Student Web Registrations” button in iGrader a week or two after your first class

Registering with iClicker “Tying” your students to their remotes

Instructor decides when -- if ever -- to tie the students to their clickers:

Two ways:1) Online – recommended

or 2) in-class – via “roll call” for small classes

NEVER any registration/activation fees

What students see online when they register at iclicker.com:

Identify period represented by this painting.

A. RococoB. FuturismC. Impressionis

mD. SurrealismE. Romanticism

The Water Lily Pond by Claude Monet

Identify period represented by this painting.

Answer is:C. Impressionisma movement in art characterized by visible brush strokes, ordinary subject matters, and an emphasis on light and its changing qualities; a style that used imagery and symbolism.Toulouse-Lautrec’s Au Moulin

Rouge

Asking and writing good clicker questions:

Within your presentation, compose questions:

1) Start with clicker questions publishers provide

2) Ask True/False, Agree/Disagree (A/B)3) Ask multiple choice, up to 5 options4) Ask questions that promote discussion and

peer instruction5) Pick a student (or several) and ask her to

explain her answer 6) Sometimes, ask questions that are similar

to what will be on tests7) Tell students consequences of cheating

Using the instructor remote

A. Start/Stop pollingB. Show/Hide graphC. Advance PowerPoint

slideD. Back up PowerPoint

slideE. Cycle through correct

answer on graph

Settings & Preferences

GeneralRegistration/ExportQuestions/PollingScores

Settings & Preferences

Start iClicker by clicking on iClicker icon.

From Choose your course Select Add course or select a course you have already created.

Click Choose.

Settings and Preferences

Click Your Settings and Preferences

General tab

Enter Instructor Remote ID number (located on back of remote)

Option to display toolbar small or large.

Option to change Frequency code( if within range of other iClicker receiver.)

Satellite Polling is not available.

Registration and Support Click Registration and

Support. Specify roster

information to be displayed for roll call.

Web Registration is for campus hosted system - No Security Code Needed

Course Management System option. If using Blackboard select Vista (formerly WebCT Vista)

Polling Session

Click Polling Session tab

Polling timerCounts up by default or Count down from time selected

Response grid displays individual student responses

Results ChartColor or Histogram

Scoring

Set Participation Points Set points for

responding to questions

Select requirement for receiving points

Performance Points Set points for correct

answers given Set limit for points

received

Name the artist who painted this picture.

A. Henri MatisseB. Auguste RodinC. Paul CezanneD. Eduard ManetE. Pablo Picasso

Three Musicians

The chart below demonstrates:

A. Unemployment rates do not impact holiday salesB. Holiday spending is up when unemployment

rates are highC. Holiday spending is down when unemployment

rates are high.

Viewing and Managing data in iGrader Check how each student voted• Grade each student and assign

participation and/or performance points

• Easily see which questions you asked in your presentation -- iClicker takes a screen shot of each

• View the overall data, and decide what to do with it

iGrader Reports – HTML and CSV files: All of your data is automatically saved

iGrader Reports – CSV / Excel fileYou can export either individual sessions or

entire term’s session data into an easy-to-use .csv file;

Information for Students

Customizable PowerPoint presentation, handout, for students, and syllabus attachments available at iClicker website:Getting Started/ First Day of Class Materials http://iclicker.com/dnn/Support/UserGuides/tabid/177/Default.aspx

Software & User Guides

iClicker 5.4 SoftwareWindowsMacintosh

Instructor User Guide for iClicker 5.4 WindowsMacintosh

Integration with Blackboard

Instructor Blackboard Import/Export User Guidehttp://www.iclicker.com/download/WebCTVista_Instructor_Guide.pdf

Distribution

Contact bookstore to order iClickers for students. iClickers are sold at UMass bookstore. Students can buy used iClickers at a discounted rate.

“Textbook” model (i.e., ordering and returns just like textbooks)

One year warranty iClicker bases will be available in several

of the TEC2 classrooms in Spring 2010.

Technical Support

To borrow an iClicker base or for technical support contact:Media Services at 617-287-5960.