iClicker/Personal Response Systems
What are iClickers?
iClickers, sometimes referred to as classroom response systems or personal response systems, allow students to provide instant feedback to instructors about their knowledge of material covered in the classroom. Students respond to multiple choice questions posed by their instructors with easy-to-use hand-held remote devices. The iClicker system collects all of the student responses and delivers them to the instructor via the iClicker receiver attached to the instructor’s computer. A graphical/statistical distribution of the voting results can then be shared with the students via the classroom projection screen to encourage further discussion.
iClickers for Peer Instruction
iClickers can be powerful peer instruction tools.
Peer instruction can be facilitated by creating discussion groups and allowing students to discuss solutions to problems or questions as a group prior to voting. Instructors can also allow students to vote individually first before working in groups. A class discussion follows where the instructor can display comparison charts of voting results, before and after peer discussion. Learn how an instructor uses peer instruction to help his students learn about probability concepts in his statistics class: Prediction Questions, Simulations, and Times for Telling in #Math216
What do I need to use iClickers?
- A classroom equipped with a computer and projector
- iClicker base/receiver*
- iClicker software. Faculty that use Blackboard Learn can download iClicker with Integrate Software. Faculty not using Blackboard can download the software at iClicker.com, available in Mac and PC format. Select Downloads from the Support menu.
- Instructor remote (optional)
- Students with iClicker remotes (purchased individually from the campus bookstore)*
*To borrow an iClicker base, contact Media Services at 617-287-5960. iClicker bases/receivers are also available in several of the TEC 2 classrooms.
*Instructors must order iClicker remotes for their students ahead of time from the campus bookstore where they may be purchased by students along with required texts for courses.
How do I use iClicker?
Attend a training session. View current schedules and sign up for an iClicker workshop:
Getting started with iClicker
An iClicker Instructor User Guide is available at iClicker.com. From Support, select Instructor Guides under User Guides.
Instructions for Linking Students to iClicker Remotes
Students may start voting with their iClicker remotes on the first day of class. iClicker keeps track of individual student voting data via the ClickerID printed on the back of each remote.
To record voting data for individual students for a class participation points or a grade, you must link student names/student ID information to their remotes. There are three different options for linking students to their remotes, dependent on class size and use of Blackboard.
Linking iClicker Remotes in Blackboard Learn
What is Blackboard Integrate?
Blackboard Integrate allows you to easily integrate your iClicker polling data with your Blackboard Learn courses. The software;
- allows students to register their iClickers within Blackboard Learn.
- allows you easily access the roster from your Blackboard Learn course.
- allows you easily upload your iClicker grades to Blackboard Learn
Download iClicker with Integrate Files
The following zip files contain the iClicker software along with special integrate files that allow you to use iClicker with Bb Learn at UMass Boston.
Use your UMB Email user name and password to access the iClicker with Integrate Software:
- iclicker Win v6.2.3 with Integration Files (for Windows)
- iclicker Mac v6.2.3 with Integration Files (for Macintosh)
Follow iClicker Integrate Manual
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Start with Step 2 of this manual:
iClicker Integrate for Blackboard Learn 9.1+ Manual
Watch iClicker Integrate Videos
- Setup iClicker Integrate (Start with Step 2)
- Use iClicker Integrate to Sync roster
- Use iClicker Integrate to Upload Grades into Blackboard Learn
Linking iClicker Remotes for Non Blackboard Courses
|
Non-Blackboard Options |
Online Registration Required? |
|---|---|
|
No |
|
*You will be able to link student remotes to student names from a roster provided the students have;
1.) used their remotes to vote at least once in the classroom and,
2.) have registered their iClicker remotes at iclicker.com, by clicking the Register Your Clicker button and filling out the form.
NOTE: It is recommended that you link student names to their remotes after the add/drop period has ended so that your roster will be up to date.
Viewing iClicker Voting Data and Editing Grading Settings
Getting help with iClicker
Questions about iClicker may be directed to Theresa Miller by email at theresa.miller@umb.edu or phone at at 617-287-5208.
