Study Tips & Tools

Student Response System

Using your i>clicker

What is a clicker and why are we using it?

A clicker is a small, hand-held remote unit that communicates in a "student response system" in our classroom. I will ask occasional questions during class and you'll use your clicker to respond to those questions. There are detailed instructions for using and registering your remote (the clicker) below.

I originally started using the clickers because they have been shown to increase student engagement in class and improve learning. After using them for several years, I've found that they have many advantages:

• Clickers allow EVERYONE to participate in class discussions. Not just a few eager students. If you're not the loudest student, you still get an equal voice!
  
  
• Clickers allow you to make mistakes without penalty. For example, I often ask some of the "tricky" questions I plan to ask you on a test later. By trying and failing, then working out the correct answer as a group, you'll be better prepared for your test.
  
  
• I can see how much the class already knows about a topic and therefore I can tailor the presentation to what the class actually needs—not what I think you need.
  
  
• I can use clicker questions to identify and diagnose problems in understanding.
  
  
• Clicker questions give us a moment to pause and reflect on what we've just discussed—a proven method to consolidate learning and improve retention.
  
  
• Student find that using clickers is fun, making learning more enjoyable.
  
  
• It's an easy way for me to accurately assess your level of attendance and active participation in our course. By automatically recording your clicker use, I won't make mistakes in assigning your participation points.

 

Use of the i>clicker

Press the power button.

The power button is the lowest button. It is marked ON/OFF.

The blue LED at the top of the unit, marked POWER, will light up when the power is on.

The power shuts off automatically after 90 minutes of inactivity, to save battery life.  When this happens, simply hit the power button at the bottom to restart it.

If the blue LED flashes, then turn the unit off, then back on again, until the blue LED remains steadily lit.

Select your response.

Press the A, B, C, D, or E button to send your response to the instructor's receiver.

Check the status light to make sure that your response was received.

You do NOT need to "point" your i>clicker unit at the instructor's receiver, like you would a TV remote.

You may change your response to a different one—until the time deadline is reached. Make sure the green LED flashes when you select a new response.

 

Registering your i>clicker

You have to register your unit before I can give you extra credit points.

You want to register on the web, so go to http://www.iclicker.com/support/registeryourclicker/

There, you'll see several form fields on the i>clicker registration page, more or less like this:

1. Make sure you type your first name and last name separately, and EXACTLY as they appear in the Moodle gradebook roster.  If you don't, I may not be able to import your information!

2. For "Student ID" type in your entire SCC Cougar email address (use the ENTIRE email address, for example, "kp123456@my.stchas.edu"). Do NOT use your password here!

3. For "Clicker ID" type in the code on the back of your i>clicker unit. The registration site tells you how to find it if it hard to read or missing on your unit.

4. Type in the code (verification word) giving in the image that appears in the form.  It's a security thing; the form won't work unless you do this.

5. Click "Enter"

That's it!  I'll download your registration information directly into my course from the i>clicker website.

Once your unit is registered at the beginning of the course, you do not have to register it again! (until your next course, that is)

Having trouble with online clicker registration? If you are getting a "time out" error when trying to register your clicker, here's the solution: Use Firefox or Internet Explorer as your browser if possible.  Definitely avoid using the Safari browser.  (you can use campus computers if needed)   Go directly to iclicker.com/support/registeryourclicker/  DO NOT use a link from inside Moodle.  Some of you are viewing Lion Den pages from within a frame in Moodle and using a link to i>Clicker--DO NOT do that.  Instead open a new browser window (or tab) and type in the URL.  Or go to Lion Den directly (not from Moodle) then click the link from Lion Den. If you've already gotten the error on your computer, you'll have to clear your cache and cookies and do it again (but this time not from inside Moodle).  Depending on your browser, you can clear the cache/cookies by using Tools, Options, Privacy, Clear Private Data . . . or simply closing out all browser windows and restarting your browser.  If none of this works, or you are having a hard time understanding these solutions, then call i>Clicker support at 1.866.209.5698 from 8-4 (central time) Monday-Friday and they will register you by phone.  It only takes a couple of minutes.

 

Maintaining your i>clicker

Replace the battery when needed

The i>clicker battery lasts about 200 hours and the unit shuts off automatically when you stop using it, so you won't have to change batteries often.

Change your batteries when the blue power LED does not light or when the low battery LED lights.

To change the batteries, flip your i>clicker unit over and find the battery cover on the lower part of the rounded ridge on the back side of the unit.

Put the tip of a small key (or use a small paperclip) into the slot next to the battery cover and push the plastic lock tab to release the battery cover.  Pull the battery cover out toward the side of the unit after the lock tab has been released.

Remove the first battery and the others will slide down so they also can be removed. There are THREE batteries in there! The last one often remains in there after the first two fall out . . . just tap the clicker and the third one will drop out easily. If you only replace two (of three) batteries, then your clicker may not work properly.

Place a fresh AAA battery into the battery chamber, positive terminal toward the top of the unit. Then tilt the unit so the battery slides up toward the top of the unit, leaving room to put two more fresh batteries into the chamber.

Replace the cover, sliding it toward the middle of the unit, making sure the tabs fit back into place to hold the batteries securely.

Use triple A (AAA) batteries. If you use high-power batteries made "for electronic devices" they will last even longer than typical AAA batteries. For example, try Energizer L92BP4 Lithium AAA Battery

Some people have had problems using DURACELL brand batteries. Other brands seem to have no problems.

Don't lose your unit!

The i>clicker unit is your responsibility.  It is required for class participation*.  If you lose it, you have to replace it as soon as possible.

Newly purchased replacement units must be registered in the system before they can be used.  See me BEFORE class to register your unit.

What if the green status LED will not flash?

Your green status LED must flash for a response to register with the system.

Make sure your unit is on and the batteries are OK.
If the blue power LED is on and steady, then your batteries are OK.

You may have accidentally changed frequencies. To correct this, hold down the on/off switch until the blue power LED begins flashing. Then enter AA (our correct frequency code) and it will stop flashing. Your unit should now work correctly. 

Don't panic!

If you experience problems with i>clicker, you'll have a first-hand experience of the phenomenon we physiologists call "the stress response."   Your heart rate increases, you sweat profusely, your breathing gets deeper and more rapid, you are "revved up."  This is great if you are being stalked by a lion  -but this doesn't help much in class.  So calm down and ask for help. 

Use of a clicker is required

It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
to contact help and resolve issues
with the student response system and its functions
—so give yourself enough time to do that.

* Clicker data is also used as a way for the instructor to verify attendance and award participation points. Therefore, use of the clicker is required so that I have a way to monitor attendance and award your points.  If you don't have your clicker, then in the course records it will appear that you did not attend and you will not receive participation points. 

This may not SEEM fair to some, but it's like a carpenter arriving at a job site without a hammer or other necessary tools.  The clicker is a vital tool for this job . . . and you are not really "on the job" without it!

Clicker points and Participation Points

BIO 240 and BIO 241

In A&P lecture, your clicker points are not added directly to the course Total Points. Instead, the clicker points are used to determine your Participation Points according to this plan:

You will receive 10 "clicker points" per week of participation (5 pts for each class, if your section meets twice per week). At certain points in the semester, I will post your total "clicker points" so far.  This is not a score of the number correct; they are points given for just using the clicker in class.

After the last day of classes, I will calculate your Participation Points based on how many clicker points you have. The Participation Points are then added to your course Total Points. Here's the conversion table:

Clicker Points	Participation Points
125 or more	100
110 - 124	80
100 - 109	60
90 - 99	40
You get 10 clicker points per week.

BIO 242

In the Supplement course, you receive 15 clicker points for each session you use the clicker. These are added directly to your total course points, as described in the syllabus. These points are shown in Moodle, but may not be current because they are not automatically loaded . . . you have to wait until I upload them manually to Moodle.