Return to i>clicker for instructors
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General
What is a clicker?
“Clickers” are handheld devices used as part of an Audience Response System, or ARS. These systems allow an instructor or speaker to pose questions to the audience and receive responses in real time from the participants via radio frequency. In some cases, users also have the option to use a mobile device such as a laptop or smart phone.
Originally used with test audiences for movies and commercials, Audience Response Systems were eventually adopted by the business world to augment consultations and presentations. ARS are now commonly used in academia as a way to increase and improve instructor-student interaction in class, to conduct quizzes, and to check participation and attendance.
How do I get started with i>clicker?
Contact LSA ISS and request a consultation. We will introduce you to the system, answer your questions, and help you decide whether i>clicker is the right choice for your course. We offer workshops throughout the year. If you decide to adopt i>clicker for your course, fill out the request form, and we will be ready to support you. In addition to providing valuable statistics regarding i>clicker usage, the request form lets us know how many clicker remotes to make available in inventory.
I use a PC/Mac, will i>clicker still work?
i>clicker works on both the Mac and PC platforms.
I use a PC in the classroom, but a Mac in my office/at home. Can I poll using a PC and grade using a Mac?
Yes. To do so, follow these steps:
1. Collect the data as you normally do in the classroom.
2. Later, on your Mac, open your flash drive → iclicker Win → Classes
3. Copy the class folder(s) you wish to grade on your Mac.
4. Now, go to your flash drive→ iclicker Mac → Classes and paste the folder(s) there.
5. Open i>clicker on your Mac and select your class.
6. Open Your Settings and Preferences.
7. Select the Registration/Export tab and make sure that Sakai is selected at the bottom.
8. Click Set For Course and quit i>clicker.
9. You must do this step, even if Sakai is already selected.
10. You may now open i>grader and access your class data.
When you are finished using i>grader on your Mac, go through the following steps:
1. Go to iclicker Mac → Classes and copy the folder(s).
2. Go back to iclicker Win → Classes and paste the folder(s).
You will need to go through these steps each time you wish to grade on your Mac.
How do my students get i>clicker, and how much do they cost?
Students may acquire a clicker through Computer Showcase. The cost of a new i>clicker device is $33 (tax included). The Computer Showcase also offers a buyback option. Students will receive $15 cash, limit one return per person. The device must be working and in good condition. The resale price for a used, refurbished i>clicker is $23 (tax included).
If web>clicker is permitted in your class, students may purchase a subscription for their WiFi enabled devices that interacts with the i>clicker system in the same was a clicker device. web>clicker subscriptions can be purchased from i>clicker.
Will i>clicker be installed in every classroom?
i>clicker does not require installation, but rather runs from an executable file contained in a folder with course information—for this reason, the software does not need to be installed on classroom computers. Most instructors choose to run the software from a flash drive, but it can also be stores on your IFS space or a laptop.
The receiver unit, which is required to run a presentation, will be permanently housed in certain classrooms. Check the ISS classroom database to find out if a receiver is installed in the classroom where you will be teaching. If an i>clicker receiver is not already installed in your classroom, please contact us. If possible, we will install a receiver in the room; if the receiver cannot be accommodated, we will check one out to you for the semester.
My clicker remote ID is scratched off and is not readable; is there anyway to recover it?
On some i>clicker remotes, a copy of the remote ID is printed inside of the battery compartment. If a copy of the remote ID is not printed there, you can create a new i>grader course and click in to a question. When you open i>grader, your remote ID will be displayed.
You can also stop by our office, G333 Mason Hall.
My clicker remote turns off when I press a button and will not turn on.
A majority of problems with the i>clicker remote can be resolved by changing all three of its batteries with fresh, brand-name batteries. The third battery, which is further inside the remote, often goes unnoticed—be sure to change all three batteries.
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i>clicker
How do I set up an i>clicker course?
i>clicker is very user friendly, and, especially if you already have content generated for use with Qwizdom or another ARS, you should be able to adapt it for i>clicker with little difficulty. Documentation is available to help you get started.
Where can I get the software?
ISS will provide a flash drive with both the PC and Mac versions of i>clicker. Just email us and let us know you need an i>clicker flash drive. Alternately, instructors can download the software at no charge. It is important that the software is not downloaded from i>clicker's website. The files provided here and on the flash drives have been configured for use with CTools.
I’m receiving more responses than there are students in my class—what is the problem?
Occasionally, instructors will receive responses from i>clicker sessions that are taking place in adjacent classrooms. Open the Settings and Preferences window in i>clicker. Under Frequency Code, select a new combination of letters (e.g., AB, CE, DA, etc.) and save the settings and begin your i>clicker session. Each remote will need to be changed to the new frequency, including the instructor remote. To do so, press and hold On/Off button until power light flashes. Then, enter the 2-key frequency code that you chose in the Settings and Preferences menu. These instructions can also be found on the back of any i>clicker remote. Additional information on i>clicker frequencies can be found on page 29 of the i>clicker User's Guide.
Do I need to do anything special to my presentation to make it work with i>clicker?
No. i>clicker is a stand-alone application and is not designed to run exclusively with any particular application. The polling interface will "float" above anything displayed on your computer, so you can ask questions using Powerpoint, Keynote, websites, media players, or specialized applications like SPSS. However, i>clicker cannot be displayed above of full-screen Open Office windows; for this reason, Open Office users will need to rely on the receiver display for voting information during class.
When using Keynote, the i>clicker toolbar disappears. How do I fix this?
In Keynote's Slideshow Preferences, there is an option labeled "Allow Expose, Dashboard, and others to use the screen." With this option selected, the toolbar should appear on the screen.
What do I need to bring with me to class?
Instructors who attend an ISS workshop will be issued blue instructor remotes. The instructor will need to have access to their i>clicker software folder, which can be stored on a flash drive, IFS space, or laptop. i>clicker host units will be housed in most LSA classrooms with a capacity above 70; availability of host units can be tracked through the ISS classroom database. If a host unit is not stored in the classroom or lab, the instructor will need to carry it with her to class.
How do my students register their clickers?
Students must register their i>clicker remotes in CTools—not on iclicker.com. Students only needs to register their remotes once. A student who has not yet registered may still participate in in-class polling as collected data can be retroactively synced with the student's ID.
I want my students to be able to use their laptops or mobile devices instead of clickers—is this possible?
Yes. Students have the ability to purchase web>clicker subscriptions that will allow them to use a laptop or other mobile device (such as an iPhone) in place of a regular clicker. Additionally, there is also an app for the iPhone/iPod touch. On the instructor's end, the data will not appear any differently; however, you will have to enable web>clicker access within the Settings and Preferences menu for your i>clicker course. There is also documentation available to help guide you through the process, see: How to Enable Web>Clicker in Your Course and Student Quick-Guide to Using Web>Clicker.
I no longer allow web>clicker in my course. How do I remove myself from the instructor list?
There are two ways to disable web>clicker as an instructor:
- If you still have the software that you used to activate web>clicker in the first place, just launch i>clicker, select the course (Choose), go into My Settings > web>clicker/SPS Setup, UNCHECK the "allow web>clickers…" box, and Submit.
- If you do NOT have the software or have already deleted the class, you must choose ANY course in i>clicker, enter the My Settings > web>clicker/SPS setup screen, ACTIVATE your current course using the SAME email address & password combination that you previously used with your earlier course [that's the tricky part if you tend to use different passwords all the time], and Submit. THEN re-enter the web>clicker/SPS Setup screen, click the EDIT button, and check the courses you wish to disable… (assuming you would check ALL). Once you do THAT, click "Cancel" on the main web>clicker/SPS setup screen lest you re-enable that course for web>clicker.
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i>grader
How do I sync my roster?
Sync your roster by following these steps:
1. Open i>grader.
2. Click the Sync... button in the bottom-right corner of the window.
3. At the prompt, click Yes.
4. Wait for the CMS Integrate Wizard to open.
5. Log in with your CTools user name and password.
6. Select your course from the drop-down menu
7. Click Import Student Roster from CMS.
8. Wait for the synchronization to complete. Restart i>grader.
* Students who are registered for your course and who have registered their remotes on CTools will now appear in i>grader.
My students are not seeing their grades on CTools, how do I fix that?
or
My students’ names are not appearing in i>grader.
1. Sync your roster.
2. Make sure that your students have registered their remotes on CTools—not i>clicker.com. You should also add the i>clicker tool to your CTools site. Once they have registered their clicker on CTools, sync your roster.
3. Approve the grades in CTools gradebook.
Still having trouble syncing? Try this:
1. Select Sakai: Open the Settings and Preferences menu for your i>clicker course. Under the Registration/Export tab, make sure that Sakai is selected as your course management system (CMS).
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i>clicker's Settings and Preferences Menu
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Verify that you've selected Sakai in i>grader
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2. Check Internet connection: Both i>grader and web>clicker require an internet connection. Open a web browser (Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc.) and ensure that the internet is working properly. If you are on campus, it is possible that you are connected to the UM Wireless Network but have not logged in. Log in and try again.
Can CTools display a zero instead of a dash mark when a student in absent?
There is a relatively easy way for you to change the no-scores to zero-scores in Excel. This requires you to manually modify the "uploadfile.csv" file before it is imported into Sakai.
1. First, in i>grader, export your session data. Next, open "uploadfile.csv," which is located in your class folder. Once in Excel, click Edit and select Replace.
2. Leave the first box ("Find what") blank. Fill in the 2nd box ("Replace with") with "0." Click Replace All, then OK, and close the Replace window. Now, all of your empty scores are filled with 0's.
3. Save the file.
4. Reopen i>clicker and continue the upload process. All of the scores in Gradebook should now have a 0 listed instead of a dash.
How much control will I have over point allocations for each question?
i>clicker allows the instructor to allocate points for any response as well as a correct response and to set an arbitrary limit on total points earned. Points may also be assigned for participation based on the student answering one, some, or all questions. Anonymous polling is also possible.
Can I view the raw polling data?
To view the raw polling data, which includes more in-depth information about your polling session than is provided in i>grader, follow these instructions:
1. Open your flash drive. Then, iclicker (Win/Mac) → Classes → (Your Class)
2. Open the SessionData folder.
Warning: Do not modify the files in the SessionData folder in any way. Make a copy of the session(s) you want to view, and place them in another location.
3. After you have made a copy of the file and moved the copy out of the SessionData folder, you can open the file and make any edits you need to.
Note: the file naming convention for the raw data is LYEARMONTHDAYTIME.csv. For example, a session that started at 2PM on October 14th, 2011 would be called L1110141400.csv.
When I click Synchronize Web Registrations, I am not prompted to log in.
When you press Synchronize Web Registrations in i>grader, the CMS Integrate Wizard should open and prompt you to log in. If it does not open, you may need a new copy of the software.
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Help Guides
Feel free to download these guides if you would like a PDF copy of the information found on this page.
Quick-Start Guides to i>clicker
These guides can also be found on the i>clicker thumbdrives created by ISS.
Full Length Manuals
Still having trouble?
Contact us.
issinstruction@umich.edu
(734) 615-0099
G333 Mason Hall
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