Centre for Teaching and Learning

Start Using i>clicker

Accompanying Resources:

- U of A Quick Start Guide

- Instructor Checklist (from www.iclicker.com)

Using i>clickers in SMART Classrooms:

Before Class

• Pick up blue instructor remote at from bookstore (see the Setting Up i>clicker page.)
• Download the latest i>clicker software from the i>clicker website (http://www.iclicker.com) download page (the latest version is 5.5). Unzip the compressed file and save the 'iclicker Win' (or 'i>clicker Mac') folder on your local machine. It is a good idea to create an i>clicker folder for each term you teach in so that repeated courses will not have naming conflicts.
• For each course that you will be using i>clicker in, the software adds the course name you specify to the Classes folder. For example, if I was instructing BIOL 111 and ZOOL 240, my 'i>clicker' Classes folder would contain folders named 'BIOL111', and 'ZOOL240'.
• Copy your term's i>clicker folder onto a USB memory stick and bring it to class with you. To keep yourself organized, you can also copy whatever lecture files (Powerpoint etc) you will be using for each course to that course's folder or simply onto your USB key.

During Class

• Plug the USB drive into the classroom computer, copy the 'iclicker Win' folder to the classroom desktop, and and double click the iclicker.exe icon to open the software and select the correct course (or enter your course name, number, and section if you haven't already done so.). While it is not necessary to copy the software and your presentation files onto the classroom desktop, this can prevent any slowdown or connectivity problems with your USB key.
• From the Welcome Screen, choose 'Your Settings and Preferences' and set the following:
  - Enter the 2-letter frequency code for the lab you are in. This code will be posted at the front of the room or can be viewed at the AICT Classroom technologies website
  - Enter the serial number from the back of the Blue Instructor remote as the 'Designated Instructor Remote'.
• Click 'Start Session' and the i>clicker bar will float at the top right of the screen. You can re-position the bar by dragging and dropping it.
• The blue instructor remote controls are as follows:
  - A = Start / Stop polling
  - B = Show / Hide polling results graph
  - C = Next Powerpoint slide
  - D = Previous Powerpoint slide
  - E = Toggle to correct answer
• In the very first class, clearly explain to students why they will be using clickers (to improve engagement, interaction, and understanding of important topics and to find out what they really don’t understand). Ask questions that are challenging and focus on the most important concepts. (To learn more about designing effective i>clicker questions, see the Teaching with i>clicker page.)
• At the start of class, it is necessary to have a question running so that students can set the frequency. To set the frequency, press and hold power button until a blue light flashes, then enter the frequency code (BB or CC or BC etc). When the frequency has been correctly set on the clicker, a green light will flash and the blue light becomes constant. The students can now vote in class.

After Class

• If you copied the 'iclicker Win' folder to the local desktop, make sure you copy it back onto your USB key. If you forget to copy the folder back to your key, you will not be able to review any of the polling results afterwards.
• To viewthe polling results, double click the i>grader.exe application in your 'iclicker Win' folder and select your course.
• Select 'Run/Update HTML Reports' to view summaries of student polling results along with screen captures of questions.