Classroom Response Systems
iClickers
CRITICAL UPDATE FOR THE ICLICKER COMMUNITY:Effective January 2024, iClicker will no longer support iClicker Classic. Only iClicker Cloud will be supported moving forward. For those still using iClicker Classic, we hightly recommend you begin a transition plan to iClicker Cloud which may involve scheduling training and exporting grades from the iClicker gradebook. This does not mean the software will stop working immediately. The software developers simply abandon the application and cease issuing software updates which, over time, results in malfunction and failure. It’s been an excellent run. On that note, iClicker Classic training and support has reached end of life.
iClicker Cloud:
The College has standardized on and obtained a site license for iClicker Cloud that covers all students and employees. Faculty create iClicker Cloud instructor accounts, while students use the iClicker student web or mobile app. The iClicker handheld remotes work exactly like with iClicker Classic. Many colleagues report greater user satisfaction such as ease of use and convenience since the software has many more features. Finally, in the unlikely event that we should ever have to go back to remote teaching again (yes, that’s possible), faculty can immediately pivot to the remote polling option with no additional training or prep work since it is exactly the same software utitlized for in-person teaching and polling with iClicker handheld remotes.
To get started with iClicker, please contact Ben Harwood in LEDS.
What is iClicker?
An iClicker is a handheld remote that lets students select one answer from up to 5 different buttons in response to a multiple choice question. Paired with visual media such as a Power Point slide, faculty launch a poll and allow time for students to vote for their best response.
How do I get started?
Clicker loaner kits consist of handheld clicker remotes, a base station, and a USB cable and are available for short-term or semester loan from Media Services. IT has enough clickers to accommodate most short-term faculty needs. For faculty interested in the semester-loan option, contact LEDs prior to the start of the semester so that an order can be placed with the iClicker vendor. At the end of the semester, faculty collect the clickers from students and return the clicker loaner kit. If a clicker is lost, the student will be charged $50 (or current clicker value, whichever is larger) to her/his bursar account. Broken clickers are replaced at no cost.
What if students lose or do not return the iClicker?
Faculty using clickers in their course are encouraged to provide students with the following information in the syllabus: iClickers will be used in this class. As Skidmore College believes in providing students with the best pedagogical practices possible, clickers are made available to students at no student cost. The instructor will lend a clicker, provided by IT, to the student at the start of the term. If a clicker breaks, a replacement will be provided at no cost. Lost clickers will be replaced, but will result in a charge to the student of $50 to his/her bursar account.
Quickly Assess Student Understanding And Take Attendance
Keep Students' Attention Focused During Lecture
Increase Interaction and Engagement with Course Content
Encourage collaborative learning and peer instruction
Hear from everyone especially more reserved and quiet students
To reserve iClickers, please send a request to mediaservices@skidmore.edu.
Poll Everywhere
Poll Everywhere recently changed its free higher education plan for classes by reducing it from 40 students to 25 students. Its pricing plan is subject to change at any moment making it possible that, mid-semester, you find yourself having to shell out funds to keep it working correctly. LEDS has been supporting iClicker for 15 years with widespread adoption among faculty who teach with student response systems. iClicker Cloud is also used for voting at Faculty Meeting since we have a site license that covers all faculty and students at no additonal cost. While a few faculty piloted Poll Everywhere years ago with a high degree of success as an emerging technology, LEDS cannot bear financial support for a second polling system that works virtually the same as iClicker Cloud.
Students use their devices they bring to class as clickers
Robust Moderation, Reporting and Grading Features
What Faculty Are Saying
iClickers are critical to engaging students with the course material in real time, particularly in large classes where some students might be reluctant to participate.”
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