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Introduction

i>Clicker is a third party program used by many to poll their classes during lecture. Main program support is provided by the i>Clicker company. ITS provides access to the necessary instructor hardware and the base stations in the classrooms. ITS also coordinates the integration of the tool with our LMS, UVaCollab.

Before the Semester

  1. Order Devices: Many faculty at UVa incorporating clickers in their courses use iClicker 2. Faculty should include the appropriate ISBN (1429280476) in their book order. It's best to order iclicker2 devices separately (rather than in a textbook bundle) since students may already own the device. A student can use the same device in multiple classes.
  2. Verify your Classroom has a Base Station: Determine whether a base station has already been installed in the classroom where you'll be teaching by either looking for one in your classroom or contacting a classroom support group administrator by mailing cradmin@virginia.edu. If a base has not yet been installed, they will have one installed for you. 
  3. Obtain an Instructor Kit: If you do not have an instructor kit you can email cradmin@virginia.edu to arrange to pick up one from our support office. The kit includes an instructor remote and a test base station for your use. Note: Current best practice is to keep your program data in an iClicker folder that you set up on your Home Directory (or on your own laptop). After each class, you'll sync those data with the iClicker server. Although there are other ways to keep your data, these instructions assume that you are using your Home Directory.
  4. Using Collab: You will want to integrate iClicker into your UVaCollab course site to enable you to take daily roll-call using the clicker software and use the class members' responses as part of their class participation, etc... If you integrate iClicker into UVaCollab, you can easily grade assignments and import these data into your gradebook. For the most current copies of the needed software and notification of changes it is recommended that you join the Clickers Site in UVaCollab. The site is open to all  (MyWorkspace:Membership:Joinable).

Before Your First Class

Obtain the Software

The latest version of the i>Clicker software combined with the files that make collab integration possible can be found on the Clicker site on UVaCollab. Once you have downloaded the appropriate zipped file, expand the files into a folder on your Home Directory or directly to your laptop if you don't use the classroom computer for teaching.  

  1. Download the appropriate ZIP file for either Windows or MacOS
  2. To set up a folder on your Home Directory
    • Navigate to http://its.virginia.edu/homedir/utilities.htm
    • Follow the steps detailed there to access your Home Directory,
    • Create a new folder for iClicker. The file version change frequently, so it is a good practice to download a new set of files each semester. You can use a naming convention similar to 2015-fall-iclicker, 2014-fall-iclicker, etc., to keep the files separate.
    • Unzip the downloaded files to this directory. 

Install the iClicker Tool

  1. In the collab site for your course, install the iClicker Tool. This will allow your students to register their devices for your class.
    • Site Info
    • Edit Tools
    • Check the box for iClicker
    • Save
  2. Instruct your students to register their iClicker device:
    • In your UVaCollab course site
    • Select i>clicker from the tools
    • Enter your ID number from your iClicker into the text window
    • Click register

Verify your Settings

The software ZIP file contains all of the necessary files you need. Please check to make sure the software is set up for use with our Sakai LMS (UVaCollab)

  1. Start iClicker.
  2. Select the New button to create a new course. Enter your course information and save
  3. Choose your course
  4. Select My Settings | CMS/Registration Tab | Sakai
  5. Click Set for Course

iClicker provides videos explaining these requirements.  Part 1: Setting Up i>clciker Integrate, Step 1 has been done for you.

http://support.iclicker.com/customer/portal/articles/1567685-i%3Eclicker-integrate-sakai-v7- provides instructions for

    • Setting Up i>Clicker Ingrate
    • Synchronizing your Roster
    • Uploading i>clicker Polling Data into your LMS (UVaCollab)

Using iClicker

  1. Support for the actual use of the software is provided by the iClicker company and its representatives. ITS acts as a liaison between UVa and iClicker to coordinate the integration with UVaCollab and to provide hardware support for the rooms. The web site is http://support.iclicker.com/.
  2. If you are using the provided computer, the base station will be connected to this computer for you.
  3. If you are using your laptop, you should plan on bringing your personal base station to class to use.
  4. iClicker provides a comprehensive Instructor Checklist for you at their site.
  5. To ask a question, navigate to your Home Directory to start the program. It runs directly from your Home Directory. No files are stored on the room computer.
  6. http://support.iclicker.com/#ic7-instructorsInClass provides detailed instructions for using the software.

 

For More Information

    1. Join the Clickers UVaCollab site: There is an active community of faculty using clickers. They have a joinable UVaCollab site called Clickers. (If you need help joining the UVaCollab site, write to collab-support@virginia.edu for assistance. This site is maintained by the ITS Classroom Support staff. 

    2. Read the Documentation: The instructor's guide provides instructions for preparing for class (changing your settings, registering students, creating questions), using iClicker in the classroom, and how to grade and view results. More user guides can be found at http://support.iclicker.com/.

    3. Attend a Webinar: iClicker provides complementary training webinars. You can register for live sessions or view recorded sessions fro the support web page.

    4. Ask your peers. Many faculty use the iclicker software in their classes. Ask around. Help may be very near.

 

 

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