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Using iClickers Effectively

iclicker

What is all the buzz about iClickers? Just exactly what are they? Why should a professor use them?

The iClicker is an audience response system similar to the technology used on the TV program “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire”. Students use a remote control ‘clicker’ to send a response to the teacher’s receiver. The teacher can ask questions in class and the students’ responses can be viewed immediately. Or, a teacher can give a quiz where students answer using an iClicker and the scores are captured and later uploaded into Blackboard.

Suggestions on Using iClickers in The Classroom

  • Feedback. Intersperse questions throughout a lecture to test student understanding of the material covered in class. Lectures can then be adjusted according to the results of the questions. If the majority of students’ understanding was correct, the lecture can continue. If the understanding was incorrect, further explanation is then provided.
  • Discussion. Create challenging questions to test conceptual understanding of the lecture’s content. Students can be divided into small groups (or paired with a neighbor) to discuss the question and then answer the question. Groups can then be asked to provide their logic and reasoning for their answer.
  • Critical thinking skills. By creating well-crafted questions, students are provided with an opportunity to develop critical thinking skills and to analyze and synthesize information. Random students could be asked to explain their answer to the class.
  • Predictions. Provide students with case studies or various scenarios where they must predict an outcome. After students respond to the question, discuss the results.
  • Surveys and polls. Students may be hesitant to truthfully answer survey or poll question by the show of hands. iClickers provide anonymity in these types of situations allowing a safe environment for students to voice their opinions and feelings.
  • Quizzes. Short in-class quizzes can be given and scores imported into grading spreadsheets or into Blackboard. This saves time because the teacher does not have to grade the quiz. iClickers can also be used to take attendance.

How Professors Are Using iClickers

Chyleen A. Arbon, Marriott School
“I use iClickers to generate an open class discussion allowing the students to answer questions and express feelings or positions anonymously. We have found that this removes many of the barriers that dampen the honest expression of opinions.”

Shauna Standing, Marriott School
“I have used iClickers in my MCom 320 class. I have used it mainly for quizzes. The students choose their answer with iClicker, I tell them the correct answer, and we review why the incorrect answers are incorrect. I find reviewing the questions immediately after the students have answered them is helpful. The students like having immediate feedback. I have also used iClickers when reviewing information. Using iClickers to review information is similar to using them for a quiz except that the students aren’t graded on the review.”

Ron Bartholomew, Religion
“I only use them to take roll. (I know they have many other fabulous uses). Paper rolls got lost and do not hold students as accountable for attendance. (If students miss a class, they could mark themselves present the next time they returned and rolls circulated in class).”

Concerns about Using iClickers

Using iClickers does have some rough edges. Here are some concerns that faculty have encountered:

  • Students forget to bring them to class.
  • Students register them online but online registration isn’t consistent and professors end up registering many of the iClickers manually.
  • There is no way to go back and change things that were/were not recorded in iGrader.
  • Upper-classmen complain about cost when it is used in only one of their courses.
  • Faculty who are less skilled with technology struggle with remembering how to use the software and how to upload grades into Blackboard.

We recommend that you include information in your syllabus on how you will address those iClicker issues that impact your class.

iClickers should not be considered a panacea for problems surrounding student learning. They are merely tools. Throwing random questions out to a class doesn’t necessarily create improvements. However, iClicker pedagogy can make a difference because it is a shift in teaching methods and can significantly change the way you and your students interact.

Try it. You might like it.

Resources

Literature Review

For questions and/or training, call 422-8008 or visit the CTL Walk-In Center in 3704 HBLL.