FAQ for i>Clicker
1.
What is i>Clicker?
i>Clicker is a response system through which students can interact within a lecture, contributing
responses that can be detected only by the receiving hardware. So, for example, you can
respond to a question posed in class without other students around you knowing your answer.
The handheld input device you will have allows responses to multiple choice or true/false type
questions.
2.
Why are we using i>Clicker?
There is much research to indicate that increasing student interaction within a lecture enhances
learning. The following links to numerous publications on the topic:
www.vanderbilt.edu/cft/resources/teaching_resources/technology/crs_biblio.htm. The aim is for
you to be fully engaged in the lectures. It is also hoped that the lecturers will be able to identify
problem areas and address them directly in the lectures, rather than either spending time on
material that most students fully understand or skimming through material many students do not
grasp.
3.
Where can I get one, and how much will it cost?
The handheld i>Clicker devices can be bought from the UBC bookstore. The present cost is:
$41.30 (plus tax) new / $31.00 used. You should be able to sell your clicker back to the
bookstore for 50% of what you paid. The clicker / a rebate coupon may be packaged with your
text for an additional discount.
4.
Can I share a clicker with a friend?
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5.
You and your friend should never be in the same class or section. If this is ever a
possibility, do not share your clicker.
If you are confident that this will never happen, then both you and your friend should
register the clicker at www.vista.ubc.ca as if it is your own.
Remember once you register, you cannot unregister a clicker.
Do I have to register my clicker if I already did for another course?
As long as you have registered your clicker for one course, you need not register it again for
other courses that you take within the same term.
6.
Will my i>Clicker responses count towards my grade?
Yes, i>Clicker responses will carry a weighting of 5% of the final grade. You will be evaluated
based on both attendance and performance (some credit will be given for attendance in a
lecture, even if no correct responses were submitted). In addition, should your final grade be
“borderline” (say, close to the pass/fail or B+/A- boundaries), special consideration will be given
to your i>Clicker answers.
7.
What if I miss a class?
There will be no marks awarded for the first three lectures, since it is expected that not all
students will have their i>Clicker devices in the first week. After that, marks will be recorded for
each student for each lecture. You will be allowed to be absent for up to three lectures beyond
the first three. That is to say, you may be absent from three lectures without penalty. A fourth
lecture missed, however, will score zero. There will be no claims for extenuating circumstances
considered for absence at lectures. Should you find that you are required to miss substantially
more than three lectures you should arrange to speak to your instructor.
8.
Can I attend any lecture section for clicker participation?
No, you should always attend the lectures for the section on which you are registered. If you
attend a different lecture section, your clicker inputs will not be recorded. Note that the
questions posed will not be the same in each section, and it is possible that the sections will not
be synchronised exactly.
Note: If you switch to another lecture section permanently (via the SSC) after Wed Jan 11,
you should notify the instructor of the new section on: (i) the date of registration in the
new section and (ii) your former lecture section.
9.
Can I bring more than one i>Clicker to class?
No, responses may not be submitted by proxy. Any student caught responding to in-class
questions with more than one i>Clicker device will be considered to have committed an
academic offence. This is also true for cases where a student has passed his/her i>Clicker to
another student during the lecture. Our rule is “One student, one clicker.”.
10.
What if I forget my i>Clicker? Will there be spare ones to hand out?
You should ensure you have your i>Clicker with you for each class, as spare ones will not be
available to give out.
11.
What if I change my mind after entering an answer to a question?
You can change your response as many times as you want per question, up to when the time
permitted for that question runs out. Your final answer will be recorded for grading purposes.
12.
Will I need my i>Clicker for the midterm tests and final exam?
No. You will need your i>Clicker in lectures only.
13.
What if my battery runs out?
Your i>Clicker device will warn you when about 10 hours of battery life remains. At that point it
is advisable to carry a spare AAA battery.
14.
What if my clicker is broken?
i>Clicker offers a standard one-year limited warranty on each new i>clicker remote. If a clicker is
defective, the process of returning it will depend upon how it was obtained or purchased. If your
student purchased their remote through the UBC campus bookstore, students may return it to
the bookstore with proof of purchase. I>clicker will replace the defective remote or credit the
bookstore (at the direction of the bookstore manager). If purchased as a department or in a
class set, you will need to contact us at sales@iclicker.com to request a replacement and return
the defective unit to us for analysis.
Should you obtain a new clicker during the term, you must register it at www.vista.ubc.ca
(you should be able to do the registration even if it is past the registration deadline). You
need not unregister your old clicker (in fact, the system does not allow you to unregister
a clicker).