Using I-clicker Technology to
Engage Producers
Dillon M. Feuz
Utah State University
2009 National Extension Risk Management
Education Conference
Reno, NV
March 31-April 1, 2009
Objectives
 Briefly review the technology
 Discuss some general uses
 Illustrate use in collecting agricultural
production and economic data
 Illustrate example of collecting data,
and then using that data to simulate
risk and risk management strategies
What is clicker technology?
Uses
 Developed for class room
 Quizzes, attendance, increased
participation, get anonymous responses
 Can use for extension




Pre/post evaluation questions
Quickly determine audience knowledge
Keep audience engaged (awake)
Obtain audience input
 Validate data
 Collect data
Are you familiar with I-Clicker or
similar technology?




A
B
C
D
Very familiar
Somewhat familiar
Limited knowledge
No knowledge
The previous slide is an example of
a pre/post question that can be
done with this type of technology
for assessment purposes
Have you ever used this type of
technology in an extension workshop?
 A Yes
 B No
The previous slide is an example of
a question that can tell you
something about the knowledge of
your audience and you can adjust
your presentation based on the
results of the question.
Raise your hand for each of the
following questions
 Have you or will you gamble while
you are in Reno?
 If you have gambled, have you lost
more than $1000?
 You know the saying, “What happens
in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” Have you
seen a show that you wouldn’t want
your spouse to know about?
 Do some of you not want to
participate?
Some of you are curious for the
answers to the preceding
questions. Let’s use the clickers.
 Have you or will you gamble while
you are in Reno? A Yes B NO
 If you have gambled, what is your
return A + $1000 B $100-999
C -$99 to +99 D -$100 to -999
E -$1000 or more
Gathering Data
 You can obtain sensitive data
 You and the producers can see the
distribution
 They know their response and can
compare it to the distribution
 This can be a very powerful learning
experience and sometimes you can
spend considerable time on one
question
Sample Budget Data Questions
Sample Budget Data Questions
When the data are nice
 It is easy to pick a value to enter into
a budget
 From the previous slide
 525 lb steer calves
Sample Budget Data Questions
When the data are not nice
 You must pick a value and let
audience know that the results may
not be as applicable to some of them
as to others
 From the previous slide
 Choose either 100 head of cows,or
 Choose 700 cows
You Can pose impromptu questions
Use iclicker to adjust values on a
spreadsheet
Use iclicker to adjust values on a
spreadsheet
Use iclicker to adjust values on a
spreadsheet
Use iclicker to adjust values on a
spreadsheet
When Producers generate this
value in a group, They are engaged
This distribution generated from
actual producer input at a Jan.
2009 meeting
CDF
1
0.8
Prob
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
-200
-150
-100
-50
0
50
100
150
NET INCOME
I had their attention when I started talking about risk management
Summary clicker uses
 Pre/Post evaluations
 Engage audience
 Understand audience knowledge to
adjust presentation
 Obtain sensitive data in an
anonymous manner
 Budget data
 Audience gets immediate feedback
 Know how their responses compare to
others
Questions