Presentations

Presentations I have given for others related to clickers:

1. Compton Flex Day, Spring 2010, February 11. PowerPoint file.
   PDF - before talk: color. Black and white.      After talk: black and white
   Video (94minutes).
2. Assessment of Student Learning Week, November 6, 2009. PowerPoint file,  black and white PDF file, and color PDF.
3. National On Course Workshop, April 16-18, 2009. Beginning session PDF. Advanced session PDF. PowerPoint files: beginning, advanced. Videos: beginning, advanced.
4. National On Course Workshop, May 2-3, 2008. Powerpoint file. PDF.
5. Behavioral & Social Science Division, December 7, 2007. Powerpoint file.
6. Humanities brown bag, November 1, 2007. Powerpoint file.
7. Flex Day, August 2007. Powerpoint file.

ECC clickers

ECC has standardized on the RF clicker (also available in Braille!) and XR clicker both manufactured and distributed by Turning Technologies. The information on the rest of this webpage will help you get started using clickers in your classroom. Hopefully you will find the step-by-step instructional videos helpful.

To use the clickers you will need a computer with the software installed. Most people also like to project what is on the computer screen to the audience/class, although that is not necessary. See the first video below to see how to do that. If you don't have a computer or wish to use clickers without a computer, that is possible using the newly released ResponseCard Anywhere (specifications page). We don't have these at ECC yet, but they can be ordered for $99 + tax + S&H, about $130 total.

NOTE: Batteries for the RF clickers are 3 volts (3V) CR2032 batteries, as described on TurningTechnology's page here. ECC employees can order these batteries through the OfficeMax catalog, item 12013634 and manufacturer number DL2032BPK. You'll need 2 batteries for each clicker, and batteries cost approximately $2 each.

To help get people started, I have created some videos below. I have also created several documents that you may find helpful.

Checkout form for division offices. Excel. PDF.

Clickers are currently allocated as follows:

• Behavioral & Social Science, 2 sets of 55 clickers to Sociology department, and two sets of 50 clickers to Child Development. These departments agreed to share with the rest of the division as needed. This division also purchased 4 sets of XR clickers, I believe 50 clickers per set.
• Library, 1 set of 30 clickers
• Humanities, 1 set of 40 clickers plus a second set of 40 XR (testing) clickers purchased by the department. They have also borrowed the physics set (see below). 
• Natural Science has several sets as follows:
  • Astronomy has 1 set of 50
  • Physics has 1 set of 40 (currently borrowed by Humanities)
  • Earth Science has one set of 45
  • Chemistry has 1 set of 34 and is also borrowing the XR set for the science division. (see 2 rows below)
  • Life Science has one set of 40
  • The division also has 2 sets of XR (testing) clickers (30 & 50 clickers)
• Math & Computer Science, 1 set of 60
• Health Sciences & Athletics, 1 set of 40.

Videos and Supporting Files

The links below are to videos that show you how to operate the clicker software and create presentations. The duration of the video is listed in parentheses. If you'd like a video to show you how to do something and you don't see it here, contact me and I'll create one. Vidoes are easy for me to create now. (The link shows you how I make them, and also describes how you can make them, too. The link has videos with instructions similar to those below related to clickers.)

The video file sizes are quite large and may take several minutes to download. If you don't want to wait, you can stream (i.e. view) a lower quality version of the videos with the Google video links. I urge you to download/save (instead of opening) whichever non-Google files you choose to view.

Videos and supporting files: (created in late 2008)

1. How to download & install the software (13 min). 63 MB file; Google video link.
2. How to create basic clicker question slides (10 min), 42 MB file, Google video link.
3. Changing the default clicker-slide settings AND more advanced clicker slide options [e.g. correct answer indicator] (27 min). 122 MB file, Google video link.
4. Creating a participant list that matches clickers with sticker numbers and student names. (15 min). 75 MB file, Google video link.
   • Excel file with all classroom sets of barcodes, to be used for creating participant lists. There are multiple "worksheets." See the tabs at the bottom.
   • Participant list files. You can create these from the Excel file above. If you're having trouble, you can try downloading these, if they work. Set 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. LINKS NOT FUNCTIONAL YET BUT NOW I KNOW HOW TO FIX IT, SO CHECK BACK SOON OR SEND ME AN EMAIL. If you have trouble downloading these participant list files, send me an email. (Change the "at" and "dot" to @ and .)
5. How to run a session that uses clicker slides. (31 min total). 92 MB file, Google video link. 
   • PowerPoint file used in the video before data were collected.
   • PowerPoint file with the data in it.
   • TurningPoint data files (NOT necessary for you to download) - Sessions with: 1 clicker. 5 random clickers. If you have trouble downloading these data files, send me an email. (Change the "at" and "dot" to @ and .)
6. Creating data links between slides & "auto" participant list (in middle). (7 min). 31 MB file, Google video link.
   • PowerPoint file used in the video after link created. [i.e. showing data from exactly 2 slides on the 2nd slide]
7. Troubleshooting. What to do when a clicker (or multiple clickers) don't work. Video coming soon.

If you have any suggestions for other videos I should create, let me know and I'll add it to the list you see here.

Getting Started: Downloads and Documents

All of the Word & Excel files were created by David Vakil, so if you have any suggestions, please send them!

These files and links may be helpful:

1. Training Manual (5 pages). Word. PDF.
   • If you have not used clickers before, start with the training manual! This document tells you: what you need, how to download the software, and gives you an introduction to how to use the software to write clicker questions. Compared to the videos, it is a little out of date but still functional.
   • The training manual refers to the TurningPoint written User Guide for TurningPoint 2006 (download in PDF), which is an older version of the clicker software. The manual refers to the older software because I wrote it before the manual for TurningPoint 2008 was written. I have about 5 copies of the TurningPoint 2006 User Guide available for the first 5 people to request a copy. It's a large document, so I had it spiral bound.
   • Here is the most recent product support and manuals. It now contains a manual for TurningPoint 2008, both a file with the complete 473-page manual as well as files for individual chapters. The pages have very little text and MANY pictures and screenshots. Don't let the page count intimidate you!
2. Software downloads from TurningPoint. Link
   • If you plan to use clickers within PowerPoint, download TurningPoint 2008 with .NET. Otherwise, read the traning manual.
3. Sample clicker contract for students to sign. Word. PDF.
4. Clicker signup sheet to pass around in class for students to fill in.Word. PDF.
5. Using the XR model clickers - for students (4 pages). Word. PDF.

More advanced uses: Tests & Quizzes

1. TestingPoint allows you to give self-paced asychronous tests or quizzes with the XR clicker. You'll need to install separate software. Here is the download link. User guide: PDF. I have not used TestingPoint much because I find the software to be a little clunky right now. But there will be a big upgrade coming on or around August 2008.

Tips for Using Clickers

1. Read the tips at this link from Doug Duncan, one of the clicker pioneers and author of a teaching book about clickers. Here is a link to the book.

Articles and Links about Clickers

1. This link shows MANY videos from a clicker conference. Expect to find many pearls of wisdom.
2. Quick video about why you should use clickers from University of Colorado.
3. Seven things you should know about clickers. PDF.
4. Best practices - clickers in large classes. From Life Sciences Education. PDF.
5. Clickers vs. flashcards. From The Physics Teacher, published by the peer instruction innovative Eric Mazur group at Harvard. PDF.
6. Why you should use clickers - newspaper article from Mazur group. PDF.
7. Study of Student Learning using clickers. From Life Sciences Education. PDF.
8. Motivating students to learn by how you score their clicker results. From Astronomy Education Review. PDF.
9. Analysis of clicker impact on David Vakil's astronomy & physics classes. From ECC's Institutional Research. Word. PDF.