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Classroom Response Devices - "Clickers" |
Some faculty in D&IT utilized STI funding to
pilot Turning Point classroom response systems, or
“clickers” for some of their graduate classes.
Because of their success, including great positive
feedback from students, that hardware will now be
made available to other faculty in the college.
The Office of Smith IT can help Business School
faculty get started and demo the technology. Just
send a request to
helpme@rhsmith.umd.edu and we’ll be glad to
schedule a time to talk with you about it.
System components
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Clicker: This is the response pad used by students
to record their answers to question slides. The Turning Point
Clickers are standard on the UMCP campus. One response
device (or "clicker") can be
used in all the classes requiring the Turning Point
technology.
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Receiver: One is installed on the presentation computer to
record answers.
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Software: Installed on
the presentation computer and on faculty computer to create
presentation. This integrates with and looks like a Powerpoint
slideshow. If
you wish the Helpdesk to install this for you, contact
helpme@rhsmith.umd.edu
Receivers are installed in every classroom in Van Munching Hall,
thanks to a campus initiative to adopt the Turning Point system as a
campus classroom standard. In addition, The Business School makes
receivers are available to faculty teaching off-site.
For more information about clickers go to: http://www.clickers.umd.edu/students/index.
Information and links there include:
- Buy a keypad: Information on buying the keypad. Make sure
that you buy the correct keypad with required specifications.
- Register your keypad: Instructions for registering your
keypad with the university.
- Setting the channel on your keypad: Instructions for
setting the correct channel so that your responses are recorded
during the lecture.
- Lost/stolen keypad: Information on the steps to be taken
immediately if you loose your keypad and prevent its misuse.
- Nonfunctioning keypad: If your keypad isn't functioning
correctly, you can get it replaced at the University Book Center.
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Hardware available to borrow
Smith IT can provide any interested Business School Faculty
a clicker for their use and a receiver as needed for teaching
off-campus.
Faculty may also borrow response pads ("clickers") for their students on a
first
come-first served basis, so be sure to
request your set
as soon as possible. Our current equipment pool is large
enough for 7 classes of 60 students. You will be
notified by return mail if enough are available for your class.
- The loaned devices are to be collected at the end of the
semester and must be tracked by the faculty who hand them out.
- An agreement should be signed by the students when it is handed
out, explaining that grades will be withheld until the device is
returned.
- If a clicker is broken or lost, the student is required
to purchase a replacement from the campus bookstore before the end
of the semester.
SECURITY NOTE: Please do
not leave your receiver unattended in any public space. There is,
unfortunately, a history of them being mistaken for flash drives and
stolen when left unattended in classrooms.
If there are no more loaner clickers available
Students will need to purchase a Turning Point Response Pad from
the bookstore for $40. One response pad may be used in all the
classes using Turning Point technology, anywhere across campus. It may
be sold back to the bookstore at the end of the semester.
What differs from the rest of UMCP?
Nothing differs from the process being used by the campus Center for
Teaching Excellence (CTE)
except for the pool of loaner hardware that Smith IT maintains.
CTE has developed instruction support and has made it available from
http://clickers.umd.edu.
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