iClicker is a wireless audience response system that allows students to answer questions and participate in polls during lectures. It consists of a handheld clicker device that students use to submit their responses and a receiver that the instructor uses to collect and display the results.
How does iClicker work?
iClicker is easy to use. Students simply turn on their clickers and enter the course ID provided by their instructor. Once they have joined the course, they can use their clickers to answer multiple-choice questions, true/false questions, and open-ended questions.
Instructors can create and manage polls and quizzes using the iClicker software. They can also view the results of student responses in real time, which allows them to adjust their teaching accordingly.
Benefits of using iClicker
iClicker has a number of benefits for both students and instructors:
- Increased student engagement: iClicker allows students to actively participate in lectures, which can help them to stay engaged and focused.
- Improved understanding: iClicker can help students to understand the material better by providing them with immediate feedback on their answers.
- More effective teaching: iClicker can help instructors to identify areas where students are struggling and adjust their teaching accordingly.
- Time savings: iClicker can save instructors time by automating the process of collecting and grading student responses.
How to use iClicker
To use iClicker, students will need to purchase a clicker device and register for an account on the iClicker website. Instructors will need to create an account on the iClicker website and create a course for their students to join.
Once students have joined a course, they can use their clickers to answer polls and quizzes. Instructors can view the results of student responses in real time, which allows them to adjust their teaching accordingly.
Tips for using iClicker
Here are a few tips for using iClicker effectively:
- Start small: Don’t try to use iClicker for every lecture. Start by using it for a few key questions or polls.
- Use a variety of question types: iClicker allows you to create a variety of question types, so mix it up to keep students engaged.
- Give feedback: Let students know how they are doing. If they answer a question correctly, tell them. If they answer a question incorrectly, explain why.
- Use iClicker to assess student learning: iClicker can be used to assess student learning in a variety of ways. You can use it to give quizzes, polls, and surveys.
- Get creative: There are many ways to use iClicker. Get creative and find ways to use it to enhance your teaching.
How much does iClicker cost?
The cost of iClicker varies depending on the number of clickers you need and the type of subscription you choose. A single clicker device costs around $50. A one-year subscription to the iClicker software costs around $20.
Alternatives to iClicker
There are a number of alternatives to iClicker, including:
- Poll Everywhere: Poll Everywhere is a cloud-based audience response system that allows students to answer questions using their smartphones, tablets, or laptops.
- Kahoot!: Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform that allows instructors to create quizzes and polls that students can answer using their smartphones, tablets, or laptops.
- Socrative: Socrative is a free audience response system that allows students to answer questions using their smartphones, tablets, or laptops.
Conclusion
iClicker is a powerful tool that can be used to improve student engagement, understanding, and learning. It is easy to use and affordable, and it comes with a variety of features that make it a valuable asset for any instructor.
