ARCHIVED: When using student response systems, what issues should I be aware of?

This content has been archived, and is no longer maintained by Indiana University. Information here may no longer be accurate, and links may no longer be available or reliable.

Note:

Top Hat is replacing TurningPoint Cloud as Indiana University's integrated student response system in 2017. TurningPoint Cloud will continue to be available for spring and summer terms, but will no longer be supported in fall 2017. Instructors planning to use Top Hat for summer or fall 2017 should complete the Top Hat planning form to ensure wireless coverage and technology support is available.

Student response systems (clickers) allow instructors to pose questions to the class and to gather and display answers in real time through radio frequency technology. For more about specific devices at Indiana University, see ARCHIVED: Options for student response devices. Instructors should be aware of the following:

Pedagogical considerations
Channel selection in the classroom
Caution on giving exams
Considerations for using ResponseWare
Student device registration
ResponseCard NXT updates
Receiver and software updates for instructors
More information

Pedagogical considerations

For pedagogical issues related to using student response systems, see the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning's Clickers page.

Channel selection in the classroom

The Turning Technologies software will default the receiver setting to Channel 41. To decrease interference with campus wireless connections and with other nearby classrooms using clickers, it is recommended that you change to a channel other than the default. Here are some guidelines for selecting a channel:

The following channels are recommended because they do not interfere with wireless connections: 24, 25, 49, 50, and 64-82.
To avoid interference with another classroom using clickers in close proximity, choose a channel with the same last digit as the last digit of your classroom number. For example, in Room 1101, you might select Channel 71, and in Room 2106, Channel 66.

Caution on giving exams

In some situations, you may be able to use clickers to give tests. However, because you do not have a hard copy of students' answers with this method (unlike with Scantron), you should not use clickers for high-stakes assessments without a backup plan (e.g., also requiring students to hand in a hard copy of the exam with their answers marked).

Considerations for using ResponseWare

An alternative to clickers is for students to purchase ResponseWare licenses, allowing them to use personal mobile devices (e.g. smart phones, iPads, tablets, laptops; anything with Internet connectivity) to respond to questions. All classrooms have wireless connections available; check with your teaching and learning center consultant to ensure that the classroom you are assigned has the full capacity for your students to take advantage of ResponseWare. To use ResponseWare, the instructor will need to set up an account; see ARCHIVED: About TurningPoint Cloud at IU (Retired), or contact your campus teaching and learning center to learn more.

Student device registration

If you will be giving grades for clicker use, students must register their devices in the Canvas course site. There is no cost for this, but it is required in order to associate devices with students' usernames. Make your students aware of the need to register; you may want to give them a 1-2 week grace period at the beginning of the course before using the clickers for grades. See ARCHIVED: About TurningPoint Cloud at IU (Retired).

ResponseCard NXT updates

Make sure to keep the firmware on your ResponseCard NXT up to date. The current firmware version is 0.8.5.

To check the firmware version on your ResponseCard NXT:

Push the button just under the wrench to open the toolbox.
Scroll to the Device Info option and select it.
Push the right arrow button to go to the next screen of device information.
On this second screen, you'll see which firmware version is currently on your device.

To update the firmware on your ResponseCard NXT, you can do either of the following:

If you are on the Bloomington campus, visit any Support Center walk-in location, where consultants can update your ResponseCard NXT for you.
Download the Hardware Updater (Windows only) from IUware, and follow the directions to install the update yourself. For this option, you will need a USB-to-mini-USB cord in order to connect your ResponseCard NXT to your computer.

Receiver and software updates for instructors

Instructors' receivers periodically require updates for use with new technology. Currently, the receivers require an update for use with the ResponseCard NXTs and PresenterCards (instructor devices). The current version is 4.7. Download the Hardware Updater (Windows only) from IUware and follow the directions to update the firmware on your receiver.

More information

If you are an instructor and would like more information about using student response systems in your classes, contact your campus teaching and learning center.