Classroom Performance System FAQ
What are classroom response systems/clickers?
How and why did Berry choose eInstruction?
What does Berry's standardization agreement with eInstruction mean?
What support is available for clickers/response systems at Berry?
What are the technical requirements for using the eInstruction system?
What is the cost for the eInstruction system?
Who do I contact to get started or with more questions?
What are classroom response systems/clickers?
The main purpose of utilizing a clicker system to in allow for more interaction between students and instructors in the classroom. In general, instructors use clickers to present questions that are spread out throughout a presentation. The instructor receives immediate feedback about student knowledge. Clickers may also be used for attendance, quizzes, tests, group activities, discussion starters, and more.
Clickers are a combination of hardware and software. Instructors have the ability to ask questions to students by embedding questions into PowerPoint or asking questions 'on-the-fly.' Students use clickers (similar to a small television remote) to answer questions. A radio frequency transmitter receives the data and the CPS software displays the students' answers. The answers can be displayed on the screen if the professor wants them to be. Each student's answer is anonymous on the screen, but the CPS software provides faculty the ability to create reports to see details of each student's answer.
Read more: EDUCAUSE article 7 things you should know about clickers.
How and why did Berry choose eInstruction?
The Center for Instructional Technology did research on clickers and various vendors. After many long discussions with faculty and the Information Technology Committee, eInstruction was determined to be the best fit as a vendor for Berry.
Summary of benefits of eInstruction:
- Can be used on PC and Mac
- Three line LCD screen
- Allows multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and numeric (up to 12 digits, symbol button for fraction, decimal, square root and 10 other symbols, negative numbers) answers
- Free clicker, receiver, and software to faculty
Click here to see a sheet that was handed out school
meetings on 2/8/2008 with more detail about clickers.
Click here to see a comparison chart of the clickers we considered.
What does Berry's standardization agreement with eInstruction mean?
In Summer 2008, Berry standardized on the eInstruction CPS radio frequency (RF) response system.
The standardization agreement does not limit the use of other clicker systems on campus, but it does limit the support that CIT can provide for other clicker systems. If a faculty member wanted to use another brand of clickers, CIT would not be available for support.
Some benefits of the standardization are faculty receive kits at no cost and students only have to buy one device for their education lifetime.
What support is available for clickers/response systems at Berry?
Center for Instructional Technology provides general information about CPS, assists instructors with account setup and eInstruction orders, delivers workshops and pedagogical support and installs/updates software in classroom.
The Berry College Bookstore orders response pads and sells response pads to students.
eInstruction provides technical support and offers CPS training to instructors.
What are the technical requirements for using the eInstruction system?
For a first time CPS user, the process can seem intimidating. After going through the process once or twice, users generally feel more comfortable.
To use CPS, it must be installed on the classroom computer. If the instructor is embedding questions in a PowerPoint presentation, CPS and CPS for PowerPoint must be installed on the classroom and office (and/or home) computer of the instructor.
eInstruction provides each instructor with a receiver. The faculty member must plug the receiver into an available USB port in the classroom. The faculty then opens the CPS database, usually password protected, on the classroom computer. For information on protecting student data with CPS, click here.
Faculty and students will register to use CPS on the CPSOnline website. Once registered, the CPS database automatically syncs with the information entered online.
What is the cost for the eInstruction system?
For Faculty: zero dollars - The software and hardware are provided by eInstruction (if the hardware breaks, it is the faculty's responsibility to purchase a replacement)
For Students: Students purchase the clicker in the Berry College Bookstore. At the end of each term, the bookstore will buy clickers back from students for an amount to be determined by they bookstore. After buying the clicker, the student must pay an activation fee. The activation fee must be paid each semester or up-front for a certain number of semesters.
Who do I contact to get started or with more questions?
If you're ready to use the eInstruction system in a course, contact Jerry Trammell at x2690 or Marla Gilreath at x5848. You can also contact us with problems or questions.
We will help you install eInstruction's free software and provide you with a receiver and a clicker. You will also receive support directly from the eInstruction representatives.