Frequently asked questions: Clicker and grades FAQ
Developed by Lisa Gary originally for CCI 150. Much of this applies to JEM 200.
Where do I get a Clicker? They are available through the UT Book and Supply Store, but you may be able to find them elsewhere. The company is Turning Technologies. Check the ones at the bookstore so you know the model we use at UT.
Do I need more than one Clicker? No. One Clicker works for all your classes.
How do I learn to use my Clicker? Read the instructions that came with your Clicker and check the online resources provided by Turning Technologies. Talk to other students who have used a Clicker successfully. Most students have no problem using them once they learn the basics.
Do I have to register my Clicker? Yes! You MUST register your Clicker in order to use it. Not registering is the number one cause of Clicker failure. Registering tells the system which Clicker belongs to you. Go to the class Blackboard site and follow the link there to register. Be sure you enter the number on your Clicker very carefully.
What Channel will I use in class? You will use channel 21 for CCI 150. Each instructor uses a unique number, so you will change the channel for each class in which you use the Clicker. Your instructions tell you how to do this. When you leave presentation mode, you get a menu of options. One of those is a channel selection that allows you to type in the number 21.
Why won’t my Clicker stay on? It’s designed to conserve battery power, so your Clicker screen will go blank quickly after you use it. This is normal.
How do I Click in? Read your instructions for a complete explanation. In general, make sure your Clicker is on channel 21, then tell the device to stay IN presentation mode. That’s how you interact in class. If you are in presentation mode you can select the answer you want. After your answer is submitted, you should see a check mark on your screen. What if I forgot my Clicker? Every student is allowed two free “I forgot my Clicker” days. It’s your responsibility to bring your Clicker to class, just as you bring pencil and paper. You don’t need to tell me you forgot. The points are dropped automatically in Blackboard.
When will I use my Clicker? That will vary from class to class. Some days I’ll ask you to click in at the beginning, other days at the end. Many days you will click in two or three times throughout the class period.
What if I’m late or miss a question? Attendance and participation points are worth 7 percent of your grade, so missing a question or two is not a huge hit on your grade. It is NOT possible to answer the questions after class. You must be present to win.
How do I know it’s working? We will test the system after a few days of class. The results will be posted on Blackboard. Check back on Blackboard from time-to-time to see if your points are showing up. Points are uploaded once every week or two.
What if my Clicker isn’t working? It’s important that you check EARLY to make sure your Clicker is working. If it isn’t, check to make sure you registered it correctly. Check to see that you are actually on channel 21 when you are in CCI 150. Make sure you are in presentation mode to answer questions. Check to see if you get a check mark on the screen when you answer a question. If you’ve done all this and are still having problems, go by the help desk in The Commons at the library. UT has a Clicker expert, Dr. Christina Goode, who is excellent at helping students.
Can I get the points some other way? If buying a Clicker presents an extreme financial hardship, please speak to me – privately – early in the semester. We’ll work something out. Otherwise, the only way to get the points is to bring your Clicker to class and answer questions. You cannot give me your name, show me your notes, or otherwise “prove” you were in class. The class is simply too big for me to recognize when individual students were present and to keep up with that information.
Why do I have to deal with this? The best way to do well in CCI 150 is to come to class and pay attention. Clicker points simply reward you for doing what you need to do anyway. They provide an easy way to help your grade beyond simply taking exams. Technology is the only efficient way to do that in a class this size.
Still stressed about using a Clicker? Run your Clicker through the test we’ll conduct so you can see if it works. For 95 percent of students, it will! You are allowed a couple of “free” absences and a couple of “free” days of forgetting. Those points are automatically dropped in Blackboard. All that covers the problems encountered by most students who come to class regularly.
About Blackboard and grades: You’ll get your test scores back in class the next class day after the exam. Be sure to keep those results sheets because you may want them to prepare for the optional final. Exam scores will be posted on Blackboard several days after you get them back in class. Be sure to check your score to see that it is correct. They must be entered one-by-one, by hand, so it is possible for an error to occur. If you see an error, contact Jae Park who will assist you. His email address is on your syllabus. You will see a zero in Blackboard for the optional final. Don’t worry about this. The system is set up to use the best three scores you earn. The zero for the final gives the system something to “drop.” Because the zero “drops,” it does not affect your grade. It will go away if you take the optional final. Your attendance scores will show up as 100 or 200 points per day rather than two or three points per day. Don’t worry about that. The grades will be WEIGHTED so that the attendance average counts as 7 percent of your total grade.
(August 17, 2010)
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