Last Updated: 9/8/2011
What are clickers? Clickers are "classroom response systems." They are an instructional technology designed for large face-to-face classes to gather instantaneous feedback and keep students engaged. Each student holds a clicker, which is similar to a TV remote. The instructor has a receiver attached to his/her computer. When the instructor brings up a clicker question in PowerPoint, students "beam" their responses using the clickers and the responses are immediately tabulated and graphed on the instructor's computer. Using an LCD projector, the instructor can share the results with the class. The power of the clicker is that the student can give his/her opinion and compare responses to the group's without being singled out in front of the class. Instructors can use them to administer quizzes and tests, take attendence, or just check whether the students are "getting it." In large classes, this allows instructors to gather large amounts of data very quickly and frequently.
How it works: Instructors get the receiver and management software for free. Instructors set up their classes using the eInstruction software (called CPS for PowerPoint). A unique "class key" is generated for each class section. Instructors give out these class keys to their students so that the students can enroll in the correct sections. Students buy their clickers at the NAU bookstore and register them using an online form. They use one clicker, assigned only to them, for all their NAU classes. Instructors write their clicker questions using a special PowerPoint plug-in, and the clicker data is stored in a database on the instructor's computer. The reports are .csv files compatible with MS Excel. When the instructor activates the system using the management software, students turn on their clickers and they automatically join the session and can answer questions.
Student Pricing:
- Response Pads (Clickers) cost students $22 new ($16.50 used) at the NAU Bookstore. The bookstore clicker contact is Brendan Mack.
- The bookstore has agreed to stock 100% of the quantity needed by known adopting classes, given sufficient notice. Use the same timeline as for ordering textbooks.
- Students register their clickers at the eInstruction
website using the CPS Online link.
- Registration Option 1: Students pay $35 to use the pad in all classes for lifetime access.
- Registration Option 2: Students pay $13 to use the pad in all classes for each semester/term until the student reaches the cap of $39, at which point they have lifetime access. We generally recommend this second option.
Student Refunds: eInstruction response pads are returnable (if unopened) for a full refund under the same terms as textbooks. Used clickers are repurchased from students at 50% of the new clicker price as long as they are re-adopted for use each semester.
What Must I Do? The NAU Bookstore and e-Learning must know which faculty are adopting the technology, for which classes, and be informed of this each semester with enough advance notice to get the orders in to eInstruction. Please notify us by filling out the online form at the "Order Clickers for My Class" link so we can coordinate making response pads available for student purchase in the bookstore, obtaining "test kits" for faculty, and arrange for receivers and software installation in classrooms (in coordination with department/college tech support staff).
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Test Kits: Each faculty member who uses our form to order the clickers in one or more classes can request a 'Test Kit" which includes the software, instructor's manual, one receiver, and one response pad. e-Learning will coordinate distribution of test kits. You can also request a test kit by contacting eInstruction directly, but that may not be as easy as filling out our web-based order form.
Support: eInstruction (the clicker company) provides live support, tutorials and training for both faculty and students. However, there are times when a local support person may need to step in and assist. e-Learning provides that support. We will work with each college and their IT support staff to get needed receivers and software installed in technology classrooms. ELC also provides preliminary training in using the technology and pedagogical advice on effective practices with clickers. We will also visit your classroom (if you ask) to help you get started, assist students with registration, and troubleshoot problems.
Instructors: Clicker Checklist
Students: CPS Login (NAU) | Registration Instructions
Instructors: Clicker Checklist
Students: CPS Login (NAU) | Registration Instructions
Contact: If you need NAU technical assistance with clickers, contact e-Learning at elc-help@nau.edu or call 928-523-5554 and we will work with you, your students, the bookstore and your departmental support staff to resolve problems. Also, please sign up for a brief clicker training at e-Learning's website. This training is designed to get you up and running quickly and introduce you to our support staff. Larry MacPhee and Jerry Gile are the primary ELC contacts for clicker support.
Academic Honesty: Other schools that use clickers recommend a clear policy in the class syllabus indicating that a student cannot use another's clicker. This is the equivalent of impersonating another student, and could potentially be a way for students to cheat on a test or get marked present when they are absent. Instructors should clearly indicate what happens if a student is found to be using another's clicker.
Caveats: This system can be technically challenging to use and some instructors tell us that it interferes with the natural flow of their lectures. The software is somewhat sluggish, even on a good computer, and can be downright glacial on old equipment. Studies show that attendance is correlated with student success. Voluntary attendance is probably a pretty good indicator of motivation. Mandatory attendance enforced by the use of clickers may not produce the same results.
Compatibility: Clickers are a complex system to support because they involve both hardware and software, an internet connection, and they work under several operating systems and with multiple versions of Microsoft PowerPoint. Please see the table below for details. This information is subject to change. You can also check the eInstruction website for news.
| Computer OS | CPS for PowerPoint Version | Microsoft Office Version | Polling | Testing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows XP | 5.62 (legacy download) | Office 2003 or 2007 | working | working |
| Windows 7 | 6.71 or newer | Office 2003 or 2007 or 2010 (32-bit version) | working | unreliable |
| MacOS X | 3.1 or newer | Office 2004 (not 2008 or 2011) | working | unknown |
9/8/2011: Apparently the bookstore has received a shipment of K-12 (not Higher Education) clickers and some were sold to students this Fall before the error was detected. These clickers look the same but will not work. K-12 clickers will have a serial number that starts with 20 (when you turn the clicker on, this serial number briefly appears on the display) whereas the Higher Ed models will start with 00. Students should return these non-functional K-12 clickers to the bookstore for an exchange.
03/21/2011: Version 6.7 of the CPS software for Windows and Version 3 for Mac have been released. If the current version is working for you, we would not recommend switching to the new version until the end of the semester as the database would need to be rebuilt and student data might be lost. In case the CPS downloads site is slow (often the case at the beginning of the semester), we have put local copies here. Office 2010 for Windows (32-bit only version) is supported with CPS for PPT version 6.71 but Office 2011 for Mac is still unsupported and "under evaluation."
11/24/2010: Version 6.59 is now available for Windows users. We have not yet done local testing in large classes to confirm reliability. Office 2010 is not yet supported.
9/16/2010: eInstruction does not recommend using clickers for testing at this time. While the clickers work fine for in-class polling, the latest version of the software is not reliable for testing. The company is promising a new release soon that they say will fix this issue.
9/16/2010: The Device Manager is new to version 6.5x and later. See the new "Detect Receiver" tutorial.
9/16/2010: If you see a "201" number on a CPS clicker, there is an error...an upcoming patch will fix this problem.
9/8/2010: In the new 6.5x version of the CPS software, the detect receiver functions have been moved to a program called the "Device Manager" which should appear in the Windows system tray (at the lower right of your screen) with this icon: 
Before you disconnect the receiver from the computer, use the "Remove" menu or multiple receivers may appear to be present the next time you use the system. Also, you can use the device manager to scan for connected devices. If you are having problems with receiver detection, try left-clicking on the icon and choosing restart...the icon will disappear and reappear in a few seconds.
9/2/2010: We are encountering a higher than usual number of issues with the new 6.5x version of the CPS software...still tracking down the cause...stay tuned!
8/9/2010: The new CPS Pulse clicker (shown on the right) may start appearing soon at the NAU Bookstore...it is compatible with the older blue and white "Gen2" RF Clicker (shown on the left). Students can use either one but the Blue and White model will eventually be phased out.
Old (still ok) 
New
8/6/2010: If you have an old style receiver with the LED Channel number indicator (shown below), e-Learning will exchange it with you for a new USB-stick style receiver that CPS says is more reliable under the new 6.56 version of the software. Please take the old receivers out of circulation.
Trade in your old receiver for a new one.
8/6/2010: CPS for PowerPoint is not yet supported for the newly released Office 2010 for Windows. Please stay with Office 2007 or use the full CPS program.
8/6/2010: Windows 7 users will need to run the latest 6.56 version or newer for compatibility, but please note that testing functions remain unreliable.
4/5/2010: Windows XP users: Avoid updating your CPS software to the recently released version 6. The latest stable version of the "Classroom Performance System (CPS)" and "CPS for Powerpoint" software is version 5.62 which is available as a download on einstruction’s “legacy” page: http://www.einstruction.com/support_downloads/legacy.html This issue is particularly problematic if you are using clickers for testing because clickers frequently get stuck in SMA (student managed assessment) mode and do not switch back to the normal TMA (teacher managed) mode when the test is done.
8/25/2009 Windows Users: If the CPS Tab (in PPT 2007) or CPS Toolbar (PPT 2003) does not appear, try launching CPS for PPT a second time. This often works. Another indicator is the blue splash screen. If the big blue splash screen doesn't appear as the program is opening, quit the program and open it a second time.
8/25/2009 Wireless Users: CPS cannot update the roster with the Sync button unless you have an active Internet connection. If you are on the NAU wireless, open a browser and click the "Agree to Terms" button to activate your wireless internet connection before you launch CPS for PowerPoint. It's also a very good idea to start the VPN in order to encrypt your data transmissions over the wireless network.
1/9/2009 All Users: Give your students this PDF link from eInstruction on how to get started with the clickers at NAU. CPS and Bb Vista are not integrated at NAU because of the way CPS interacts with the Vista gradebook. Instead we register clickers using CPS Online.
1/9/2009 Mac Users: The latest Mac Office 2008 is not compatible with CPS for PowerPoint. Please stick with Office 2004 until further notice or use the full CPS product. If you have installed Office 2008 for IRIS e-mail and calendar, you cannot use CPS for PowerPoint. CPS for PPT will not function if both versions of Office
8/4/2008 All Users: Be sure to download the latest version of CPS for PowerPoint and/or CPS (full) before you start the new semester.
2/27/2008 Mac Users: The latest releases of CPS and CPS for PowerPoint are now compatible with MacOS X 10.5 (Leopard).
2/19/2008 Windows users with Office 2007: CPS for PowerPoint must be reinstalled after you install Microsoft Office 2007 in order that all components are put in their proper places. If the CPS tab or toolbar is not appearing, contact us for tech support.
2/19/2008 Multiple Computers: You can use CPS on more than one computer by copying the CPS Database from one Mac to another Mac or one Windows PC to another PC. You cannot move the database from Mac to PC or vice versa. We do not recommend sharing the database across a network volume, but users have had good luck using a portable USB flash drive. Be sure however to back up this file regularly, and always "safely remove" the flash drive...removing it while data is being saved will corrupt the CPS database.
2/19/2008 Nobody can join: If nobody can join, the problem is with the receiver. Go to Delivery Options/Receiver and choose "Detect Receiver."
1/10/2008 Instructor Setup Codes: If you did not receive an "Instructor Setup Code" in your test kit, NAU's Instructor Setup Code is N322A1
Resources and Research on Clickers
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