<p>My daughter will be using one for the first time this semester in a science class at her LAC.
What I gathered from a hurried telephone call yesterday is that the professor will lecture, then ask questions regarding the material and the students will "click" their responses. The professor has a somewhat daunting reputation for not suffering fools (questions, comments, answers) gladly so my daughter sees the clickers as a potentially good thing-everyone participates, no one is made to look a fool. She isn't sure whether these on-the-spot quizzes will be just for feedback or somehow part of the grade. Any experience with use of this technology?</p>
<p>We have them in our PRIMARY SCHOOL (grades prek-3) and they are terrific!!</p>
<p>Son has used them for several years. It’s used as an attendance tool too.</p>
<p>Yes, SUNY Buffalo uses them for their stadium sized classes.</p>
<p>Some of our elementary-school classrooms had them.</p>
<p>Quite a few professors at Cornell use them.</p>
<p>Both my Ds used them in their science lecture classes. (One at a big state U; the other at smallish private U.)</p>
<p>Clickers record class attendance. Depending on the class policies, clicker answers may count for a few points in the final grade. Other profs might just use clickers to get feedback on how well students understand the material.</p>
<p>One thing–have your D check/replace the batteries if she buys a used clicker. D2’s BF had his batteries die early in the semester and wasn’t able to use the clicker for several class meetings until he found time to go to the bookstore and get the batteries replaced.</p>
<p>Yes, used in our public schools by some teachers for quizzes. My S3 likes them and thinks they are a “fun” change.</p>
<p>We use these in my high school and I love them. Everyone participates, the teacher knows when we are confused, and you stay engaged in class. They also don’t affect grades, which is nice.</p>
<p>Yep. Both the HS D and the college D use clickers in class. They love them.</p>
<p>So, I am wondering how often clickers are lost or broken (especially at high school and lower levels) and what reimbursement costs are(the article mentions a cost of $30-$70, depending on the model). Also, what security measures are involved-do you just turn it on or do you enter a password?</p>
<p>I am afraid the clicker company business will go down because the cell phone or electronic book reading companies will incorporate the clicking feature into the products.</p>
<p>The clicking can help shy students to anonymously text the questions to the prof.</p>
<p>Both my S’s at big state u’s have used clickers for both tests/quizzes and attendance. They had no problems with them. One S had to buy the clicker but did use it for two classes that sem. Other S said the clickers stayed on a rack in the classroom. They picked one up as they came in and punched their code number in to activate it. Nice not to have to buy that one.</p>
<p>Appa–I never used them before college, but I’ve never heard of a college actually providing the clickers. (Schools charge students for food they might steal and lab equipment they might break, what makes you think they’d miss the chance to charge 50 dollars for a clicker?) No security. Each clicker had an ID number that each student registers online.</p>
<p>Coolweather-Actually the phone and iPod models rarely work in large lecture halls due to how hard it is to get a license (at about 25 dollars a year) and all of the people trying to use already slow school wireless networks.
And the model allowed at my school has no keyboard or method of feedback (the iPod/phone method does allow this but you rarely have the time to enter an answer and get it through the network let alone text an entire question.)</p>
<p>Yes…my D has had to buy two separate models so far since some profs prefer one over the other…they ran about $40 each, used, from the bookstore and the student must enter their student ID number. Instructions are usually posted in Blackboard (or wherever the prof posts other course documents) and are also available on the manufacturer’s website. The clicker quizzes have been part of her grades in all classes they’ve been used in…it’s not just for feedback to the professor or to check understanding. She views them as bonus points but I’d imagine that those who don’t go to classes feel otherwise (although some kids apparently do send their clickers off to class with friends).</p>
<p>ginab - Could you explain about the license?</p>
<p>What are clickers?</p>
<p>Ok, I read the link at the beginning, and now I see. Sorry.</p>
<p>Friend’s son used them for a large lecture chemistry class. Prof would lecture, then put a problem up on the board. Students would click in the answer–ABCDE. It gave both the teacher and the students a good idea whether a concept being taught was getting through.</p>
<p>Certain number of “clicker points” were available to be earned. Being as the tests were a BEAR, it was a good way for kids to earn some extra points by attending and paying attention.</p>
<p>Ellemenope, yes this sounds similar to my daughter’s professor’s intended use. My daughter may be grateful for “clicker” points.</p>