Student Response Systems ("Clickers" or "Responders")
Clickers or Responders are generally known in the industry as "Student Response Systems" (SRS). The response devices are typically small, battery operated, handheld devices that transmit electronic data wirelessly to a receiving device. The basic parts of student response systems typically are:
Instructor presentation software
Instructor device (receives student responses)
Student response devices
The instructor frequently uses presentation software to show the questions to students. Students submit answers to questions using their clickers, after the instructor "opens" the poll. As students submit their responses, the instructor's receiving device collects the responses. At the end, the instructor closes the poll, and the final results are displayed with the presentation software. The final results can be saved for record keeping purposes. A student's individual response is not displayed to the class. However, instructors may require students to "register" their clicker so the instructor receiver knows the student's unique response.
The Turning Point system is the student response system that has been recommended by UMN OIT for Central support at the UMN Twin Cities campus. See Office of Classroom Support
FACULTY and STAFF
The Instructor's receiving device for the Turning Point system looks like a USB key and plugs into a USB port (e.g. a laptop). The instructor's device costs around $99. The instructor uses Turning Point presentation software to display questions to which students respond using their clickers. Online training tutorials are available from the Turning Point website. Online, instructor-led web-based training is also available for new users, advanced users and on special topics.
