The Basics

• Before the session

• At the session

• After the session

Additional Resources

• Common Issues: Presenter Essentials (session preparation and common issues with initial reports and student clicker issues)

• Clicker classroom channels

• Teaching Tips: Getting the most out of your clickers

Before the session

1. Make sure your classroom is clicker-ready and check channels, by checking this list.

2. Please tell the Bookstore (Textbook Department) that you plan to use clickers so they can order enough for their inventory for your students to purchase. For Fall 2011, please ask for the latest model: RF-LCD. Note about loaner sets: If you would like to try out clickers before asking your students to bring their own, you can call OIT Classroom Support in Hornbake 0125, 4-8522, and ask about their loaner sets, available for temporary check-out.

3. Download and install the appropriate version* of the TurningPoint software on your computer.
   
   
   • For installation instructions, click here (Windows) or here (Mac).
     
   
   
   • Mac users will need to bring a laptop to the classroom that is equipped with a receiver (currently, classroom computers only support Windows). To get a receiver, you may request an instructor kit from the Hornbake office at 0125 or call 4-8522, or you may it from TurningPoint (please contact Elizabeth Reese at 866.746.3015 or erees@turningtechnologies.com).
     

* To verify the version, click the Information icon on the TurningPoint toolbar (first icon on the left).

4. Prepare your Students:
   • For students who have purchased an RF-LCD, RF, XR model clicker, or web-enabled device, they must register it at their UMD portal page at http://my.umd.edu under the Academics & Testudo tab (Faculty access it through the Faculty & Staff tab). Registration is very simple, but you can refer your students the Students tab on this site for more information.
   • For those who wish to use an Apple iPhone/iTouch, laptop, or other mobile device, they will need to first purchase a ResponseWare license (FAQs), and then register it at http://clickers.umd.edu/keypads.html
   
   
5. Request a ResponseWare Presenter ID:
   ResponseWare allows students to use their iPhones and other mobile devices as the response device instead of purchasing a separate keypad. To request a Presenter ID, please email clickers@umd.edu, as soon as possible in advance of your classroom presentation.
   

• Note: A Presenter ID is necessary for you to log in to ResponseWare (if you are using your own laptop; login IDs are prefilled in classroom computers) and to reserve a Session ID/Event Code (either classroom computer or personal laptop). All presenters are encouraged to reserve a session ID (see next step). Logging into Responseware with the Presenter ID is explained in the documentation, below, under Get Ready and Run the Presentation.

6. Reserve a Session ID:
   Once you have a Presenter ID for ResponseWare (rwpoll.com), you can reserve an ID for all your sessions. You will then enter the same ID each time you run your presentation. This will allow students who are using web-enabled units to login in and resume the same session should you need to reconnect to ResponseWare as a result of a temporary loss of internet connectivity (Instructions for reserving a session ID). Later, when you run the session you will be asked to enter the reserved session ID when you login to ResponseWare (Logging into Responseware with the Presenter ID is explained in the documentation, below, under Get Ready and Run the Presentation.)

7. Using Participant Lists (optional):
   Participant lists allow you to track student responses. To import and save a participant list, select the preferred method, below. To import a Participant List from ELMS (powered by Blackboard), you will first need an ELMS course space. Important: to ensure your participant list is always up-to-date, be sure to import your list in class (or immediately before), and import a new version before each class until all your students are registered and your roster has stabilized.

Note: If using a classroom computer, you'll need to either download the participant list in the classroom (recommended) or bring your participant list with you. For Windows users who have used the Integrations Wizard (Tools > Integrations) to download their participant list, the file (.tpp) can be located in the Participants folder, which is in the TurningPoint folder under My Documents. If you import your particpant list before the session at another location, save it to a flash drive, and then bring it with you to the class and import it to TurningPoint on the computer provided there.

5. Create a "clicker enabled" PowerPoint presentation.

Notes:
(TurningPoint 2008, only) About Setting Answer Values -- When you start a new TurningPoint presentation, answers to questions will have a default value. If you want to set a different value for the answers, it is important to apply them BEFORE running your presentation because the current set value will be recorded in the saved session file. See instructions for Windows Office 2007 (Office 2010) or instructions for the Mac Office 2004.

Instructor Kits --If you would like to test your presentation and familiarize yourself with the devices, you can get a free instructor kit (containing a receiver & RF-LCD keypad). OIT is stocking some kits in our Hornbake classroom support office, room 0125. To see if they are in stock, call 4-8522, otherwise, please email the UMD TP representative, Elizabeth McConnell Reese, erees@turningtechnologies.com.

At the session

Note -- Please Read: Students may come to your class equipped with any of four possible models/types of response devices. Be aware that each device is significantly different from the other in both design and operation. Please be prepared to address the possibility of various device types appearing in your classroom by understanding their major differences and use. Device descriptions.

Get Ready and Run the Presentation: Take the appropriate document (for Windows or Mac), below, with you to the classroom. It provides the basic sequence of steps for running the session--from testing the response reception, importing the saved participant list, to running and saving the session. ***

TurningPoint 2008 (Windows) Office 2007/2010

TurningPoint Anywhere (Mac) TurningPoint Anywhere V. 3.0.1

TurningPoint 2008 (Mac) Office 2004

*** Please also refer to this Common Issues: Presenter Essentials document for session preparation and common issues with report discrepancies and student clicker issues.

Notes for Personal Laptop Users : If you are using your laptop to deliver the presentation instead of the classroom computer, remember to bring your own receiver. Also, if you are using your own laptop, you will need a Presenter ID so that you can login to ResponseWare (www.rwpoll.com), which is necessary for students using mobile devices such as the iPhone instead of a clicker keypad. Email clickers@umd.edu, to request a Presenter ID, as soon as possible in advance of your class.

After the session

View reports from session data (Windows) (Mac TurningPoint Anywhere), (Mac Office 2004)

Export session data (student scores):