Some instructors or departments may require you to possess and use a clicker (interactive response system) for participation during classes.
Buying a Clicker
The Campus Computer Store is selling Turning Technology clickers and the U of S is installing Turning Technology receivers in many classrooms to facilitate the use of clickers in classes. By using one manufacturer, you will only be required to carry one clicker and clickers can be used in any number of your courses. Some instructors may ask that the clicker be registered so they can tie your name to responses for in-class quizzes.
You may certainly buy a used clicker from another student who no longer needs it. Insist that the previous owner removes their clicker registration or else you will not be able to register the clicker. A clicker can only be registered to one student at any time.
Privacy and Academic Honesty
By registering a clicker you are giving permission for the University to keep and distribute information that links you with that clicker for University business purposes including making the clicker Device ID available to all your instructors and markers.
You should not give your clicker to someone else to use on your behalf. That would be considered as academic dishonesty, the same as if someone else put your name on a paper that was not yours or wrote an examination for you. Learn more about Academic Honesty.
Registering Your Clicker
You can register your own clicker using a channel in PAWS. Only one clicker can be registered to you at any time. Currently only Turning Technologies model RF clickers can be registered through PAWS. The Clicker Management channel is located on the Academics Tab in PAWS.
The Clicker Management channel will initially indicate that you currently have no clicker Device ID registered to you.
- Log in to PAWS.
- Select the Academics tab.
- Locate the Clicker Management channel and click on the Clicker Management link. This will open the Manage Clicker section in MITS.
- Key in the Device ID number printed on the back of the clicker under the barcode. Turning Technology clicker Device IDs are comprised only of the digits 0-9 and the letters from A-F. Each clicker has a unique number.
- Click the Register Clicker button to register your clicker. The MITS application will check that this clicker Device ID is not already registered to someone else. It will then indicate whether the registration was successful and display the clicker Device ID registered to you.
- Check to ensure that the number displayed matches the Device ID printed on the back of your clicker.
- Click the Logout link to exit the MITS application.
Once you have registered your clicker, the Device ID will be displayed in the Clicker Management PAWS channel. Your clicker Device ID number also becomes available to any instructor of courses in which you are enrolled. This information will be included in class lists that your instructors download from PAWS.
Some instructors may not ask that clickers be registered. If none of your instructors require you to register your clicker, then you do not need register it.
If you lose or break a clicker, you should remove your clicker registration so that subsequent use is no longer associated with your name. You can register a new clicker after you have removed your clicker registration for the lost or broken clicker. The system will keep a record of clickers that have been registered to you, including when they were registered and when they were removed.
Using Your Clicker
When using your clicker, you will notice that it flashes different colours. The colours have different meanings.
- Green: Confirmation that your response was received by the receiver
- Orange: The clicker has sent your response but is waiting for confirmation that it has been received
- Red: Your response was not received by the receiver
- Green and Red: You are in channel changing mode
- Flashing Orange: Your clicker is on the wrong channel
Changing the RF Channel on Your Clicker
Your clicker and the receiver in the classroom need to be on the same channel (radio frequency) in order for the receiver to receive your responses. The default channel is 41. Your instructors may indicate that you need to use a different channel. Channels range from 01 to 82.
To change the channel on your clicker to a particular frequency, press Go – # – # – Go. For example, to set your clicker to the default channel you would press: Go – 4 – 1 – Go. If you are on the wrong channel, your clicker will flash orange for eight seconds and then turn red. On newer clickers, the "Go" button has been replaced with a button labeled "CH" or "Channel". Otherwise, the steps to tune your clicker remain the same.
Removing Your Clicker Registration
You may wish to remove your clicker registration if you no longer need it, or if it becomes lost, stolen or broken. You can remove your own clicker registration using PAWS.
- Log in to PAWS.
- Select the Academics tab.
- Locate the Clicker Management channel and click on the Clicker Management link. This will open the Manage Clicker section in MITS.
- Click the Remove Clicker Registration button.
- Click the Logout link to exit the MITS application.
If you change your clicker registration it is important that you inform the instructors of all your courses that are using clickers. This is so that they can update their class lists with your new clicker Device ID. Many instructors may not update their class lists unless they become aware of a change.
Please Note: The clicker registration system will not be used to track lost or stolen clickers. You cannot ask to see if anyone has registered the clicker you lost.
Getting Help
Instructors are responsible for class policy on how they will deal with a dead battery or a lost, broken or forgotten clicker during a class or quizzes.
If you have a problem with clicker registration contact the ICT Help Desk or your college IT support staff.
If you suspect the clicker is not working, contact the ICT Help Desk. The ICT Help Desk, located in Room 70 Arts, has the tools to test your clicker and validate whether it is working or not.
For warranty work, batteries, or a replacement clicker, visit the Campus Computer Store.
