Clicker systems allow for interactive learning and participation. They provide immediate feedback from all students to the instructor and class. This technology helps achieve higher levels of student-instructor interaction in a large lecture environment, where participation is traditionally difficult to achieve.

The current standard for the UW is the Turning Technologies' Turning Point audience response system. The components instructors need to incorporate clickers into their curriculum include: a) the free downloaded software used to prepare the clicker questions; b) the USB receiver/dongle that plugs into the computer used in the classroom, and c) individual student response pads. Instructors download the software directly and purchase the USB receiver/dongle directly from Turning Technologies at http://www.turningtechnologies.com/. Instructors order student response pads from the University Bookstore in conjunction with their book orders for the coming quarter.

CSS has a limited number of USB Receiver/dongles and student response pads available to faculty to try out clickers before they make the decision to use clickers in their courses. Instructors who would like to use Audience Response Systems in the classroom can contact our help desk to find out more information.

CSS Help Desk Contact Info:
Email: classrm@u
Phone: 206.543.9900
Web: CSS Help Desk

CSS Resources:

• Clicker FAQ

UW Articles:

• Interactive Technologies at the University of Washington
• CIDR Teaching and Learning Bulletin
• Prescribed Active Learning Increases Performance in Introductory Biology
• Clickers in the Large Classroom: Current Research and Best-Practice Tips
• Assessment of the Effects of Student Response Systems on Student Learning and Attitudes over a Broad Range of Biology Courses

Other links:

• Clickers in the Classroom: An Active Learning Approach