FAQ for i>Clicker
1.What is i>Clicker?
i>Clicker is a response system through which students can interact within a lecture, contributing responses that can be detected only by the receiving hardware. So, for example, you can respond to a question posed in class without other students around you knowing your answer. The handheld input device you will have allows responses to multiple choice or true/false type questions.
2.Why are we using i>Clicker?
There is much research to indicate that increasing student interaction within a lecture enhances learning. The following links to numerous publications on the topic: . The aim is for you to be fully engaged in the lectures. It is also hoped that the lecturers will be able to identify problem areas and address them directly in the lectures, rather than either spending time on material that most students fully understand or skimming through material many students do not grasp.
3.Where can I get one, and how much will it cost?
The handheld i>Clicker devices can be bought from the UBC bookstore. The present cost is: $43.20 (plus tax) new / $32.40 used. You should be able to sell your clicker back to the bookstore for 50% of what you paid. The clicker / a rebate coupon may be packaged with your text for an additional discount.
4. Can I share a clicker with a friend?
- You and your friend should never be in the same class or section. If this is ever a possibility, do not share your clicker.
- If you are confident that this will never happen, then both you and your friend should register the clicker at as if it is your own.
- Remember once you register, you cannot unregister a clicker.
5.Do I have to register my clicker if I already did for another course?
As long as you have registered your clicker for one course, you need not register itagain for other courses that you take within the same term.
6.Will my i>Clicker responses count towards my grade?
Yes, i>Clicker responses will carry a weighting of 5% of the final grade. You will be evaluated based on both attendance and performance (some credit will be given for attendance in a lecture, even if no correct responses were submitted). In addition, should your final grade be “borderline” (say, close to the pass/fail or B+/A- boundaries), special consideration will be given to your i>Clicker answers.
7.What if I miss a class?
There will be no marks awarded for the first three lectures, since it is expected that not all students will have their i>Clicker devices in the first week. After that, marks will be recorded for each student for each lecture. You will be allowed to be absent for up to three lectures beyond the first three. That is to say, you may be absent from three lectures without penalty. A fourth lecture missed, however, will score zero. There will be no claims for extenuating circumstances considered for absence at lectures. Should you find that you are required to miss substantially more than three lectures you should arrange to speak to your instructor.
8.Can I attend any lecture section for clicker participation?
No, you should always attend the lectures for the section on which you are registered. If you attend a different lecture section, your clicker inputs will not be recorded. Note that the questions posed will not be the same in each section, and it is possible that the sections will not be synchronised exactly.
Note: If you switch to another lecture section permanently (via the SSC) after Wed Sep 15, 2010, you should notify the instructor of the new section on: (i) the date of registration in the new section and (ii) your former lecture section.
9.Can I bring more than one i>Clicker to class?
No, responses may not be submitted by proxy. Any student caught responding to in-class questions with more than one i>Clicker device will be considered to have committed an academic offence. This is also true for cases where a student has passed his/her i>Clicker to another student during the lecture. Our rule is “One student, one clicker.”.
10.What if I forget my i>Clicker? Will there be spare ones to hand out?
You should ensure you have your i>Clicker with you for each class, as spare ones will not be available to give out.
11.What if I change my mind after entering an answer to a question?
You can change your response as many times as you want per question, up to when the time permitted for that question runs out. Your final answer will be recorded for grading purposes.
12.Will I need my i>Clicker for the midterm tests and final exam?
No. You will need your i>Clicker in lectures only.
13.What if my battery runs out?
Your i>Clicker device will warn you when about 10 hours of battery life remains. At that point it is advisable to carry a spare AAA battery.
14.What if my clicker is broken?
i>Clicker offers a standard one-year limited warranty on each new i>clicker remote. If a clicker is defective, the process of returning it will depend upon how it was obtained or purchased. If your student purchased their remote through the UBC campus bookstore, students may return it to the bookstore with proof of purchase. I>clicker will replace the defective remote or credit the bookstore (at the direction of the bookstore manager). If purchased as a department or in a class set, you will need to contact us at to request a replacement and return the defective unit to us for analysis.
Should you obtain a new clicker during the term, you must register it at (you should be able to do the registration even if it is past the registration deadline). You need not unregister your old clicker (in fact, the system does not allow you to unregister a clicker).