Classroom Response Systems

What are Classroom Response Systems?
This technology allows large groups of people to provide specific feedback on a topic or answer a specific question posed during a lecture or presentation. Each participant has a remote control (nicknamed a Clicker) or mobile device accessing a cloud based Clicker application on which numerical, alphabetical or true/false selections can be made.

After a set time - or when all participants have answered - the system provides the results of the question and generally displays the results to the participants via a bar graph displayed on the screen.

Clickers allow for active participation by all students and provide immediate feedback to the instructor—and the students—about any confusion or misunderstandings of the material being presented.

Why should I use Classroom Response Systems?
Interaction and feedback are particularly challenging in large lecture environments, where class size limits faculty-student interaction. Clickers can be used to ensure students understand fundamental concepts where getting the answer right is less important than identifying a knowledge gap or misconception. Lecturers use these devices to help keep their students motivated and engaged in what’s going on in class.

Although they are particularly valuable in large lecture classes, they are also useful in small classes. Lecturers can utilize clickers to bring small group discussions to their large lecture classes. Clickers also provide lecturers with the ability to fine-tune their instruction based on student responses. Lecturers can make adjustments or adaptations to their course as needed in any given situation.

For students they provide a quick way to validate their own learning, helping them identify areas that need improvement. Clickers can also be used to gauge student opinion on controversial or sensitive issues. They are often used to catalyse debate and discussion, turning a passive lecture into an interactive exchange.

Data from clicker sessions can be reviewed by lecturers or tutors and reported against to provide overall feedback and areas for review or improvement on course content.

Clicker technology allows you to:


 * Improve attentiveness;
 * Increase knowledge retention;
 * Poll anonymously and display polling results immediately;
 * Track individual responses;
 * Create an interactive and fun learning environment;
 * Confirm audience understanding of key points immediately;
 * Instantly gather data for reporting and analysis.

How do I use Classroom Response Systems?
Victoria provides two ways of using this type of technology.

A cloud software based classroom response system GoSoapBox is free to use and provides the features of the physical clickers through a web interface. Students need to use a smartphone, tablet or laptop in class, but often can share a single device.

Hardware clickers (currently being phased out) are available for use in designated teaching spaces. When you are requesting rooms for teaching you should indicate clearly in your booking your intention to use the hardware as we have limited numbers of them and they are moved as needed to support the most users.


 * Clicker Instructions for Users eInstruction Response Clicker System, ITS.
 * YouTube video channel for the eInstruction Response software.


 * Clickers manual Victoria Business School.
 * Training Videos These are for the hand held Clickers installed in the Lecture Theatres (eInstruction Clickers).

How do I access Classroom Response Systems?
The cloud based clicker apps are available to use in any teaching environment. GoSoapBox can be accessed via a web browser or mobile app.

The hardware version of the Classroom Response system is delivered using the eInstruction Response software and Cricket clicker RF hardware. To make your slide presentation into a Response presentation, you need to have the eInstruction Response software installed on you computer.

The Clickers are installed in designated lecture theatres, these are allocated via the 'timetabling. The eInstruction Response software is installed on these computers.

Support for Classroom Response Systems
If you have a technical or administration query, the ITS Service desk is your first point of contact, telephone: 04 463 5050.

Individualised support using this technology in your teaching is available from the CATs (Contacts for Academic Technology).

Support is also available from Centre for Academic Development (CAD) staff please send an e-mail to [mailto:cad-contact@vuw.ac.nz CAD-Contact] or contact CAD staff, Stephen Marshall, Irina Elgort or Namali Suraweera.

Additional Information
Clicker Questions (Wiki) Clicker Questions, a wiki that aims to promote student engagement and stimulate higher-order learning through the use of clickers in undergraduate lectures. Created by Kevin Gould is Professor of Plant Biology in the School of Biological Sciences at Victoria University of Wellington.

Blooms Question Guide This quick guide provides wording to focus student feedback questions on differing levels of Blooms Taxonomy.