Skip main content and go to side navigation

Where am I?

Email This Page

What is a Clicker?

Never heard of a clicker or "audience response system"?

"Audience response systems are powerful tools that have enabled me to address some of my most frustrating problems as a teacher."
- Trevor Milliron, Associate Professor of Psychology at Lee University
"i>clicker is a versatile, easy to use electronic multiple choice device that helps provide instant feedback on what students are learning. The students have fun using i>clicker and learn at the same time." - Dean Antic, St. Patrick High School 

In simple terms, an audience response system applies the technology used on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" to a learning environment. Students can instantly provide feedback and answer questions posed by their instructors.

  • Each student uses a "clicker," a portable, handheld device that allows students to vote by "clicking" on the appropriate button for his/her choice.
  • Each instructor uses a receiver that collects votes sent by students’ clickers. Light and portable, the receiver is powered through any computer’s USB port.
  • Instructors present a question and enable polling.
  • Each student responds by “clicking” the appropriate button for his or her choice.
  • A wireless signal is sent immediately from each responding clicker to the receiver.
  • The receiver, through i>clicker’s easy-to-use software, logs and stores the data of each individual student.
  • The instructor can then display voting results in a graph, to the audience.
  • The results are also available for later analysis, grading, and exporting to any gradebook software or course management system.

Using a clicker or audience response system can significantly change the way you and your students interact by enabling you to assess your students' knowledge, keep their attention, provide immediate feedback, and encourage all students to participate. An audience response system can also be used in conference settings to poll the audience on any content you wish.

For more information on how to use i>clicker effectively, please visit our User Community.

Go back to main content | Go back to main navigation

Go back to main content | Go back to main navigation

Go back to main content | Go back to main navigation