iClickers in Lecture

NEW for Fall 2014!

We will be using iClickers during lecture (Tuesdays & Fridays) to increase participation and engagement in lectures and allow the instructor to accurately gauge student understanding & absorption of the material. iClicker lecture exercises will be clearly identified in lecture as either "individual" or "collaborative". For collaborative questions you are encouraged to discuss the problem with the students sitting around you.

iClicker lecture exercises will not be directly factored into the semester grade. However, as an incentive for participation and correct answers to these exercises, students will be able to earn extra homework late days and priority TA/mentor help during crowded office hours. Furthermore, iClicker exercises from lecture may appear on future tests!

We will generally have have 3-4 iClicker questions per lecture. Participation in a poll question (no correct answer) is worth 1.0 points. A correct answer on a non-poll question is worth 1.0 points. An incorrect answer on a non-poll question is worth 0.5 points. No answer on either a poll or non-poll question is 0.0 points.

When a student earns 25.0 iClicker points, he/she will receive a 3rd late day. After 50.0 iClicker points the student receives a 4th late day. Earned late days may not be applied to previous homeworks.

During busy office hours, students who have strong iClicker participation from the most recent 3-4 lectures (at least 8.0 / 12.0 points) will be eligible for the "Priority Help Queue".

Where to get an iClicker

Students who received the Rensselaer Mobile Computing Package in Fall 2007, and afterwards, received iClickers as part of that package. The Campus Computer Store has iClickers available for about $32 to accommodate students whose Mobile Computing Package predates 2007 or are otherwise without an iClicker.

You may borrow or buy a used iClicker from another student who does not need their iClicker this semester. You may not "share" an iClicker with another student in Data Structures this semester.

You are responsible for bringing your iClicker to lecture with live batteries. Carrying backup batteries is highly recommended.

iClicker Registration

When you answer a question during lecture, the iClicker transmits its "Remote ID" along with the your chosen response to the instructor's receiver and recording software. To receive credit for your answers, you must register your Remote IDs with your RCS ID. Registration of your iClicker is necessary at the start of every semester because the database is purged at the end of every semester.

For "Student ID", use your RCS ID --- the first part of your @rpi.edu email address. Do not use your RIN --- your 9 digit ID card number.

For "Remote ID", use the number adjacent to the battery access panel on the back of the iClicker. We suggest you record your iClicker serial number and keep it in several safe places. If your serial number has worn away and is unreadable, take your iClicker remote to the VCC help desk and they can tell you the Remote ID.

If you make a mistake in registering your iClicker, perhaps using RIN instead of RCS ID, simply repeat the registration process.

Academic Dishonesty

iClickers responses will be used to earn incentives for the Data Structures course. Responding to questions with another individual's iClicker constitutes academic dishonesty. If we find anyone using an iClicker that is registered to another individual, using more than one iClicker during lecture, or copying answers or providing answers for "individual" lecture exercises, we will confiscate all iClickers involved and report the incident to the Dean of Students.

iClicker GO / WebClicker is not supported at RPI

iClicker GO / WebClicker is an app for smartphones, etc., that is advertised on the iClicker site. However, due to robustness and network issues with this more recent product, RPI does NOT support iClicker Go / WebClicker. You must have the iClicker remote hardware to participate in iClicker exercises.