iClicker and Canvas at BYU

BYU Canvas Info Center iClicker and Canvas at BYU

A Guide for Instructors, Updated February 2020

Obtaining iClicker Base Units:

    • required for connecting with iClicker student and instructor remotes
    • compatible with iClicker Cloud and iClicker Classic instructor software
  • Available for check-out at 158 TMCB (801-422-8863) - Calling ahead is a good idea, to assure a base is available for your class time and speed the pick-up time.
  • For trial or occasional use, a complete classroom setup can be reserved for checkout by calling BYU Center for Teaching and Learning (in the Harold B. Lee Library) at 801-422-8180.
  • Base units are no longer available through BYU's Office of Information Technology (OIT).

 

Introduction

Canvas at Brigham Young University is ready for you to use iClickers in class. With iClicker, you can collect live attendance and response data from your students during class, making your teaching more interactive. Polling results can also be sent as assessment data to the Canvas gradebook, allowing you to award assignment credit for correct responses in class.

Here are some introductory things to know about iClicker, Canvas, and BYU:

  • Setup is free and fairly simple for instructors using Canvas using iClicker software available for Windows and MacOS.
  • Instructor software comes in two varieties: iClicker Classic (working with remotes only) and iClicker Cloud (working with remotes or students' personal devices, i.e. mobile phones and laptops)
  • A separate base unit, which connects to the instructor's computer, is required for instructors with students using iClicker remotes. These base units are available for check-out by BYU instructors.
  • The instructor's hardware and software setup determines which options (iClicker remotes, and/or personal devices) are available to students in a given class.

Getting Started, Making Decisions

First, you will need to decide which implementation of iClicker you will use in your class(es): iClicker Classic, or iClicker Cloud. Both systems are compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems.

Below is a summary of features and requirements to help you decide:

iClicker Classic iClicker Cloud
Available at BYU Yes Yes
Requires an Internet connection No Yes
Compatible with laptops and mobile devices No Yes
Compatible with iClicker remotes Yes, with a base unit connected Yes, with a base unit connected
Records attendance with GPS verification No Yes
Extended question types No Yes
Requires a base unit (available for check-out at BYU) Yes Only if using iClicker remotes
Secure, 'devices-off' assessment Yes, with iClicker remotes With Focus, coming in 2020, mobile app will block use of other software during assessment
Currently supported by iClicker Yes Yes

iClicker Remotes: To Use or Not to Use

Whether to require iClicker remotes in your class will depend on what you want / need to do.  Here are some considerations:

iClicker + 
iclicker +.png

iClicker 2

iclicker2.png

Laptop / mobile device
(iClicker Reef app or Web service)
devices.png

Relative cost

Lower Higher No additional purchase (if student has compatible hardware)
Display No display  Simple display  Fully developed interface
Base unit required Yes Yes No
Internet connection required No No Yes
General availability at BYU Store (check with BYU Store for most current stock information) Yes No N/A
Available for online purchase Yes Yes iClicker Reef app- Free download on App Store, Google Play
No-distractions quizzing  Helpful Helpful Difficult to monitor, but iClicker Focus (available in 2020) can lock-out other software
Asynchronous quizzing (independent question navigation) No Yes Yes

Related questions

Is support available?

Yes! Support for iClicker is available through BYU OIT Links to an external site. (for instructors using Canvas LMS), BYU Center for Teaching and Learning Links to an external site. (for instructors using Learning Suite), and directly from iClicker Links to an external site.

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