i>clicker at U-M

i>clicker is the classroom clicker solution supported by CAEN (Engineering), LSA, Public Policy, Kinesiology, Music, Information, Public Health, and the Library. Many Engineering students already have i>clicker remotes for other classes, and instructors using i>clicker have indicated that it is very robust and easy to use.

The i>clicker software consists of two stand-alone applications that run on all recent versions of Windows and Mac OS. They do not require installation, administrative privileges, nor any other software packages (such as Powerpoint) to run. Instructors and IT support staff at LSA and Engineering have found the software to be extremely reliable, and polling sessions may be easily resumed if interrupted for any reason.

System Requirements

During class, you will need access to a computer running Windows or OS X with an available USB port for the i>clicker receiver. Prior to class, instructor software for i>clicker should be downloaded from the web ahead of time. The instructor software does not require installation, and it can be copied and run from a USB drive or the hard drive of the presenter's computer. Network access is not required during class, and questions do not need to be prepared in advance (although it often helps). The polling data is stored in a folder with the instructor software, either on the USB drive or the hard drive of the presenter's computer.

Getting an i>clicker Instructor Kit

Instructor kits are available from CAEN free of charge for College of Engineering instructors. In exchange, prior to and following each term in which i>clicker is used, instructors will be asked several survey questions about their usage and opinions of i>clicker for that term. Supplies are currently limited, so instructor kits must be returned at the end of each term unless a continuing need is demonstrated.

If you are interested in a demonstration of the i>clicker system, or if you would like to use it in an Engineering course, please contact CAEN and we will be happy to make the arrangements.

Other i>clicker Uses

CAEN is focusing its clicker support efforts on instructional use, but we will accommodate to the best of our ability other uses of benefit to the College of Engineering, such as special events, seminars, and meetings. Please contact CAEN for more information.

Successful Clicker Use

Going beyond the technical details of using clickers, much research has gone into using them effectively in the classroom. The following links provide some advice and suggestions that may be helpful:

• Teaching with Clickers, by Erping Zhu, University of Michigan CRLT


• Classroom Response Systems, by Derek Bruff, Vanderbilt Center for Teaching


• Tips for Successful Clicker Use, by Dr. Douglas Duncan, University of Colorado