What is the CPS audience response system?

CPS is a clicker system manufactured by eInstruction that allows the instructor to interact in real time with their students in a classroom or lecture hall. Instructors can poll students for just-in-time teaching or conduct attendance by having students respond to questions posted through the eInstruction software or a modified version of Microsoft Powerpoint.

You can join the "clickers" listserv at UMBC to communicate with others who are using or interested in using the tool.

FYI: Read OIT's 3/9/07 announcement about standardizing on CPS clickers or view Biology Professor Phil Sokolove's 4/18/07 "Brown Bag Demo" on how he uses CPS clickers in his Biology 100 "Introduction to Biology" course.

Click Here for Student Help

1. Contact New Media and Classroom Technologies
2. UMBC Bookstore
3. CPS Software
4. CPS Online Training Materials
5 .Creating an Instructor Accnt & Registering a Course in Bb
6. Registering Student Clickers in Blackboard
7. Using Clickers in Lecture Halls 7 & 8
8. Articles on "Clickers"

 

The CPS clicker system at UMBC is managed by OIT in cooperation with individual course instructors.

• The New Media Learning and Development group supports the pedogogical use of the tool and the integration into the Blackboard course management system. You can contact Bob Armstrong at ext.5-3885 or rarmstro@umbc.edu for more information.
  
  
• The Classroom Technologies group (AV Services) assists faculty with ensuring that the CPS receivers and software are installed and working properly in classrooms and lecture halls. You can contact Steve Anderson at ext. 5-3680 or sanderso@umbc.edu for more information.
  
  

If you are going to use clickers in your classroom, it is important that you contact the bookstore and let them know so that they will have an adequate supply of clickers for all courses.

Students can purchase the CPS clickers in the UMBC bookstore. The clickers cost approximately $21.50 new and can be used for multiple classes in multiple semesters. (Some publishers will offer a discount with the purchase of their textbooks.) Each semester, the student will be charged a one time fee of $13.00 enabling the student to use the clicker for as many classes as the students needs for that semester. If the student uses the clicker over multiple semesters, the per semester registration fee by eInstruction will cap out after three semesters or $39.00. Each subsequent semester is then free.

NOTE: Students can sell the clickers back to the bookstore at the end-of-term buy back if they are through using them.

CPS Software

The CPS software is available for both MACs and PCs and can be downloaded from eInstruction. The software consists of two major pieces:

• The CPS full release includes the software for developing response questions and lessons and enables the ability to sync rosters etc. with eInstruction online.
  
  
• CPS for PowerPoint allows the instructor to create PowerPoint presentations (Powerpoint 2003) and incorporate the audience response questions and lessons directly into the presentation.

NOTE: Once the software is downloaded and installed, the instructor needs to create a CPS instructor account by going to eInstruction.com.

EInstruction.com has created flash videos and online live training sessions that you can attend.

NOTE: OIT recommends that you participate in one of these training sessions to familiarize yourself with the software. These are the designated training materials for this product.

1. To create an eInstruction "Instructor" account and to register your Blackboard course in CPS go to the course "Tools" area.

NOTE: An eInstruction "instructor" account is required to register Blackboard courses in the CPS system.

2. Click on the "CPS Connection" link and then the "Register" button.

3. Complete all of the required fields in the form to register the course and click "Register the class" and create a new user "instructor" account if you don't already have one. (You can use the UMBC default "instructor setup code" to complete the process.)

NOTE: At the end of the registration process you will receive a class "key". Make sure to take note of the "key" and write it down. The key is only needed if you are NOT connecting and registering clickers through Blackboard. Using Blackboard is recommended for most courses.

Once the course has been registered in Blackboard by the instructor, the students can then return to the same location (Bb course -> Tools -> CPS Connection) and register their clickers.

NOTE: Remind students to register through the Blackboard course and not through eInstruction.com to maintain a consistant roster.

This document outlines how the Admissions Department uses clickers for student orientation. If you have questions about the document, contact Stan Kahn, Manager of Technical Services, Enrollment Division, OFC of Enrollment Management.

Clickers in the Large Classroom: Current Research and Best-Practice Tips
Jane E. Caldwell, Department of Biology, West Virgina University, Morgantown, WV 26506
American Society for Cell Biology, 2007

Student Response Systems: A University of Wisconsin System Study of Clickers
by Robert Kaleta and Tanya Joosten
Educause Connect, 5/8/2007

Classroom Clickers Make the Grade
Wired Magazine
Associated Press, 7/4/05

Clickers In Your Classroom
Wakonse E-Learning Newsletter
Fall 2004

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Bob Armstrong at 410.455.3885 or rarmstro@umbc.edu or blackboard@umbc.edu.