topClickers
for Elemusicians
A
Quick and Dirty Primer
(which may or may not get fleshed out later)
by Martha Stanley, NBCT
Why NOT use clickers? IR or RF? Cost? Brands? Ideas for using clickers in your elementary music classroom (soon) |
"Clickers" seems to be the generic name for small, wireless, handheld remote units that allow a user to press a key on a keypad, which sends a signal to a receiver. The data goes into a computer which then aggregates the data and allows one to see group and/or individual answers. They are not used a whole lot yet in elementary schools, but many colleges use them quite a lot. (http://www.classroomclickers.com/)
Information online for elementary music teachers and clickers is virtually non-existent. There is an elementary music group for clickers at Yahoogroups (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ElemusicClickers). The archives are open for you to read, but to post you must join.
Other than that, elemusic teachers wanting more information will find almost all the info out there to be for college applications. But things are changing a little. Enough elemusicians are finding out about clickers that I am getting a lot of questions that I don't have time to answer individually. So I am taking the easy way out and writing it all down once. I also welcome your input to make this primer more complete and/or more useful. I'm not an expert - I'm just one of the few who has discovered clickers and is trying to make them work.
Clickers allow every student to respond to questions privately. That holds the students completely accountable - they can't hide if they're shy or if they don't know an answer. The bright quiet ones you didn't know were there become apparent to you; the vocal ones that you mistakenly thought knew the content will also become apparent.
In the elementary music world, we don't have a lot of time to do individual assessment. This technology allows every student to respond to questions and then allows the teacher to capture every response on the computer for both instant and follow-up assessment. Teachers can assess and sort the information without any paper.
Most clicker systems will export to a digital grade book. My Turning Technologies system (which I dearly love) exports easily to Easy Grade Pro, so I can do a clicker activity, save it, and export the information right into Easy Grade Pro. It takes a few clicks, but HONEY! It's so much easier and faster than doing it all by hand!
For the regular classroom teacher, clickers from many vendors will also have lists of questions directly tied to their states' instructional standards. Of course, music isn't one of the content areas available.... boo hiss. Just think, though. How cool would THAT be?! But if you get the clickers for your room first, other teachers can buy their own clickers/receivers and download the software (usually free). Typically, they will be able to use the standards materials in their classrooms since a school site license for that information is included in your package. This needs to be verified with each provider, of course.
I should point how that if you don't know the programs, you will have a bit of a learning curve. Be prepared for it. You wouldn't expect to play a Bach fugue on a new instrument after just a few lessons, would you? Don't be frustrated - just don't expect it to do everything you want in a month. Give yourself time to learn it before you completely replace your former systems. Turning Technologies has really good online training and good customer support, in my experience. Unless you have someone around who can mentor you (remember when you were first learning a new program?), that training and support is crucial.
What hardware and software are required?
There are several systems out there that elemusic teachers use. Some are part of a package that includes an interactive board (Smart and Promethean are two well known brands). Some need only a computer and a digital projector. Some don't even need that! Some require that you use their software to develop the question slides. Some require that you use their brand of interactive board to work. Others allow more freedom.
The basic equipment will be the clickers, the software, a receiver (which is usually quite unobtrusive), a computer and a digital projector. There is even a new system from Turning Technologies that lets you do clicker assessment on the go - in the woods, on a field trip, for example. (http://www.turningtechnologies.com/responsecardanywhere.cfm)
Many companies offer their software as a free download from their sites. You can download it and play with it before you buy.
There are many times in an elementary music class where clicker usage is undesirable. Kids need to be doing music, making music, thinking about music, manipulating musical elements. Clickers can be a good tool for the "academic" portions of our curriculum, but EXTREME care needs to be taken to retain a good balance in our curriculum. "Factual" music can be tested with clickers appropriately; singing on pitch, playing a bordun on a beat cannot be tested with clickers. Creative teachers will certainly be able to find ways for students to use their own assessment/critical thinking skills with clickers, but teaching and testing only the cognitive will kill a music program. We need to remember to use music to teach music, to open hearts and minds, to develop musicians. We must be careful that we don't end up with a lot of little theoretical musicians and musicologists who can name 36 composers and their style periods, countries of origin and main compositions.
Infrared (IR) or Radio Frequency (RF)?
There are two
types of signals used in clickers and we have to choose which we prefer. For most of us, the choice may come down to cost. RF
receivers are more costly. Are they better? Well, maybe, but
then I can drive to town just fine in my Beetle, Chevy or in my Mercedes. All
work to get me to town. So what's the difference between IR and RF
and should I care?
The IR signal, an invisible light beam emitted from
the remote to the receiver, works like the visible light from a flashlight. The
infrared signal will not go through heads, desks, tall drums (I know this
from experience).
But
it
works
fine. It
will also not go through walls into the classroom next door where it could
easily
interfere with that teacher's receiver. The signal needs to
be a little more carefully pointed toward the receiver, but not significantly
so. My limited understanding is that most clickers sold for small classrooms
(rather than large groups like in college) are IR's. I await better data....
The RF signal is a radio signal, and like your radio, it will
go through walls, heads, your desk. And maybe into the next room. It is
also more costly.
The general consensus seems to be to get the RF if you can afford it
but I haven't really divined why other than "cool" factor. My
geeky nature was upset to be limited to the IR choice by cost, but it has
worked
well if I remember to avoid standing in front of the receiver. The RF signal
would avoid that problem.
The costs vary considerably. In January, 2008, I was
able to get 32 IR remotes, the software, the manuals and a great little case
for
about $900. Add tax, tag and dealer prep and it came in less than $1000
which was great because that was the grant limit. (Mille grazia to the
Florida Elementary Music Educators!) You
will hear much higher costs bandied about. Do your homework before
you buy.
Brands available
The listings are for information only.
Absolutely no endorsement
is made for any of them except Turning Technologies, which I do own and use.
I don't know enough about the others to venture an opinion.
Beyond Question: Smartroom.com
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Updated July 21,
2008