Amid so much change this fall, many educators are looking for ways to engage students in online or hybrid delivery models. 'Six Tips for Creating Engaging Active Learning Experiences Online' provides specific, research-based teaching tips for effectively engaging students in online and hybrid learning environments.  1. Take and Track Attendance Class attendance is one of the earliest predictors of student success. Yet many instructors note that online class attendance lags far below typical in-person attendance. You cannot engage students who are not present, so the first step is getting students to show up.  Encouraging Attendance Explain to students why you are tracking attendance and the positive correlation between attendance and grades.  Give students credit for attendance rather than penalizing them for missing class.  Provide students with a way to track their own attendance so that you and your students are always on the same page.  Take attendance at the beginning of class and again at the end to ensure that students are present the whole time. Or, end class with a polling question and give credit for answering it. How iClicker Can Help Use iClicker’s attendance functionality to automate attendance tracking. Set the date, time, and location of your course and students will be reminded to “check-in” 15 minutes before class begins. Enable  iClicker’s optional geolocation feature to ensure students are physically in class when they “check-in.” For online class sessions, disable this option. 2. Ask Opening Questions Retrieval practice is a great way to begin each class as it allows students to activate previous knowledge. This also helps instructors understand what students have retained from a previous class or pre-class assignment.  Asking Effective Opening Questions  Make your opening question the first slide in your presentation. Or, write the question on the board, a digital whiteboard, or ask the question verbally.  Display the question at the start of class and remove it from view after a few minutes to encourage students to show up on time.  Start class with a question about material that was previously learned. For example, begin with a question like, “Tell me one of the key concepts we learned from the last class.” or “Write a key takeaway from last night’s reading.”  Let students answer the opening question orally, in writing, or with a student response solution. Give credit for answering the opening question.  How iClicker Can Help  Use short answer questions in iClicker to allow students to answer the question in their own words, rather than just selecting from multiple-choice options.  Share the opening question results with the class and quickly review the key points to reinforce previously learned concepts.  Show the results of short answer questions as a word cloud to illustrate the key concepts in students’ responses. 3. “Reset the Clock” with Polling Questions Research indicates that students’ attention declines throughout the course of a lecture. Distractions in a student’s ambient surroundings when in a remote environment can make concentrating even more difficult. “Chunking” content into segments is an effective instructional methodology to address this because it “resets” the attention span clock. Beginning each content segment with a polling question activates students’ thinking by requiring them to engage with the content.  “Resetting the Clock” with Polling Questions Ask questions every 7 to 10 minutes to reset attention spans.  Use questions to support content “chunking.” Ask each student to answer the question, so every student’s clock is reset. A show of hands can work for this. A student engagement system makes this even easier, and allows you to track students’ responses and provide credit for participation.  Give points for answering each question to motivate every student to participate, whether they respond correctly or not. How iClicker Can Help Get started in minutes with iClicker’s simple set-up and interface.  Deliver a variety of question types with a click of a button. iClicker’s diverse question types (i.e. anonymous, short answer, target) support multimodal teaching, which has been shown to improve engagement and foster deep learning.  Know that iClicker’s student engagement solution has been shown to improve student outcomes.  4. Use the Socratic Method Socratic questioning—about fundamental or more advanced concepts—is a great way to engage students. A hallmark of the Socratic method is posing open-ended questions that require learners to think critically, rather than simply retrieving and reciting information the instructor has shared.  Introducing the Socratic Method Pose open-ended questions. Click here for sample Socratic questions from R.W. Paul.  Allow students to answer questions using their mobile devices or laptop. Show a visual of the results and use the results to identify and correct student misconceptions.  Ask students to discuss the results and check to see if they would like to change their initial answer as they listen to one another’s responses and rationales.  Use Socratic questions as anchors for small group breakout discussions. When class sessions are online, many webconferencing services allow instructors to create breakout rooms to facilitate small group discussions. How iClicker Can Help Use the iClicker short answer question type. They are perfect for open-ended, “Socratic” questions, allowing students to answer in their own words, rather than just selecting from multiple-choice options.  Show the results of short answer questions as a word cloud to illustrate the key concepts in students’ responses.  Use iClicker's Assignment feature to ensure students have read the material prior to synchronous class sessions. Students' answers can reveal possible misconceptions that need to be addressed during the next class session. 5. Create On-Screen “Action” Sometimes a change of scenery is nice—and can help capture students’ attention. Using dynamic presentation tools and images makes for livelier class time and deeper student engagement. Creating On-Screen “Action” Use a ‘digital pencil’ to illustrate key concepts while speaking. Many tablets and newer laptops have drawing tools that replicate the “writing on the whiteboard” experience of an in-person class.  Move beyond static, text-heavy slides by incorporating illustrations, YouTube videos, 3D modeling software, interactive presentation software like Prezi, or even memes.  Include “checkpoint” questions at the end of your pre-recorded lecture to encourage students to pay careful attention and to help shape synchronous class discussions or asynchronous discussion board topics. How iClicker Can Help Administer multiple question types (short answer, target, numeric, multiple select) over any image on your screen with iClicker.  Ask about anything on your screen. iClicker Cloud “floats” on top of any software application so you can pose questions— and track students’ answers—about anything you’re showing.  Administer low-stakes, formative assessments (using iClicker’s assignment feature) that students can complete outside of class sessions. The feature can be used to support asynchronous learning or “flip” your in-person class sessions.  Add questions in your lecture videos (with iClicker’s assignment feature) so students can answer questions on their own time. 6. Ask Closing Questions Learning research suggests that awareness of learning enhances it8. Asking closing questions can be a simple, but effective cognitive tool to support deeper learning. Because closing questions illustrate how well students understand the concepts covered in class, you have an opportunity to clarify or provide additional resources where necessary.  Asking Effective Closing Questions Finalize the class session by asking a question about a key concept you just covered.  Assign participation points for answering the closing question to encourage students to stay until the end of the class session—and reflect on their learning. Review a summary of student responses and use them to inform content or review coverage for the next class session.  Use discussion board or announcement features to address any common misconceptions revealed by students’ answers to the closing question.  How iClicker Can Help Deploy an exit poll with a single click in iClicker. iClicker’s exit polling feature asks students to rate their understanding of the content covered in class, giving you immediate insight into students’ perceptions of their own understanding.  Use the iClicker assignments feature to get feedback on student confidence and preparedness. It’s an opportunity for your class to let you know how they’re feeling about what you’ve been teaching and what lies ahead. References More than Meets the Eye: Educational Research on the Connection Between Attendance and Student Outcomes. (n.d.). Retrieved August 7, 2020, from https://go.macmillanlearning.com/rs/122-CFG-317/images/CQ.191009.FILE-WP. %5BAttendance-Formative-Indicator-Success%5D.pdf    GONZALEZ, J. (2020, June 13). Retrieval Practice: The Most Powerful Learning Strategy You’re Not Using. Retrieved August 07, 2020, from https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/retrieval-practice/ How Long Can Students Pay Attention in Class? A Study of Student Attention Decline Using Clickers. (2010, December 1). Retrieved August 07, 2020, from https://pubs.acs.org/ doi/abs/10.1021/ed100409p  Malamed, C. (2012, July 24). Chunking Information for Instructional Design. Retrieved August 07, 2020, from http://theelearningcoach.com/elearning_design/chunking-information/2 Active Learning Simplified [PDF]. (2018, January). Macmillan Learning. http://prod-cat-files.macmillan.cloud/MediaResources/instructorcatalog/college/learning-science/2019_iclicker_infographic.pdf An Efficacy study of iClicker: The Impact on Academic Performance [PDF] (2019, January). Macmillan Learning. http://prod-cat-files.macmillan.cloud/MediaResources/instructorcatalog/college/learning-science/2019_iclicker_research_note.pdf Sutton, J., Ph.D. (2020, July 28). Socratic Questioning in Psychology: Examples and Techniques. Retrieved August 07, 2020, from https://positivepsychology.com/socratic-questioning/ Tools for Formative Assessment: Muddiest Point. (2017, November 27). University of North Texas. Retrieved April 3, 2020, from https://www.unthsc.edu/center-for-innovative-learning/muddiest-point/   iClicker - 6 Tips for Engaging Students Online.pdf   ... View more

University of Louisville Psychology Professor, Edna Ross, shares how using iClicker’s mobile app and Perusall helped foster active learning during in-person and online learning experiences when her class quickly transitioned from in-person to online due to COVID-19 in spring 2020.  ... View more

The University of Tennessee at Martin used data from the iClicker Insights COVID Intervention Needs Survey to identify and intervene with students who were a retention risk.  The survey helped identify student satisfaction risks like low sense of belonging, no plans to return in fall and financial concerns. The short survey made administration and intervention simple.   Want to see how micro-surveys for COVID-19 Interventions and Outcomes can help. Click here to join one of our recurring 'Office Hour' sessions.  ... View more

ON-DEMAND The most important result from the last twenty years of classroom research has been the shift from “teacher-centered” to “student-centered” teaching; the so-called: Active Learning revolution. Yet this effort is incomplete since it has narrowed its focus to the question of HOW students learn. And for teaching to be “student-centered” one must first understand WHY students WANT to learn. By understanding student motivation we would be able to fully integrate them into their learning process. Using the definition of curiosity offered by cognitive scientists (Loewenstein’s Information Gap Theory of Curiosity), this workshop will provide some basic strategies instructors can use right away to motivate students to learn by creating curiosity. I then place the concept of student motivation in the context of the modern role of the instructor. The end goal is to inspire and empower instructors to appreciate the value of human instruction in the age of the teaching machine.     Access the recording today! ACCESS RECORDING ... View more

If you’re transitioning to remote instruction in response to COVID-19, we know that you don’t necessarily have the time to design an entirely new, online course with new content in a new system. This video will show how iClicker interacts with your existing lecture content and video conferencing software to engage students wherever they are. ... View more

On-Demand Teaching and learning in 2020 have required a whole new level of flexibility. Enter iClicker’s new Assignments feature, which engages students with pre-authored questions that they work through on their own schedule. In this webinar, iClicker training specialist Lindsey Thomas will explain how Assignments can be used for a wide range of teaching scenarios: whether you’re delivering classes synchronously or asynchronously, online or face-to-face, or whether you want to engage students before, during, or after class. Lindsey will show you how to create questions, set up an Assignment in your iClicker Cloud course, and track student progress. You’ll even have a chance to participate using our iClicker student app to get a feel for the student experience. This will be a great chance to ask any questions you might have about using iClicker in asynchronous and/or remote classes before the fall term begins.   Access the recording today! WATCH RECORDING Presented by: iClicker Training and Documentation Manager, Lindsey Thomas ... View more

This video shows instructors how to create and manage Assignments in iClicker Cloud. The Assignments activity type is a flexible, low stakes student engagement solution that can be used for asynchronous learning. Assignments are also great for pre-class, post-class, breakout, or lab activities in synchronous classes. ... View more

Whether you’re an instructor or administrator, you’re probably staring down your institution’s class start date and have lots of questions. Teaching online and contemplating how to keep students from zoning out on video calls? Delivering your course asynchronously and want to keep students engaged with your video lectures? Committing to a hybrid format and evaluating the myriad of options available? Or maybe you’re an administrator that’s wondering how to support all of these different formats. No matter your role or where you are in planning - we’re here to help. Join this webinar to hear from our student engagement pros on how they are tackling their Fall plans. Solina Lindahl (California Polytechnic University) and Matt Evans (University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire) will offer an instructor’s perspective on planning for engagement in hybrid and online course formats, while Grace Tuttle (Boise State University) will share how she’s navigating her university’s needs as an administrator.     Access the recording today! Watch Recording ... View more

This Fall, instructors will be tasked with engaging students in a variety of different formats—while delivering courses online, in-person, at a scheduled class time or even asynchronously. No matter if your classroom is virtual or face-to-face, though, we’re here to help keep active learning at the forefront with our new Assignments functionality. iClicker’s new Assignments feature allows you to engage students with pre-authored questions that they can work through at their own pace. Instructors can use assignments to gather feedback, promote participation, and provide lightweight student assessment. Best of all, students can still feel like they are an active participant in their courses from various locales and on their own time. Join this webinar for a tour of the new Assignments functionality and learn how simple it is to start using immediately.     Access the recording today! Watch Recording   Presented by: Lindsay Johnson - Executive Product Marketing Manager Kristina Treadway - Director of Product ... View more

Connecting with students online is easy when you’re doing something fun together. With iClicker, you can host online games that will help build a sense of community in your classroom while helping students master key concepts. Join iClicker training specialist Lindsey Thomas for a demonstration of the many different types of games you can play with your students during your live class sessions. We hope you join us with a cold beverage, a tasty snack, and will take the opportunity to participate as a “contestant” (aka student) using the iClicker student app.     Access the recording today! Watch Recording ... View more

Natalie Dougall, Faculty Advocate and iClicker Trainer, discusses best practices for onboarding your students with iClicker in a virtual classroom. She shows how you can incorporate iClicker into your course with minimal fuss, provides methods for getting students started with the iClicker student app, and shares some icebreaker activities that get students comfortable in your class and using iClicker.     Access the recording! Watch Recording ... View more

ON-DEMAND Instructors who had been using iClicker Classic in face-to-face classes can seamlessly transition to a virtual classroom without having to switch to new software. Senior Client Relationship Specialist Kelly Morrow shows iClicker Classic users how to enable the iClicker student app in their course settings and explains to students the steps to switch from physical clickers to the iClicker student web/mobile app.     Access the recording today! Watch Recording     Lindsey Thomas   Training and Documentation Manager   Kelly Morrow   Senior Client Relationship Specialist ... View more

ON-DEMAND iClicker Learning Solutions Specialist Alana Craig hosts a special iClicker Cloud instructor training webinar, which covers the nuts and bolts of setting up your iClicker Cloud account and course, downloading the software, and using the software for polling, quizzing, and attendance in a virtual classroom.     Access the recording today! Watch Recording ... View more

Exciting Summer/Fall 2019 Updates       Download Now   Manage distractions & mitigate multitasking in your classroom with new feature options, tailored to your technology choices. With the new iClicker Cloud 5.0 desktop software, all your in-class tools are in one place, which means more time for teaching. Getting started has never been this easy. See the onboarding improvements we’re making for Fall.     Classroom distractions have met their match. Meet iClicker Focus and Remote-Only courses.   Getting the most out of valuable face-to-face time can be challenging with busy students multitasking and the various distractions in play during class time. So we’re introducing a few new features to manage classroom distractions this year, with flexible technology options that allow you to choose what’s right for your classroom.     iClicker Focus Beta testing in Fall 2019, available January 2020 We know that many instructors would like the increased functionality that comes with a mobile student engagement app, but can have concerns about the use of mobile phones in the classroom. Enter iClicker Focus. With Focus, you can:   Reduce distractions & multitasking Gain insight into engagement in your class Promote student self-regulation behaviors   By Spring of 2020, instructors will have the option to designate any course to run as a “Focused Class” via their course settings and choose an allowed level of device usage. Focus provides insight for instructors and students around engagement in class via post-class reporting.     Remote-Only Courses Now live! Now in iClicker Cloud, instructors have the choice to specify that students only use iClicker remotes in their course. Our new Remote-Only mode allows instructors to disable the use of mobile devices in the classroom - students, however, will still have access to all iClicker Reef data in their app.       We’re rolling out the welcome mat. Whether instructor or student, we’ve improved our processes to ensure that everyone has a smooth start.   Instructor Onboarding Improvements—Coming in August   This fall, iClicker begins the process of rolling out onboarding systems improvements. Our sights are set on making it even easier to control enrollments to match LMS rosters and, in the near future, for instructors to create courses in iClicker Cloud. Keep your eyes peeled for updates!   Student Onboarding Improvements—Coming in Fall Students want easy, so we’re bringing it. We're improving the student onboarding experience, making it easier for students to sign up and get started in your course. ... View more

All Your Tools In One Place, More Time For Teaching Starting a class session and running activities using iClicker is now quicker, easier, and more intuitive.     Download Now           "What’s New in iClicker Cloud 5.0?" Learn More Engage your students using the desktop software for in-class activities. "The iClicker Cloud desktop software is your hub for in-class activities. Polling, quizzing, and attendance are streamlined into one, simplified toolbar. The desktop software contains all the you need to see your attendees, view participation, and grade your questions during class." Sign-in to the instructor website to access course data, anytime, anywhere. "Tasks commonly completed outside of class, such as roster management and grading past sessions, are now exclusively available at the instructor website. Links to these features are available within the desktop software." See iClicker Cloud 5.0 in Action     Try it out! Download the new iClicker Cloud 5.0     Download Now     Note: Students using iClicker Reef on a mobile device should update to the most recent version of the app for the best experience. Students using iPhones are strongly encouraged to update to version 5.2.3 of iClicker Reef (released Feb 28).   iClicker Cloud 5.0 is a new, separate version of the desktop software. All users will need to download the Full version of 5.0 (even if you have already installed iClicker Cloud 4.6 or the Beta version of 5.0).   iClicker Cloud 5.0 is a required update for Fall 2019 courses. You’ll have until mid-August to make the switch, so you can continue using your current version of iClicker Cloud (4.6) for your summer courses. ... View more