UNC-CH Information Technology Services

Clickers used for discussion on race

Having an honest discussion about race and racial stereotypes can be intimidating. So when the Carolina Union Activities Board (CUAB) and the Student Government Association (SGA) planned to hold an interactive event, “Let’s Face It: Race in America,” organizers approached ITS Teaching and Learning to borrow a set of clickers.

These handheld devices are part of a system designed to transmit answers to a receiver connected to a presenter’s computer. Instructors use clickers to add interactivity to lectures, to provide immediate feedback to students about their learning and to collect anonymous survey results. In 2007, ITS Teaching and Learning recommended eInstruction’s Classroom Performance System (CPS) as the standard product for class response systems on campus.

“The group needed a way to encourage participants to answer candidly,” said Suzanne Cadwell. “They recognized that using clickers might ease this process. The built-in charting features would also allow them to share responses with participants on the fly. It’s a powerful tool for sparking conversations about important issues-and a perfect fit for this event.”

But where to get the needed clickers? Cadwell stepped up to bat. She made a request for a loan of a 100-clicker set from eInstruction for the event - and eInstruction agreed.

“She really pulled through for us,” said Jeff Chen, co-chair for the Student Government Minority Affairs Committee. “The clicker software was easy to use. We figured it out right away.”