Allowing students to anonymously answer questions can facilitate discussion or provide feedback in larger classes, test content mastery, and allow for the exploration of sensitive topics anonymously. A useful bibliography of papers on the discipline specific use of clickers in teaching can be found here:
http://cft.vanderbilt.edu/docs/classroom-response-system-clickers-bibliography/.
The way it works is you install software that adds toolbars to PowerPoint so that you can add interactive polling slides. Installation instructions can be found on the tabs above or at https://oit.stage.williams.edu/software/entry/889/.
When you present your slideshow and arrive at an interactive polling slide, students use polling devices to vote. The radio signals from the polling devices are collected by the computer through a USB shaped radio receiver. The radio signals travel every direction so no pointing of the clickers is necessary. A green light on the polling device indicates that the vote was received. While polling is open, the last button pressed on the clicker will be the vote that counts. The slide toolbar has a count of how many clicker responses have been registered. Regular PowerPoint slides can be mixed in with the special interactive polling slides.
Where can I get clickers?
Three Day Loans:
The Equipment Loan Center in Sawyer Library room 247 has a set of 30 clickers that may be borrowed for 3 days. Contact the Equipment Loan Center at 413-597-4091 and check the office hours at:
http://oit.stage.williams.edu/itech/resources/elc/.
Semester Long Loans:
Sets of clickers can be borrowed for the durration of the semester by contacting Trevor Murphy at tmurphy@williams.edu. Demand often exceeds supply, so advanced notice is required. In some cases, clickers are shared by several faculty members who have a classroom in common.
Alternatives
We have also been trying polling using cell phones: http://www.polleverywhere.com/.