First Clicker Class

If the PRS software and the utility driver are already installed on the instructor machine, then you are ready to prepare for the first time teaching using PRS clickers. You will need a PowerPoint file that contains PRS Clicker questions and the following procedure.

Learn how to Install PRS Receiver
Learn how to Create Clicker Questions

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1. Make sure that the InterWrite PRS software is closed.
2. Open the InterWrite PRS program (- All Programs - InterWrite PRS - PRS). Depending on the settings of the computer, you will see different windows on the screen.
   
   - If no other instructors have used this computer for PRS clickers before, the No RF Class window will be displayed. Click on OK to create a new RF class, then continue to step 3.
   
   - If other instructors have set up their PRS classes on this machine, the Start RF Class window will pop up. Since your course is not listed, click on Cancel to close the window, and then click on the Classes tab, then the New Class button from the program to create your own class. Continue to step 3.
   
   - Alternatively, two windows will pop up on the screen: New Class, and New Session. Close the New Session window first, and then continue to step 3.  Please note that you will not be able to start a "session" without starting the "class" first.
   
3. Fill in information in the New Class window as pointed by the red arrows and then click on OK to save. 
   
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   The text in Class Name will be displayed on the screen of students' clickers. It is also used for students to identify your course so they can join the right class. Please note that all in all there are only 10 characters (6+4) to cover course/instructor name, session number and class location, so you need to decide what's the best combination.
   
4. Exit from the InterWrite PRS program completely.
5. Open the PowerPoint file that has PRS clicker questions, run slideshow. PowerPoint will detect the embedded clicker questions and would ask if you want to start InterWrite PRS. Click on Yes in the pop-up window to launch the program. This time, in the Start RF Class window, choose the appropriate class (course) name and click on OK. Note: if you share the computer with other instructors who also use clickers, you will see their courses on the list.
   
6. The New Session window will pop up. Check if you want to rename the session, and then click on OK. You should see the Creating lesson blue bar proceeding.
   
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   Only when the RF class has found a channel, should students turn their clickers on to join the class. The channel may range from 1-9 and A-E. You can ask students to skip the auto-scan process by inputting the channel displayed in the angle bracket and press the Enter key. In this example
     the channel is 1.
   
   ** Please note that each "session" refers to a non-exit play of the slideshow of a PowerPoint file. As soon as you use "end slideshow" or press the ESC key from the keyboard, the current clicker session ends. Therefore, if you have two PowerPoint files for the same class meeting, each time InterWrite PRS is launched, a new session is created.
   
   **Please note that each time you exit from the InterWrite PRS program, students already joined the class will be dropped out. They will have to re-scan the radio frequency class and re-join.
   
7. Start your presentation and poll questions as you go along.
8. Use the Esc key in the keyboard or End Slideshow command to conclude a clicker session. For guides to InterWrite PRS software, please refer to InterWrite PRS Software in this blog. If a pop-up window says the roster has changed, click on Yes to accept the changes.
   
9. All received student responses will be saved automatically. To find out where the data is saved, go to the top menu bar on the InterWrite PRS window, click on File - Preferences, you should see the default saving path.
   
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   ** If you are a faculty member at Behrend, the data will be saved in a folder called PRS under your P drive /Private/documents/PRS/Session. If you have exported session data, the exported files are saved on your P drive /Private/documents/PRS/Exports.
   
   ** If you are a staff member at Behrend, the data will be saved under
   C:\Documents and Settings\YourAccessAccount\My Documents\PRS. It is recommended that you back up a copy of these files to your flash drive or P drive.