eInstruction RFHUB PRS-RF Hub User Manual Chap 1

eInstruction Corporation PRS-RF Hub Chap 1

Contents

Users Guide

InterWrite PRSUser’s GuideBeta Documentation
1Chapter 1InterWrite PRS OverviewInterWrite PRS is the most important, comprehensive assessment tool you will everuse. Its use as an electronic audience response testing and polling system is unrivalled,but the real appeal of PRS lies in its ability to provide an instructor with instantfeedback about each student’s understanding of the lesson or lecture. The InterWritePersonal Response System (PRS) easily tracks and records each individual responsecoming in from the audience. The instant feedback for the instructor and the studentsis in the form of a chart of the response distribution that can be displayed after eachquestion is answered. The questions used to assess the students’ understanding of thematerial being presented can be prepared in advance, or composed on-the-fly. Thisflexibility is the hallmark of the PRS system, and what makes it such a powerfulassessment tool. Whether used to survey, review, or test, the PRS system meets thechallenge with an impressive collection of features that engages students and encour-ages their participation. Teachers can spend more time teaching and less time markingtests and maintaining grade books. Response data are electronically gathered, scoredand recorded in grade books. A variety of report formats extend the considerable arrayof class and individual student assessment tools available to the instructor. In addition,PRS supports industry-standard XML formats, providing seamless integration withelectronic textbook courseware, grading applications and Course ManagementSystems.The versatility of PRS is evident in its widespread application. Teachers at all educationlevels can use it to assess and test their students. Marketing researchers, politicalanalysts, and pollsters in all fields can use PRS to survey and electronically recordpreferences, opinions, and votes. The PRS system can be used in any situation wherethere is a need to gather, record and evaluate response data.The PRS hardware communicates the response data to the PRS software. Twodifferent PRS hardware systems are available to satisfy the operating and budgetaryrequirements of any organization. The IR (infrared) system features IR Clickers and IRReceivers that use a patented, proprietary transmission protocol in a one-way transmis-sion network to send data from Clicker to Receiver. The IR Clicker transmitter is asmall handheld, battery-powered device with numbered and lettered responsebuttons, a power switch, an LED power/transmission indicator light, and an infraredtransmitter. The IR Receiver is connected to the computer and has a red LED powerindicator light and an infrared receiver. The IR Receiver decodes the transmitted data,which are then relayed to the PRS software on the computer. The PRS softwareprovides the functionality necessary to establish an environment in which that trans-mitted data can be electronically converted quickly and easily into useful responseinformation.
2Chapter 1The InterWrite PRS electronic data collection process is divided into four sections. Each sectionaddresses a different aspect of the PRS audience response system from setup to assessmentand evaluation of recorded response data.PRS OverviewThe RF, radio frequency, hardware system features RF Clickers and RF Receivers that use atwo-way transmission protocol to send data back and forth between the RF Clickers, an RFReceiver and the PRS software. The RF Clicker remote is a battery-operated device thatfeatures an LCD display and a keypad that includes numeric, lettered and math symbol InputKeys and a set of Navigation Keys. The RF Clicker’s LCD display makes it possible for thestudent to see and edit Responses before they are sent and to receive, in return, statusmessages about each data transmission. The USB RF Receiver hub is connected to the com-puter. It sends transmitted data to the PRS software on the computer and status messages fromthe PRS software back to the RF Clickers.The interactive, two-way transmission of the RF environment affects how PRS is used in theclassroom. Some additional features are available—features that cannot be supported in an IRenvironment, while other PRS features necessary for IR are not required in an RF environment.Where differences exist, the basic functionality will be described and those features thatpertain to RF only will be identified by this icon, which is included in the PRS logo onRF product labels.Classes is the section that gives a name to the group of participants, who will be referredto as students throughout the rest of this manual, that is meeting for a specific purpose.This is the setup phase of the PRS system. In the vernacular of this section of PRS, Classesare defined and, typically, associated with a Roster of students.The Lessons section is where Questions are defined and organized into Lessons.Sessions is the section where the Questions in a Lesson are presented to the students ina Class for their Responses.The Gradebooks section is where the results of a Session, which have been scored, orMarked, for each student in the Class, are recorded and totaled in a Class Gradebook.
3Chapter 1 InterWrite PRS – ClassesClasses The general makeup of the Class is defined in the Classes section. A Class is agroup of people, an audience, who, during a Session, respond electronicallyto Questions that assess their knowledge of a subject, or poll their opinions.Each Class definition consists of:•Information about the Class – a Name that uniquely identifies it and aType that describes the hardware environment in which it will take place,•a Roster of participants, students, that will be associated with the Class,•a Response Map, which is used to assign each student a specific locationin a virtual seating chart, the Response Grid, and•Default Settings for the two windows that can be displayed during aSession. The Response Grid window is where response transmissionsfrom IR Clickers are acknowledged. The Chart window is whereresponse distribution is graphed.The primary function of the Classes section is to uniquely name a Class andtype it. When PRS is used in an RF environment, the RF-Type Class is the focalpoint of operation. The options on the RF Menu (described in the Menusection of this chapter) illustrate this point. An RF Class Type is started andstopped. RF Clickers scan for a specific Class and join it. A Class Roster doesnot have to be in place when a Class is started. A Roster based on transmit-ted Student IDs is derived from Session results. The IR-Type Class must beassociated with a Roster, which can be associated with a Response Map.Students are identified in PRS and most Course Management Systems bytheir Student IDs. In an RF environment, the Student ID is saved in the RFClicker’s memory and is sent with each Response transmitted from theClicker, ensuring that the Response is associated in PRS records with theStudent ID, and thereby, with the student. In an IR environment, there is noway to enter a Student ID into the IR Clicker’s memory, so the IR Clicker ID,which is transmitted with each Response, is used to establish the link to theStudent ID. This can only be accomplished through the use of a Class Roster.Class Roster The Class Roster identifies the students in the Class and connects theirnames and Student IDs to their IR Clicker ID numbers. A Roster can becreated locally in PRS as part of the Class definition. The student’s name,Student ID, Clicker ID number, and other information are entered into astudent profile form, and each profile form is added to the Roster. Or, anexisting Roster can be imported into the Class definition. Rosters derivedfrom Blackboard (Chapter Seven), Rosters derived from the PRS WebRegistration Application (Chapter Seven), and Rosters used with other Classdefinitions can be imported into a new or existing Class definition. In the RFenvironment, the Class Roster is used primarily to link the transmittedStudent ID with the student’s name.
4Chapter 1InterWrite PRS – ClassesLoaner Clickers Capturing and recording student Responses during a Session is what PRSis all about and is the key to its successful use. If a student has forgottenhis Clicker, or it is malfunctioning, he won’t be able to participate in theSession. Therefore, we recommend keeping a few Loaner units on handto be pressed into service when needed. The process of registeringLoaner IR Clickers for a Class is described in Chapter Three Classes, ClassRoster. Loaner RF Clickers can be configured by selecting the ConfigureClickers option from the RF Menu, described later in this chapter.Response MapTabDuring a typical PRS Session in an IR environment, a Lesson is presentedto the students in the Class. A Question and its Response options aredisplayed at the top of the Session dialog and a Response Grid or At-tendee List is displayed at the bottom in the Response Area. Studentspoint their IR Clickers toward an IR Receiver and press the number/letterbutton that represents their Response Choice for the Question. The LEDon the Clicker flashes while it is sending the signal to the Receiver. Toacknowledge receipt of the Response transmission, the student’s name orClicker ID number displays on the top line in a Response Box in theResponse Grid. When the Attendee List is displayed in the ResponseArea, the student’s name is deleted from the Attendee List to indicate asuccessful transmission.When a Class is quite large, the Response Grid will be quite large, too,making it more difficult for each student to track his Response verification inthe Response Grid. A Response Map, created as part of the Class definition,provides the means of assigning, or mapping, each student to a permanentposition in the Response Grid. The students, as well as the instructor, caneasily verify that their Responses were received and recorded.In an RF environment, there is no need to display a Response Grid. Statusmessages regarding transmissions are displayed on the LCD screen onthe RF Clicker, so students can confirm their Responses have beenreceived and recorded without having to monitor a Response Grid at thefront of the room.ResponseWindow andChart WindowDefault SettingsTabA Results Chart is displayed after the Question’s Timer has expired or theQuestion is stopped. It charts the Response distribution among thepossible Response Choices. It’s a useful tool in an academic environmentbecause it makes it possible for an instructor to immediately assess thestudents’ level of comprehension of the material being covered. TheDefault Settings for both the Response window with its display of theQuestion, the Response Choices, and the Response Grid or the AttendeeList and the Chart window with its display of response distribution arepart of a Class definition. Some of the default settings established herecan be changed on-the-fly at the beginning of a Session.
5Chapter 1 InterWrite PRS – LessonsLessons The Lessons section is the staging area for your questionnaires. Lessonsare made up of sets of Questions. The Lessons containing the QuestionSets are organized in the Lesson Tree. The Lesson Tree is structured muchlike a file directory, making it very easy and intuitive to plan, prepare andorganize large numbers of Lessons in advance.A Lesson is presented during a Session. At the beginning of each newSession, the Lesson is associated with a Class. The Questions in theLesson, or a selected subset of the Questions, are presented to the Classduring the Session. The electronic Responses of each student in the Classare recorded and saved in a Session file. The Responses in the Session filecan be graded, Marked, and added to a Gradebook.A Lesson can be copied, renamed, imported, and exported. A new Sessionfor a selected Lesson can be started directly from the Lesson section,eliminating the need to go to the Sessions section to initiate the Session.In addition, a variety of Reports can be created from PRS Lessons. ThisLesson Reporting function gives an instructor an easy way to access andlist the Questions and Response Choices in a Lesson. The importance ofthis feature becomes apparent when a Lesson is presented in a Self PacedMode Session or as a homework assignment for RF. The Questions andResponse Choices are not displayed during this type of Session, so theReport function provides the instructor with a convenient way of makingthem available to the students.Questions A Lesson’s Questions can be composed in PRS. These Questions arestored in a native PRS XML format to support industry standards, makingthem available for export and import. Question Defaults are set as part ofthe Lesson definition. These default settings influence the presentation ofthe Questions during a Session.Many textbook publishers provide electronic Question Sets with theirtextbooks. Most use the QTI XML storage format for their Question Sets,which is supported by PRS, so they can be easily imported directly into aPRS Lesson. PRS’s powerful Question Editor can then be used to modifyany Question in the imported Question Set, to add additional Questions tothe Question Set, to copy Questions into other Lessons, and to select asubset of the Questions for presentation during a Session.
6Chapter 1InterWrite PRS – LessonsAnother powerful Lesson presentation tool is the PRS PowerPoint Add-in.When InterWrite PRS is installed on your Windows computer, a PRSToolbar is automatically added to your Microsoft PowerPoint software.On the Mac, the PRS PowerPoint Add-in has to be manually installed, butonce installed, the Add-in works the same on both systems.The PRS Toolbar becomes part of the PowerPoint application. It is used tomake any slide in a PowerPoint presentation into a PRS Question Slide.When a PowerPoint Slide Show with one or more PRS Question Slides isrun, PRS is launched, if it isn’t already running. When the PRS PowerPointSlide Show is begun, a New Session dialog is displayed. During thecourse of the Slide Show presentation in an IR environment, every time aPRS Question Slide appears, a Response Grid or Attendee List displays toverify that the students’ Responses to the Question on the Slide havebeen received and recorded. In an RF environment, the Start RF Class dialog is displayed, the RFClass is selected and started, and the students join the Class before thePRS PowerPoint Slide Show is started. When the PRS PowerPoint SlideShow is begun, a New Session dialog is displayed. It is not necessary todisplay a Response Grid in RF.The recorded Responses from a PRS PowerPoint Session are saved in astandard PRS Session file. The file is listed in the Sessions Section List Win-dow, making PowerPoint Session results accessible to the Session functionsdescribed next.A similar process is available to InterWrite users who have bothInterWrite and PRS installed on their systems. Multiple Question Slide-likepages can be created in InterWrite and tagged as PRS Question Slides, andrun in a PRS Session. In addition, single PRS Question Slides can beinserted “on-the-fly” into any InterWrite presentation.PRS PowerPointAdd-in
7Chapter 1 InterWrite PRS – SessionsSessions A Lesson is presented during a Session to the students in a Class for theirResponses. A Session can be started from the Sessions section, or fromthe Lessons section. Below is a summary of the process leading up to,and including, the Session.• The Class definition establishes a Class Name and Class Type. IR Class Type· A Roster of students must be linked to the Class definition.· A Response Map should be set up to indicate where each student’s Responses will appear in the Response Grid.· Default Settings can be established for the Response windowand the Results Chart window. Class Type· A Roster can be linked to the Class definition, but it’s not required.· Default Settings can be defined for the Results Chart window.• The Lesson contains the Questions that will be presented to the Classduring the Session.• At the beginning of the Session, the New Session dialog is displayed.· The Audience type is selected.· Self Paced Mode can be enabled.· The Class participating in the Session is selected.· A Lesson is chosen for presentation to the selected Class.· Presentation options are set and default settings are reviewed. In an RF environment, the same New Session dialog displays, butseveral options are grayed out, because their settings have alreadybeen established. It is not necessary to designate a Class, as the RFClass has already been started and the students have joined it. Thedefault Audience Type is designated as part of the Class definition.The Audience Type and the Self Paced Mode settings are addressedwhen the RF Class is started. An additional option is added to theNew Session dialog for an RF Class Session—the Collect Homeworkcheckbox. This option is described in Chapter Five Sessions.• The results of each Session are saved in a Session file, which is listedin the Sessions Section List Window.Sessions can be renamed, resumed, reviewed, marked, and exported.Reports on a number of different aspects of a Session can be created.
8Chapter 1InterWrite PRS – SessionsSelf Paced Mode An option available when profiling a Session is Self Paced Mode. A SelfPaced Session allows the instructor to configure a timed Session whereinstudents can answer Questions in any order and at their own pace duringthe designated time frame. Any Lesson can be chosen for presentationduring a Self Paced Session. Other Session settings that are not relevantto a Self Paced Session are grayed out. A specialized Response Grid isdisplayed for an IR Session that allows students to verify Responses andtrack unanswered Questions. In an RF Self Paced Session, messagesregarding the status of each transmitted Response are displayed on theLCD screen.Insert Question One more important feature of the basic – that is, non-Self Paced – PRSSession is the ability to insert impromptu Questions during the Session.For example, based on class discussions between Questions, or on a highpercentage of incorrect Responses to a Question, an instructor maydecide to approach the material from a different perspective, or try toisolate or clarify the source of the students’ confusion by adding one ormore ad hoc Questions to the Session. The value of this feature in termsof instant assessment is immeasurable. An instructor can be immediatelyand effectively responsive when he perceives a weakness in the students’understanding of the material.No Lesson While the purpose of this manual is to describe the features of PRS, it isimportant to note that one can easily use the assessment and testingfunctionality of PRS’s audience response system without using its Lessoncapabilities. No Lesson is an option on the New Session dialog. Whenyou select this option, only the Response Area is displayed for IR, andonly the Session Toolbar is displayed for RF.
9Chapter 1InterWrite PRS is a powerful, interactive tool, particularly in the classroom. Not onlydoes it free teachers from the more tedious aspects of teaching (grading tests, main-taining grade books), but it provides instantaneous assessment and feedback. Everyteacher knows each class has its own dynamic—no two classes are the same. The PRSsystem can be used to present and review content in a way that keeps the students ineach class engaged and to immediately evaluate their level of comprehension, givingthe teacher the flexibility and functionality to react accordingly.InterWrite PRS – Gradebooks SectionGradebooks The Gradebooks section is the section where electronic Gradebooks aredefined. The results of marked Sessions are recorded and added to theGradebooks. A variety of Reports can be created based on the data in theGradebooks. Gradebooks are stored in a format that makes them readilyaccessible for export to third party Course Management Systems (CMS), suchas Blackboard, WebAssign and WebCT. A PRS Blackboard RegistrationApplication (Chapter Seven) has been developed that links the Clicker IDof the registering student’s IR Clicker to his Blackboard Student ID. ClassRosters set up in Blackboard can be imported into PRS Class definitions,and exported PRS Gradebooks can be imported into Blackboard. In an RFenvironment, where student Responses are linked directly to the StudentID, the transfer of data is even easier.
10 Chapter 1InterWrite PRS – Screen ElementsScreenElementsThe main screen of each of the four PRS Sections has the following elementsin common: the Menubar, the Section Tabs, the Function Buttons, the TableHeader Buttons, and the List Window.The menus on the PRS Menubar provide options for:• setting Preferences on the File Menu,• starting and stopping Classes and configuring RF Clickers on the RFMenu,• establishing the communication link between the IR Receiver and thePRS software on the Connection Menu,• offering another way of moving from section to section using the ViewMenu, and• providing additional information about using the PRS system on the HelpMenu.The Menus on the PRS Menubar are described in detail in the next section.The Section Tabs provide a way of moving from one section to another. Eachof the four PRS sections has a set of Function Buttons that allow you tocreate, edit, and delete the components of that section with additional,specialized functions specific to the section.Each section has a List Window where the work product of that section isdisplayed in a table—Class Rosters, Questions, Sessions, Gradebooks, etc. Afeature of each List Window is the ability to click on a column Table HeaderButton to sort the data in the List Window by the contents of that column.For example, in the Classes Roster List Window shown above, a click on theLast Name Table Header Button will order the entries in the Roster ListWindow alphabetically in ascending order based on the students’ last names.A green Sort Indicator Arrow will display on the Table Header Button usedto index the contents of the table. Click on the Table Header Button with theSort Indicator Arrow to toggle between ascending and descending sort order.This feature is available in every dialog that has a List Window.New Screen Shot neededMenubarSectionTableFunctionListSort Indicator ArrowButtonsHeaderTabsButtonsWindow
11Chapter 1 InterWrite PRS – PRS MenusPRS MenusFile Menu The File Menu provides the options to set system Preferences and to Exitthe PRS application.Exit Use this File Menu option to exit and close the PRS application.Default Data Directory This Preference shows the current location of theData Directory. Click on the Browse button if you want to navigate to adifferent directory location for the Exports, Gradebook, Lessons, Reports,ResponseMap, Roster, Session, and Settings folders.Default System Font By default, the display font used throughout thePRS system in Windows is Comic Sans MS. The default font on the Mac isArial. Click on the Down Arrow to display a list of the fonts installed onthe computer.Font Preview When you select a font from the drop-down list, anexample of the font selection is displayed here. Click on the second Setto Default button to return to the default system font when PRS isrestarted.Preferences Customer ID By default, in an IR environment, each IR Clicker is assigned aunique string of six numbers. This numeric string is the transmitter’s ID. AnyIR Clicker can be used with any InterWrite PRS installation. Programmable IRClickers are different in that they can be programmed with unique IDs thatwill be accepted and recognized by only one InterWrite PRS system—theInterWrite PRS system whose Customer ID matches the one used to programthe IR Clickers. So, for example, if an elementary school teacher wants tohave an IR Clicker for each child in her class that is numbered in a way that’seasy for the children to identify and remember, she can purchase Program-mable IR Clickers that can be assigned unique IDs, which are associated withthe Customer ID of her InterWrite PRS system, and which cannot be usedwith any other InterWrite PRS system. That unique Customer ID is enteredhere in this field.If the Customer ID gets changed, click on the Set to Default button to returnthe Customer ID to its original assignment.
12 Chapter 1InterWrite PRS – PRS Menus Menu The RF Menu provides a one-stop shop for the settings that are specificto the RF environment. Many of the options described here will makemuch more sense when you have read Chapter Three Classes and under-stand them in the context of the Class Type and the Class System Types,Open and Closed.Start Class This menu option displays the Start RF Class dialog, the same dialogdisplayed when PRS is started up (and an RF Receiver is installed).Stop Class This menu option is selected when you want to end the RF Class.Joined List This menu option displays the complete list of RF Clickers that joined theRF Class. When you stop the Class, this list is deleted.Configure Clickers By default, an RF Clicker is set to Normal and does not require anyadditional configuration. A Normal Clicker is the property of the studentand can be used in any Class whose Class System Type is designated asOpen.A Loaner Clicker is an RF Clicker that can be loaned to a student during aClass when his Clicker has malfunctioned, or he has forgotten it. An RFClicker configured as a Loaner Clicker will require the student borrowingit to input his Student ID before he joins the Class, ensuring that hisResponses will be credited to him during that Class. Loaner Clickers canbe configured for both Open and Closed Classes.A Closed Clicker is an RF Clicker that is linked to the Class ID assigned toa Closed Class System Type. Closed Clickers are automatically assigned aunique Join ID to identify each one in the Closed Class. Whereas NormalClickers are typically student-owned and can be used in any Open Class,Closed Clickers are the property of the school and remain in the class-room. Each Closed Clicker can then be assigned to a specific student inthe Closed Class, so that Johnny always uses Clicker 1 and Suzie alwaysuses Clicker 2, and so on.A Master Clicker is a special RF Clicker that can be used by an instructorto send commands to a Session from anywhere in the room. MasterClicker Commands are described in Chapter Two PRS System Installation.The Closed Loaner Clicker setting is used to set up a Loaner Clicker foruse in a Closed Class. Any student can use a Closed Loaner Clickerbecause, as is characteristic of any RF Clicker designated as a Loaner, itprompts the person using it to enter his Student ID before he joins theClass, in this case, the Closed Class.A Closed Master Clicker is a Master Clicker used to send commands to aSession that is run in a Closed Class.
13Chapter 1 InterWrite PRS – PRS MenusScan for Receivers This RF Menu option will look for and attach to any RF Receivers on thesystem. Use this menu item only when an RF Receiver is attached to aUSB port on the computer. Or, when the RF Receiver has been movedfrom one USB port to another after the PRS software has been started. ConfiguringClickersThe basic process for configuring RF Clickers is the same, no matter whichClicker Type configuration you choose.1Select the Clicker Type from thedrop-down menu.2When you choose one of theClosed configurations, select a Classin the RF Closed Classes window.The Class ID you assigned to theClosed Class will display.3Click on the Setup button to displaythe Setup Instructions in theInstructions window for the ClickerType you chose.4Turn on all the Clickers, asinstructed, and press the QuickJump number displayed in theangle brackets (< >) on eachClicker.5The “Configuration Class” name is displayed on each LCD. Press theEnter/Send key to join each Clicker to the Configuration Class.6If the Clickers have been configured for Closed, each Clicker will displaythe ID: field. Enter a unique ID for each Clicker. Press to save the ID.The LCD display confirms the Clicker Type assignment. The Instructionswindow on the Configure Clickers dialog will list the Join IDs assigned toeach of the Clickers you configured. You can Close the dialog, or select anew Clicker Type and configure additional Clickers.Normal is the default Clicker Type. Normal Clickers requireno configuration and can be used in any Open Class. Theoption appears on the Clicker Type menu so that you can seta Clicker that has been configured previously as a Loaner,Master, Closed, Closed Loaner, or Closed Master Clickerback to Normal.
14 Chapter 1InterWrite PRS – PRS MenusConnection Menu The Connection Menu is used to:• specify the COM Port to which the Receiver is connected,• simulate Clicker input from the computer keyboard,• test for both the COM Port connection and for the receipt of a signalfrom a Clicker.Port Check The Port Check menu option is used primarily to detect IRReceivers. The USB-connected RF Receiver is automaticallyassigned to a COM Port and the assignment is noted on theConnection Menu.Configuring an Clicker as aMasterMaster Clickers are specially configured RF Clickers that can send com-mands to the PRS software during a Session to remotely control theSession presentation. This is true of Master Clickers configured for boththe Open Class and the Closed Class. The command key assignments aredescribed in Chapter Two PRS System Installation.Configuring Clickers for aClosed ClassThe Student ID is attached to each transmission sent to the PRS software. Inthe Open Class paradigm, the student enters his Student ID, which is savedin the memory of his personal Clicker. In the Closed Class model, whereClickers are owned by the school and stay in the classroom, there are twoways to set up the Closed Clickers so each will have a unique ID to bundlewith transmissions.If the Closed Clickers will always be used by the same 30 students, youcan assigns IDs of 1 through 30, for example, label the Clickers accord-ingly, and assign a specific Clicker to each of the 30 students.However, if the Closed Clickers are going to be used in the classroom bydifferent groups of students throughout the day, you might considerconfiguring those Clickers as Closed Loaners. Clickers configured asLoaners, regardless of whether they are used in an Open Class or aClosed Class, will prompt for an ID before they join the Class. So, eachstudent in each Closed Class Session will have his Responses attributeddirectly to his Student ID.As part of the installation of the IR Receiver (Chapter Two), the COM portto which the IR Receiver is connected must be communicated to theInterWrite PRS software. The number of COM ports displayed on theConnection Menu will vary with the number of COM Ports on thecomputer. Select from the list the COM port to which the IR Receiver isconnected. If you don’t know which COM port it is, or if you want to testthe connection, select a COM port in the Connection Menu, click on the
15Chapter 1 InterWrite PRS – PRS MenusTransmitter TestAs indicated in the white message box on the Port Check window, thePort Check feature verifies that a signal from an IR Clicker is received bythe IR Receiver. Not only can you use Port Check to verify the IR Re-ceiver COM port connection, you can also use it to test an IR Clicker.Verify the IR Clicker does not need new batteries. (Under normal operat-ing conditions, the LED indicator light on a powered-on IR Clicker isbright green. Change the batteries when the LED indicator light is dim.)Select the Port Check option and send a transmission by pointing thetapered end of the powered-on IR Clicker toward one of the IR Receiversin the room and pressing a numbered button. If nothing shows up in thePort Check window, there is a problem with the IR Clicker. Try resettingit. Straighten a paper clip and stick the end of the paper clip into the holeon the back of the IR Clicker. The hole is located to the right side, nearthe battery pack. Push until you feel a slight click. Power on the IR Clickerand rerun the Transmitter Test.Port Check menu option, verify the IR Receiver is powered-on, and send asignal from a powered-on IR Clicker to the IR Receiver. If the IR Receiveris connected to the COM port you selected in the Connection Menu, aClicker Identified message will appear in the black Port Check window. Ifthe Port Check window remains blank, select another COM port in theConnection Menu and repeat the transmission check process.
16 Chapter 1View Menu The View Menu lists all four of the PRS Sections and indicates with adiamond which section is currently being displayed in the PRS Window.You can move to another section by selecting it from the View Menu, orby clicking on its Section Tab in the PRS Window.InterWrite PRS – PRS MenusKey Input If you are learning how to use the InterWrite PRS system and/or you wantto simulate a Session, you can set up PRS to accept input from thecomputer keyboard that simulates Clicker input signals. When you wantto test a Lesson, you can run a test Session without having a PRS Receiverconnected to your computer.1Select the Key Input feature on the Connection Menu.2When you are using a Response Map, make sure the Response Grid(Class definition) has enough Response Boxes, in addition to thoseassigned to the students in the Roster, to accommodate the numberof simulations you intend to use. When there is no Response Map inplace, the grid will roll over.3Click on the New Session Function Button in the Sessions Section.4Start the Question.5To send a simulated Response to the Question, type a letter, whichidentifies a unique ID (there are twenty-six unique IDs, one for eachletter of the alphabet). Then, type the number of your test ResponseChoice.5Use the SHIFT and CTRL keys in combination with the letter key toindicate a High Confidence Level or Low Confidence Level (see thefollowing Clicker Operation Instructions section), respectively. Forexample, the Key Input SHIFT + b + 1 would be interpreted by theKey Input Response Simulation option as: “Respondent ‘b’ has highconfidence that the first Response Choice is the correct one.”As you enter these alphanumeric combinations from the computerkeyboard, each will register as a Response in a Response Box in theResponse Grid displayed below the Question and Response Choices.
17Chapter 1 InterWrite PRS – PRS MenusHelp MenuCheck forUpdatesThis option links to the GTCO CalComp Web site where it checks for thecurrent version of the InterWrite PRS software. If there is a newer versionof the software, you will be given the option to download it. You shouldcheck for updates periodically to make sure you have the latest andgreatest version of the PRS software.InterWrite PRSHelpThis menu option displays a Help file for the PRS software.Clicker OperationInstructionsRF Clickers and IR Clickers are used to electronically transmit a student’sResponse to a Question presented during a Session. The basic operation ofthe RF Clicker and IR Clicker may not be intuitive to the first-time user.We’ve included Basic Operating Instructions for both the RF Clicker and IRClicker on this menu. In addition, although the IR Clickers have a limitedselection of keys when compared to the RF Clickers, they can respond tomost Question Types. The Response process is not as straightforward as it iswith the RF Clicker, so an instruction set has been included on this menu forresponding to various Question Types using the IR Clicker.Basic InstructionsThe first instruction set describes the basic operation of an RF Clicker.
18 Chapter 1InterWrite PRS – PRS MenusBasic Operating Instructions for IR Clickers
19Chapter 1 InterWrite PRS – PRS MenusResponding to Different Question Types Using the IR Clicker
20 Chapter 1InterWrite PRS – PRS MenusConfidence LevelA Confidence Level designation allows a student to qualify his Responseto a Question. By attaching a High Confidence Level indicator to a Response,a student is saying that he is very sure about the correctness of his Response.When a student attaches a Low Confidence Level indicator to his Response,he is basically saying his answer is a guess and he has little confidence in itscorrectness.IR Clickers have an H key and an L key in the bottom row of keys. Pressingthe H key followed by a Response value key attaches a High Confidenceindicator to the Response. Pressing the L key plus a Response value keyattaches a Low Confidence indicator to the Response.Self Paced Session InstructionsThis set of instructions describes how to respond to Questions during a SelfPaced Session when using an IR Clicker.
21Chapter 1 InterWrite PRS – Manual OrganizationAbout The About Help Menu option displays an information window with thePRS version number, system information, and contact information forGTCO CalComp.Example Files Click on this menu option to view examples of a Class Roster and a ResponseMap, among others, in the native .csv format. This links to the GTCO Cal-Comp Web site, where the examples are found. Clickers do not have H and L keys. The key is used to indicate LowConfidence and the key is used to indicate High Confidence. When aConfidence Level is attached to a Response from an RF Clicker, the Confi-dence Level Indicator should follow the Response. Confidence Level Indica-tors can only be used with True/False Question Types and single-choiceMultiple Choice Question Types.By default, when a Confidence Level is not indicated, all Responses areassigned a Medium Level of Confidence. The instructor should indicate at thebeginning of a Session, or before a Question is presented, that he wants aConfidence Level attached to the Response(s).ManualOrganizationThis InterWrite PRS User’s Guide covers all aspects of the PRS system,including the installation, set up, and troubleshooting of the hardware. Achapter is devoted to the installation and set up of the InterWrite PRSWeb Registration Application, a Web-based application that makes itpossible for students to register online for those classes using the PRSsystem, and the PRS Blackboard Registration Application, which makes theexport and import of information between PRS and Blackboard possible.The primary focus of this User’s Guide, though, is the PRS software. Achapter is devoted to each of the four tabbed Sections of the PRS soft-ware with detailed descriptions of each section’s functions and proce-dures.Chapter One InterWrite PRS Overview This chapter introduces theInterWrite PRS system, identifies the primary screen elements, describesthe Menu options on the PRS Menubar, and outlines the organization ofthis manual.Chapter Two PRS System Installation Both of the PRS hardwaresystems feature Receivers and Transmitters, or Clickers. Both are easy toinstall and operate. The Clickers are handheld, battery-powered devices.AAA batteries are easily installed in the back of each type. IR Receiversare connected to each other, if more than one is being used, to a powersupply, and to the serial port on the computer. The IR Receiver setup iscompleted when the COM port is selected on the Connection Menu.
22 Chapter 1InterWrite PRS – Manual OrganizationEach RF Receiver is connected to a USB Port, which is automaticallydetected by the PRS software.Chapter Three Classes Describes how to set up a Class definition.Chapter Four Lessons Describes how to add branches to the LessonTree, define and organize Questions, import Questions into Lessons, andset up PowerPoint Lessons.Chapter Five Sessions Describes how to set up and run a Session, howto insert impromptu, unplanned Questions during a Session, how torename, resume, review, mark, and export a Session, and how to create aSession Report.Chapter Six Gradebooks Describes how to set up a Gradebook, addMarked Sessions, export Gradebooks, and create Reports based on Grade-book data.Chapter Seven PRS Registration Applications This chapter first describeshow to install and set up the Web-based PRS Registration Application, andthen how to install the PRS Blackboard Registration Application and set upthe PRS Tab in Blackboard. Both applications are included on the InterWritePRS CD.The optional PRS Web Registration Application is used to register PRSClickers over the Internet. The application includes an Administrativesection that supports the organization and maintenance of the Internetregistration process.The PRS Blackboard Registration Application is used to establish aconnection between the student’s IR Clicker and his Blackboard StudentID, so Roster information can be exported from Blackboard for use in aClass definition, and Marked PRS Sessions can be exported from PRSGradebooks for use in Blackboard.Appendix Regulatory and Warranty Statements.
23Chapter 2PRS System InstallationThe InterWrite PRS system consists of the PRS software, the optional PRSWeb Registration Application and PRS Blackboard Registration Applica-tion, and the PRS hardware. Setup, installation, and operation of the twoPRS registration applications is detailed in Chapter Seven. The setup andinstallation of the InterWrite PRS software and hardware is covered here.PRS is compatible with Windows 2000 and XP. The PRS application softwaremust be installed on Windows by an Administrator.1Log in as Administrator. Insert the PRS CD into the CD drive on yourPC. The installer will autorun.If it doesn’t, click on the Start button on the Windows Task Bar andselect Run from the menu. Type X:\setup.exe (X represents the CDdrive letter).2Select the Install InterWrite PRS Software menu option.3Follow the onscreen instructions for the software installation.WindowsInstallationPRS is compatible with Mac OS X 10.2.6 and above. The InterWrite PRSapplication software must be installed on the Mac by an Admin.1Insert the PRS CD into the CD-ROM drive on your Mac. An InterWritePRS icon will appear on your desktop.2Double-click on the InterWrite PRS icon on the desktop to display theCD’s contents. Double-click on the Install InterWrite PRS icon.3Follow the onscreen instructions for the software installation.MacInstallationFor the Mac installation, Tiger (10.4) and Panther (10.3) areautomatically supported. To run InterWrite PRS on Jaguar(10.2), you must first download the free version of Java1.4.2 available for 10.2.6 and above.InterWritePRS SoftwareThe PRS software for the Mac and Windows is included on the InterWritePRS CD.Install the PRS software first so the appropriate drivers arein place when you install the hardware.
24 Chapter 2PRS System Installation – PRS HardwareIf you are installing a Mixed PRS System that uses bothIR and RF PRS hardware, don’t mix up the Power Supplycables. The Power Supply for IR is slightly different than theone for RF, and they cannot be used interchangeably.The PRS hardware, Receivers and Transmitters (Clickers), is available intwo transmission types—IR (Infrared) and RF (Radio Frequency). The IRReceivers and IR Clickers support a one-way, line-of-sight transmissionfrom Clickers to Receivers and on to the PRS software. The RF ReceiverHubs and RF Clicker Remotes support two-way radio frequency transmis-sion. Responses are transmitted from RF Clickers to RF Receivers to thePRS software and status messages are returned via the Receiver to theindividual Clickers. Both PRS hardware systems are used to send, captureand decode signals that are ultimately relayed to the PRS software on thecomputer, where they are interpreted as Question Responses. EachResponse has a code attached to it that identifies the Clicker it camefrom. The software establishes the connection between that uniquetransmitted code and the student’s identity, providing the basis forrecording Responses and attributing them to the student. In the IR system,the unique code is the Clicker ID. It is matched in the Class Roster to theStudent ID and student name. In the RF system, the Student ID is theunique code transmitted with each Response. As the Student ID is theunique identifier of students in the Class, a Roster does not have to be inplace in order to have the Responses attributed correctly and recorded.The Clickers are small, battery-operated, handheld devices. IR Clickershave a keypad that consists of four rows of lettered and numbered keysand a Power button. The RF Clickers have an expanded keypad thatincludes Input Keys and Navigation Keys. A two-line LCD screen displaysResponses as they are entered and the returned status messages.The Receivers receive and decode data transmitted to them from theClickers. The IR Receiver sends the decoded data via a serial connection tothe computer. The RF Receiver uses a USB connection. In both cases, thedecoded data are analyzed and recorded by the PRS software.PRSHardware
25Chapter 2 PRS System Installation – RF Receiver ReceiverInstallationThe RF Receiver does not rely on line-of-sight transmission, so it does nothave to be positioned at the front of the room. Just be aware that the RFReceiver works best when it is not sitting on a metal surface (such as yourcomputer box). The PRS RF Receiver ships with a 9V Power Supply,Power Supply Plug Adaptors, a USB cable.1Plug the Power Supply into a wall or power strip outlet.2Plug the other end of the Power Supply into the RF Receiver.3Plug the square USB B connector into the RF Receiver.4Plug the flat USB A connector into an available USB port on yourcomputer.The RF Receiver is automatically assigned to a COM Port and that infor-mation is communicated to the PRS software, so there is no need to setthe COM Port on the Connection Menu.In a Windows installation: The unsigned RF Receiverdriver is already installed on your computer. Nevertheless,Windows may need some coaxing before it will recognizethe new hardware. Be persistent and do not let Windowsworry you about the driver being unsigned. This will notin any way affect the operation of the RF Receiver or PRS.LED Light Phases The RF Receiver green LED light has three phases:•Fast Flash No USB connection•Slow Flash Scanning for a free channel, or one with less noise•Solid On Working
26 Chapter 2 ClickerSetup andOperationThe RF Clicker ships with the batteries installed, so there is no real setupinvolved.Clicker Key Quick ReferenceFUNCTIONNumeric Keypad Enter numeric Responses and Response Choices for numbered Multiple Choice QuestionsEnter numeric values, e.g., Student ID and numeric ResponsesDecimal Point Enter a decimal point in a numeric ResponsePress twice to enter a forward slash (/) for fractionsMinus Sign Enter to indicate a negative numberMultiple Choice/Alpha CharacterKeysEnter your Response Choice(s) to a Multiple Choice QuestionSwitch to Alpha ModeTrue/FalseResponse KeysEnter Response to True/False QuestionsSwitch to Alpha ModeConfidence LevelIndicators = Low Confidence and = High Confidence Enter a Confidence Level after a single-choiceMultiple Choice Response, or after a True/False ResponseINPUT KEYSPowerSwitchEnter/SendScroll UpScrollDownCycle/BackspaceMenu Key DecimalPointTrue/FalseResponse KeysMinus Sign2-LineLCDDisplayNumeric KeypadMultiple ChoiceOption KeysNavigation KeysInput KeysPRS System Installation – RF Clicker
27Chapter 2NAVIGATION KEYS Scroll UpScroll DownScroll Up and Scroll Down when in Setup Menu (watch for the symbol on the LCD display), or when in Homework ModeScroll through the alphabet when in Alpha ModeEnter/SendCycle/Backspace Cycle through setting options when is displayedin the lower right corner of the LCD display, or goup a menu level when is in the upper left cornerMenu Key Display Setup MenuStop AutoscanSave input values, e.g., Student IDSend ResponsesBackspace to clear a character in an input fieldFUNCTIONLCD DISPLAYSYMBOLSFUNCTIONWhen this symbol appears in the upper left corner of the LCD screen,press the key to go up a level in the Setup Menu. When the symbolappears on the second line of the LCD display in the right corner, itmeans you can click on the key to cycle through the possible settingsfor the Setup Menu option.This symbol indicates you can press the or key to scroll up or downthrough the Setup Menu options.When you see this symbol on the LCD display, press the key todisplay an input field, or a submenu.First-time users and students using Loaner Clickers willbe prompted to enter an ID. This is the Student ID. Itwill be saved in the memory of Student-owned Clickers,but stored only temporarily in Loaners.PRS System Installation – RF ClickerBasic Operation 1Slide the Power Switch up to turn the RF Clicker on.After the initial screen displays, where a battery icon indicates the relativelevel of battery life remaining, the RF Clicker begins Autoscanning for aClass to join.2a Press the Quick Jump number, displayed in angle Brackets (< >) on thePRS Status Bar, to quickly find your Class. Scroll , if necessary, toyour Class and press to join, OR2b When Autoscanning has completed, scroll or , if necessary, toyour Class and press to join.
28 Chapter 2PRS System Installation – Master RF Clicker1On the back of the RF Clicker, remove the Screw holding the BatteryCover in place.2Remove the Battery Cover by pushing down on the Thumb Grip andsliding it toward the bottom of the Clicker.3Remove the old batteries and discard them following the proper disposalprocedures.4Insert three AAA batteries, positioning them properly to ensure thecorrect polarity.5Slide the Battery Cover back into place and replace the Screw.Replacing Clicker BatteriesBack of RF ClickerScrew BatteryCoverThumbGripWhen you see the Low Batterymessage when you turn on yourRF Clicker, you have about 15%Battery Life remaining. Replacethe batteries as soon as possible.Master RF ClickerCommand KeyAssignmentsCOMMANDStart QuestionResume QuestionPause QuestionStop QuestionIncrease TimerDecrease TimerNext QuestionPrevious QuestionClose ChartKEYMaster ClickerThe Master RF Clicker is a special configuration of the RF Clicker that isset using the Configuring Clickers option on the RF Menu. An RF Clickerconfigured as a Master or Closed Master Clicker enables the instructor tosend commands to the PRS software during a Session and control thepresentation from anywhere in the room. The following table summarizesthe key assignments for an RF Clicker configured as a Master Clicker.
29Chapter 2 PRS System Installation – IR Receiver1Plug one end of the Stereo Cable into the OUT jack of the IRReceiver.2Plug the other end of the Stereo Cable into the connector on the 3-Way Cable.3Plug the Power Supply connector into the receptor on the 3-WayCable.4Plug the serial end of the 3-Way Cable into an RS232 serial COMport on the computer, or into a serial-to-USB adapter, if yourIR ReceiverSetup andOperationThe IR Receiver must be positioned at the front of the room where it cancapture the line-of-sight signals from the IR Clickers. A glass window on thefront of the IR Receiver unit above the red LED Light contains an IR Sensorreception cone, which has a Reception Angle of approximately 90 degrees.The size and seating arrangement of the room will predict where at the frontof the room the IR Receiver should be located. Be sure to test transmissionreception from everywhere in the room. One IR Receiver can receive andprocess data from up to 50 Clickers. Larger rooms with more seating mayrequire more than one IR Receiver. Multiple Receivers are daisy-chainedtogether. Receivers in the corners of the room should point diagonally to theopposite corner at the rear of the room to take advantage of the entireReception Angle of the IR Sensor. The primary IR Receiver ships with onestereo cable (6 meters), a 3-way RS232 Serial cable and a Power Supply. Eachadditional IR Receiver ships with a 12 meter stereo cable used to attach it tothe next Receiver in sequence. One Power Supply can serve up to four IRReceivers.HardwareConnections forOne IR Receiver(RS232 COM Port)Computer3-Way CableStereo CablePower SupplyIR ReceiverIR SensorLED Light
30 Chapter 2When more than one IR Receiver is required for coverage, plug one end ofthe 12 meter Stereo Cable into the OUTput jack on the second unit and theother into the INput jack on the first unit, the third into the second, and so ondown the chain. The last IR Receiver in series does not have to be termi-nated. One Power Supply will serve up to four units in the chain. Pleasecontact GTCO CalComp if you require a special configuration. Contactinformation is in the Appendix.PRS System Installation – IR Receivercomputer does not have any available serial COM ports. Werecommend the KEYSPAN USB Serial Adapter.5Plug the Power Supply into an AC wall outlet or power strip.Ensure all connections are secure.Complete all connections before plugging in the PowerSupply.HardwareConnections forMultiple IRReceivers (RS232 COM Port)Computer3-Way CableStereo CablesPower SupplyIR ReceiversIR SensorLED LightThe PRS software needs to be informed where to pick up data collectedby the IR Receiver. It needs to be told which COM port the Receiver isconnected to.1Open the PRS application.2From the Connection Menu, select the COM port the IR Receiver isconnected to. The Mac lists either the device, or an identifying serialnumber, that each port is connected to, making it fairly easy to find thecorrect connection for the IR Receiver. Windows, on the other hand, justlists the available ports on the system. It’s up to you to determine whichMaking theConnection
31Chapter 2port the IR Receiver is connected to. If you’re not sure, refer to thePort Check section in Chapter One for information on testing theCOM ports for the connection.PRS System Installation – IR ClickerTroubleshootingthe IR ReceiverConnectionIf the IR Receiver is not being recognized on any of the COM Ports, first,check all connections to make sure they are secure. From the ConnectionMenu, select a COM Port and run a Port Check, as documented in ChapterOne, PRS Menus. Repeat for each COM Port. If the IR Receiver still fails toshow up, leave it connected and restart the computer. In most cases, the IRReceiver will now show up as connected to the COM Port.The software for some serial devices will take over a COM Port and fail torelease it when the device is disconnected. If the IR Receiver is attached toone of these COM Ports, Windows won’t recognize it because the Port hasbeen commandeered by another application. We’ve seen this behavior whena Palm Pilot, for example, had been connected to the COM Port to which theIR Receiver is currently connected.IR Clickers require little in the way of setup. It’s simply a matter ofinstalling two batteries, as follows:1A tiny screw holds the battery cover in place on the back of the unit.IR Clickers are shipped either with the screw in place, or taped insidethe lid of the Clicker box. If the screw is in place, remove it now.2Remove the battery cover by pushing down on the thumb grip andsliding it in the direction of the arrow.3Insert two AAA batteries, positioning them properly to ensure thecorrect polarity.4Slide the battery cover back on and reinsert the screw to hold it inplace.IR Clicker Setupand OperationLow Confidence KeyOn/Off PowerSignal DirectionLED LightResponse KeysHigh Confidence Key
32 Chapter 2Basic Operation 1Press the ON/OFF button to power the IR Clicker on.2Locate the IR Receiver and point the Clicker toward it.3Make your Response Choice and press the correspondingalphanumeric Response Key.4Watch the Response Grid or Attendee List for verification of thereceipt of your transmission.The LED Light will flash while the Response transmission to the IRReceiver is in progress. The IR Clicker’s power will automatically shut offafter 15 minutes of inactivity.PRS System Installation – IR ClickerConfidence Level You might want students to qualify their Responses to a Question byindicating the level of confidence they have in the correctness of theiranswers. The IR Clickers have an H key and an L key in the bottomrow of keys. These keys can be used in combination with the Responsekeys to attach a Confidence Level to a Response. The H key indicates thestudent has a high level of confidence in the accuracy of his Response.The L key signifies the student is basically guessing at the correct answerand has a low level of confidence in the accuracy of his Response. Bydefault, when a Confidence Level is not indicated, all Responses areassigned a Medium Level of Confidence. You should indicate at thebeginning of a Session, or before a Question is presented, that you wanta Confidence Level attached to the Responses. When a Confidence Levelis requested, students should be told to press the H or L key first, thenpress a Response Key.The Confidence Level setting will revert to the default value of Medium after15 seconds have passed without a transmission, or after the IR Clicker ispowered Off and On.LED Light The LED Light* illuminates to indicate the following:Red = High Confidence Level TransmissionGreen = Medium Confidence Level TransmissionOrange = Low Confidence Level TransmissionFlashing = Response Transmission in Progress*Replace the batteries when the LED Light becomes dim.Clicker OperationInstructionsEven with the limited key selection of the IR Clickers, they are capable ofsending a variety of different Responses, depending on the type ofQuestion being asked. Clicker Operation Instruction sets can be accessedfrom the Help Menu (Chapter One, PRS Menus). Display the relevantinstruction set prior to the beginning of the Session.
33Chapter 2On/Off PowerSignal DirectionLED LightDecrease KeyIncrease KeyCommand KeysNeck Cord RingPRS System Installation – Master IR ClickerMaster IR Clicker The Master IR Clicker is a special version of the IR Clicker for use by instruc-tors. It affords an instructor remote control capabilities, leaving him free tomove around the room, while managing the Session presentation. The H andL Modifier Keys, which on a regular IR Clicker are used to attach a Confi-dence Level to a Response, are used on the Master IR Clicker in combinationwith the Command Response Keys to send commands to the PRS softwareinstead of Responses.The keys numbered 0 through 3 have special Command assignments onthe Master IR Clicker. Each special Command Key has a letter above it.The letters stand for: Start/Stop (0), Time (1), Question (2), and Graph(3). The H Modifier Key is used to indicate increases (+), while the LModifier Key is used to indicate decreases (—). So, when the H and 1 Keysare pressed, the Command to increase the Timer by 30 seconds is sent tothe PRS software.Key 0 is associated with Start, Pause, Resume, and Stop.H+0: Start or Resume the Timer, depending on which option isavailable.L+0: Pause, if available; Stop, if the Resume option is available. Theeffect is to require two successive entries of L+0 for a complete stop.Key 1 is associated with Time.H+1: Increase the allotted time on the Timer by 30 seconds.L+1: Decrease the allotted time on the Timer by 30 seconds.Key 2 is associated with the Question Number Indicator on the ResultsChart Toolbar, if the Results Chart is open, or on the Session Dialog Toolbar.H+2: Move to the next Question (when autoadvance is not enabled)and increase the Question Number by one.Command KeyAssignments
34 Chapter 2PRS System Installation – Flash DriveInstructors will often set up Classes, Lessons and Gradebooks on a USBFlash Drive connected to their office computers. They can then easilyaccess everything they’ve worked on when they connect the Flash Driveto the classroom computer. This works fine as long as the Preferences,Set Default Data Directory option on the File Menu (Chapter One) pointsto the correct drive letter on each computer. My Flash Drive shows up asthe E: Drive on my laptop, where I have one CD-ROM drive, and as the F:Drive on my desktop, where I have two CD-ROM drives. Make sure thaton each system where you are using PRS, the PRS Default Data Directoryis pointing to the correct drive letter for the Flash Drive. If it’s not, PRSwill build new a default data directory on the local drive, and it won’t seethe PRS directory on the Flash Drive.Another option is to use the Flash Drive only to move PRS files from onesystem to another. Save everything locally and use the Flash Drive as atransfer medium.Using a FlashDrive withPRSL+2: Move to the previous Question and decrease the QuestionNumber by one.Key 3 is associated with the Results Chart.H+3: Open the Results Chart.L+3: Close the Results Chart.Each of these Commands is associated with a specific Function Button. Ifthe associated Function Button on the Session screen is disabled, theremote Command will have no effect.Be aware that if your signal is received by multiple IR Receivers, the resultwould be the same as if you had transmitted the same Command multipletimes. For example, if you send L+0 and it hits two Receivers, it will issueboth the Pause and Stop Commands.
35Chapter 3ClassesClasses is the section of PRS where each meeting, or Class, is defined andprofiled. The primary function of the Classes section is to establish anassociation between the Class profile and the Roster of students in thatClass. The Class profiles are listed in the left pane of the Classes Window.Class Rosters are displayed in the right pane.The following screen shot shows the Classes Window after some Classeshave been profiled and associated with Class Rosters, an example ofwhich is shown in the right pane, the Roster List Window. A feature of theList Window is that you can click on one of the labelled column TableHeader Buttons, where the green Sort Indicator Arrow will appear, to sort, orindex, the entries in the List Window based on that key. Click repeatedly onthe Table Header Button to toggle between ascending and descending order.
36 Chapter 3In the PRS Overview in Chapter One, two types of PRS hardware systemswere described:• Radio Frequency Receivers and Clickers that feature two-waytransmissions• Infrared Receivers and Clickers that feature one-way transmissionsAlthough the Class has the same function in both transmission environ-ments—identifying and naming a group of students—its implementation ineach environment is different enough that it will be discussed in twoseparate sections of this chapter.The first section describes the operation of the Class in the RF environ-ment. The second section covers the implementation of the Class in theIR environment.When PRS is started up after at least one RF-Type Class has been pro-filed, it goes into what can be thought of as Classroom Mode. A Start RFClass dialog, which lists all defined RF-Type Classes, displays first. Whenyou select the RF Class you want to start and click OK, the RF Receiverbegins broadcasting the selected Class. Powered-on RF Clickers will findthe Class, either through Autoscan or Quick Jump, and join it. Each time aClicker joins the Class, the Joined counter on the Status Bar of the PRSwindow is incremented. When everyone has joined the Class, you areready to begin a Session.You do not have to have an RF Receiver connected toyour computer in order to define an RF-Type Class. Youcan define the Class on one computer and transfer it tothe computer connected to the RF Receiver when youare ready to start the Class and run a Session. Forpurposes of this discussion, it will be assumed that theClass is profiled on the computer to which the RFReceiver is connected.Classes – RF ClassWhen PRS detects an RF Receiver connected to the computer, it goesinto RF Mode. Upon startup of a new installation of PRS, you will bereminded that you have not defined any RF-Type Classes and, as a result,have no Classes to start. The remedy is to either set an existing Class tothe RF Type, or define a New Class. What this suggests from the begin-ning is that in the RF environment, the Class is central to the process ofpresenting a PRS Session. You will start the Class, students will join it and,after the Session is finished, you will stop the Class.The Classin the Environment
37Chapter 3A Class Roster does not have to be in place in order to run a Session. Each RFClicker has been registered to the student’s Student ID. (The RF Clicker willAutoscan for Classes, but will not allow the student to join a Class until aStudent ID has been entered and saved.) The Student ID is transmitted withevery Response, providing a way of identifying the student and attributing hisResponse. When the Class is stopped, a Roster listing the Clicker IDs andStudent IDs of all the students who participated in the Session will appear inthe Roster List Window of the Classes section. The Roster will be associatedwith the Class and the name of the Class will be used to name the Roster.You can double-click on the Last Name and First Name fields to enterstudent names in those fields. If a Class Roster is already in place, studentswhose Student ID had not been associated previously with the Class will beadded to the Class Roster.Classes – New RF ClassClick on the New Class Function Button to display the following dialogwhere you can set up your RF Class.Class Info Section In the RF environment the Class Name is the name that the RF Receiverbroadcasts and the name that displays on the RF Clicker’s LCD screenwhen it is scanning for Classes to join. The Class Name is derived fromthe first six characters entered in the Course/Instructor field and the firstfour characters entered in the Section/Location field. It cannot be edited.
38 Chapter 3Receivers Class ID This is the ID that the RF Clickers in the Closed Class will be linkedto, and which will uniquely identify the RF Receiver with the Closed Classbeing profiled here. The Class ID must be four characters long—choose from0 through 9 and A through F to represent the Hex number that will identifythe Closed Class. When you click on the Set Class ID button, a dialog willdisplay with a note reminding you that the Class ID must be unique andshould not be used by any other PRS users within 500 feet of your location.If you were to share a Class ID with another classroom within that radius, theClickers in that other classroom could join your Closed Class.In order to link the RF Clickers with this Closed Class, you must Configurethe Clickers. This option is selected from the RF Menu (Chapter One, PRSMenus) and completes the process of associating RF Clickers with the RFReceiver in a Closed environment.DefaultAudienceTypeThe Audience Type setting determines whether a student’s identification will berecorded and saved with his Responses. This is a default setting that can bechanged when the RF Class is started.Known The Student ID that identifies each student is recorded with thestudent’s transmitted Responses. This Audience Type setting is necessarywhen you expect to grade, or Mark, Sessions for this Class.Anonymous The Anonymous Audience Type is used when identification ofthe students is not required and their Responses are not recorded andgraded. This setting is typically used when the Class is being polled orsurveyed, or during review Sessions.System Type System Type describes your preference for the kind of environment in whichyour Class will be run. You have the choice of an Open Class System, ora Closed Class System.• An Open Class System is one in which the RF Clickers are Student-owned. These Clickers belong to the students and are used by them tojoin any Open RF Class in any classroom where PRS is running.• A Closed Class System is one in which the RF Clickers are Class-owned.These Clickers stay in the classroom and are assigned to the students foruse only when they are in that classroom. When this System Type isselected, the Set Class ID button is activated in the Receivers section onthis dialog. A Class ID is assigned to the RF Receiver. The classroom RFClickers are configured as Closed and linked to the assigned Class ID.(Configure Clickers is an RF Menu option and is described in ChapterOne, PRS Menus.)Classes – RF Class TypeClass TypeSectionWhen the Clicker Type is set to RF, three subsections are displayed; SystemType, Default Audience Type, and Receivers.
39Chapter 3As indicated above, the Response Grid is not used for an RF Class, so youcan ignore these settings. However, after each Question is presentedduring a Session, you will most likely want to display the Results Chart toshow the Response distribution.Classes – New RF Class SettingsResponse MapTabA limitation of the IR environment that does not exist in the RF environmentis that there is no way to return receipt confirmation messages to the IRClickers. In that environment, user identification is displayed in a ResponseBox to confirm that a Response from that user was received during a Session.The Response Boxes are arranged in rows and columns on the screen,making up the Response Grid. The Response Map acts as a virtual seatingchart, providing a fixed location in the Response Grid for each student’sResponse Box, enabling him to easily locate his receipt confirmation. TheResponse Grid and Response Map are not necessary in the RF environmentas messages confirming Response receipt are returned directly to the indi-vidual RF Clickers. You can ignore the Response Map Tab when you aredefining a Class for RF.Default SettingsTabDefault settings for the Response Grid Window and the Results ChartWindow are established on this tab. These windows are displayed duringa Session.
40 Chapter 3You can establish, as part of the Class definition, the default settings for howyou want the Results Chart window to display for this Class. The followingtable describes the options for each of the Chart window settings.That’s all there is to profiling a Class for the RF environment. You can skipthe next section about the Class in the IR environment and go to the ClassRoster section at the end of this chapter.Chart TypeShow CorrectResponseChart ValuesbyBar VerticalBar HorizontalPieYes/NoPercentNumberAutomaticallyShow ChartYes/NoDo you want the bar chart to display along thehorizontal or vertical axis, or would you prefer apie chart of the results?Percent: The results are charted based on thepercentage of Responses for each ResponseChoice.Number: The results are charted based on thenumber of Responses for each Response Choice.Do you want a chart of the Response distributionresults to display automatically after each Questionduring a Session? If you choose No, you can clickon the Show Chart Function Button on theSession dialog Toolbar when you are ready todisplay the Results Chart.Option DescriptionSettingsWhen this option is set to Yes, the number of thecorrect Response, percentage of Correct andIncorrect Responses and number of Out of RangeResponses is displayed above the chart, thecorrect answer is displayed as bright blue in thechart legend, and the color of the correctResponse’s chart bar or pie section is combinedwith bright blue.ShowConfidenceLevelsYes/No The Confidence Level of Responses is shown inthe color of the bars and pie sections—Red=HighConfidence, Green=Medium (default) Confidence,Yellow=Low Confidence. If you choose No, theHigh Confidence and Low Confidence colors willnot display in the Results Chart.Classes – New RF Class Settings
41Chapter 3 Classes – IR ClassThe Class identifies and names a group of students. The Class definitionaddresses three different aspects of the PRS Class: 1) Class Name and Type,2) the Response Map, which assigns each student a fixed position in theResponse Grid, and 3) default settings for the Response Grid and ResultsChart that will display when this Class participates in a Session. In the IRenvironment, the Class Roster is an important part of the Class definition.When a Response is sent from an IR Clicker to the IR Receiver, the Clicker IDis attached to the Response. The Class Roster, described at the end of thischapter, links the Clicker ID to the student’s name and Student ID, ensuringthat the transmitted Response will be credited to that student.The Classin the IREnvironmentClick on the New Class Function Button to display the following dialogwhere you can set up your IR Class.Class Info Section The Class Name is derived from the first six characters entered in theCourse/Instructor field and the first four characters entered in theSection/Location field. It cannot be edited.Class Type Section 1Select the IR Clicker Type from the drop-down list.The rest of the options in this section will disappear when the IR Clicker Typeis selected, as they are relevant only in an RF environment.2Click on the OK button to save the new Class definition.
42 Chapter 3Classes – IR Class Response MapBefore you can set up a Response Map, you must have a ClassRoster linked to this new Class definition. Go to the Class Rostersection at the end of this chapter. Return here when you areready to continue with the Class definition.Response MapTabThe Class Response Map provides a way of mapping each student listed in theClass Roster to a permanent location in a Response Grid. It is a virtual seatingchart. The Response Grid is displayed in the Response Area below the Ques-tion and Response Choices. In a PRS PowerPoint Lesson Session, the ResponseGrid can be sized and moved to any location over the Question Slide.When a Response Map is not defined, Responses are posted to the ResponseGrid in the order received. An individual’s Response will rarely show up in thesame place in the Response Grid from one Question to the next. Large groupsof students will find it difficult to track and verify their Response transmissions ifa Response Map is not in place. When a student has been assigned a perma-nent position in the Response Grid by means of a Response Map, he has onlyone place to look to verify that his Response has been transmitted, receivedand recorded.A Response Map can be imported or created. Created Response Maps can bederived either by using the Class Roster to populate the Map, or by havingstudents register for the Response Map by pressing a key on their IR Clickerswhen requested to do so. A Response Map can be updated when respondentsnot currently included in the Response Map attend a Session. Their responseswill show up at the end of the Response Grid, assuming there are additional,empty Response Boxes in the grid. You will be prompted to save the ResponseMap with the new registrations.
43Chapter 3If the size of your Class is likely to fluctuate from oneSession to the next, add more Rows and/or Columns tothe Response Map than indicated by the size of theClass Roster. Additional students can then be easilyaccommodated when they show up for a Session. If youhaven’t set up enough Response Boxes in the ResponseGrid, and the Response Map hasn’t been set to cycle inthe Grid Settings section, when the Response Grid is full,additional Responses will be ignored.Classes – IR Class Response MapYou have three options:Use Roster, Random via Responses, orSequential via Responses. The Use Rosteroption allows you to create a ResponseMap directly from the Roster associatedwith this Class definition. The order ofassignment in the Response Map is based on the order in which thestudents are listed in the Roster. When you select this option and clickon the Next button, the Response Map List Window is populated withinformation extracted from the Roster, the Rows and Columns fields areautomatically calculated based on the size of the Roster, and the Re-sponseMap directory displays. Name the new Response Map and saveit. The name and path to the newly created Response Map is displayedin the Response Map field above the Response Map List Window. Addmore Rows and Columns if you either expect more students, or plan torun test Sessions and use Key Input (Chapter One, PRS Menus, Connec-tion Menu) to simulate Response transmissions.Sequential and Random Response MapsBoth the Sequential via Responses option and the Random via Responsesoption require the registration of the IR Clickers. Sequential registrationallows you to register students in the Response Map in a specific order,while Random registration assigns the next position in the ResponseMap to the next signal received. The end result of the three types ofResponse Map creation is the same; each student occupies a specific,assigned position on the Response Map.Create ResponseMap FunctionClick on the Create Response Map button below the Response Map ListWindow to display the Create Response Map Choose Type dialog.
44 Chapter 3Classes – IR Class Response MapSelect either the Sequential or Randomresponse option and click on the Nextbutton. The Response Map Row/Columnprompt displays. Use this option to de-scribe how you want the individual Re-sponse Boxes arranged in the grid. Set thenumber of Rows and Columns you want in the Response Map. If neces-sary, add additional Rows or Columns to the Class definition to provideroom for late registrants, or for Key Input Response simulations (ChapterOne). Click on the Next button.The following screen shots show a portion of each screen that displaysfor a Sequential Response Map.The yellow Assignment Block moves from one Response Box to the nextin order across the Response Map. When a signal is sent from an IRClicker, its Clicker ID is registered to the Response Box with the Assign-ment Block in it. If a Clicker ID is not assigned to the Response Box youwant it to be in, click on the Pause button.
45Chapter 3Use the green arrow buttons to reposition the yellow Assignment Block.Click on the Clear button to remove the Clicker ID currently in the ResponseBox with the Assignment Block. Click on the Resume button to activate theAssignment Block and register the correct Clicker ID to that ResponseBox.Random Response Maps provide assigned locations, but they are in noparticular order of assignment. The Response Map grid displays, but there isno yellow Assignment Block. Simply have each student press a button onhis or her IR Clicker, one after the other. The student’s Clicker ID willdisplay in the Response Box to which the student is now assigned. Whenthe Response Map Random Registration process is finished, you will beprompted to name and save the Response Map in the ResponseMapdirectory.Classes – IR Class Response MapImport ResponseMap FunctionClick on the Import Response Map button to import an existing Re-sponse Map. The ResponseMap directory, where the Response Mapsare stored by default, displays. Select the Response Map you want toimport, or browse to another location where you have stored ResponseMaps and import one from there.Remove ResponseMap FunctionA prompt displays when you click on the Remove Response Map buttonto remind you that the Response Map you are removing is just disassoci-ated from this Class definition. The Response Map file is not deleted andremains available to be used with this or any other Class definition.Click on the End button when all Response Box assignments have beenmade. You will be prompted to name and save the Response Map in theResponseMap directory.
46 Chapter 3CycleResponseMap Delay(in seconds)1 – 9Option DescriptionSettingsThis sets the amount of time, in seconds, thecurrent block of Response Boxes (set above) willdisplay before cycling to the next block.CycleResponseMap Numberof Boxes20 – 300 Set the number of Response Boxes that willdisplay during each Response Map Cycle.Bottom Lineof ResponseBox ShowsNoneClicker IDLast 4 digits Clicker IDLast 2 digits Clicker IDIf this Class definition has an associated ResponseMap, you can choose what, if anything, willdisplay on the bottom line of each Response Boxin the Response Grid.CycleResponseMap (if mapsize is greaterthan 50)Yes/No If you have a large number of students in theaudience, you can set the Response Map to CycleMode. When set to Yes, each block of ResponseBoxes (defined next) will display for the amount oftime (Delay) set below before cycling through tothe next block in sequence. Cycling, when set,continues throughout the Session.You should always cycle the Response Map whenthe defined number of Response Boxes is verylarge. The Response Boxes in the Response Areacould be so small, they would be difficult to seeand read. Students would not be able to verifyreceipt of their Response under such extremecircumstances.Classes – IR Class SettingsGrid SettingsSectionThe options set in the Grid Settings section below the Response MapFunction Buttons pertain to the Response Map defined here. Each settingis described in the table below.
47Chapter 3Number ofResponseBoxesOption DescriptionSettings20 – 2000 The setting you choose here is based on thenumber of students in the Class. It will be grayedout when a Response Map has been set up forthe Class.The number of Response Boxes is determined bythe size of the Class and is divided into a display ofthe Rows and Columns that will fit in the ResponseArea. If you want all Responses to be displayed atthe same time, set the number of Response Boxesequal to or higher than the number of studentsparticipating in the Session. Each Response will berecorded and displayed in a Response Box. If thenumber of Response Boxes is smaller than thenumber of students, the last Responses receivedwill display at the beginning of the Response GridClasses – IR Class SettingsDefault SettingsTabDefault settings for the Response Grid Window and the Results ChartWindow are established on this tab. These windows are displayed duringa Session. Some of the settings established here can be changed on theNew Session dialog before the Session is begun.The following table identifies each of the options in the Response Gridsection and its possible settings for the Response Area window.Response GridSection
48 Chapter 3Option DescriptionSettingsand overwrite the initial Response in that Re-sponse Box. All overwritten Responses will havealready been recorded, so no Response data arelost when a smaller Response Grid is defined. Thisis the opposite of what happens when a ResponseMap is defined. In that case, if the Response Griddefined by the Response Map is smaller than theaudience, only the Responses that are displayed ina Response Box are recorded. All others are lost.This option is grayed out when a Response Map isset up as part of the Class definition. The ResponseBox colors are already set to indicate the numberof tries by each respondent: Blue – has not yetresponded, Yellow – out-of-range response, tryagain, Rose – one in-range Response transmission,Teal – second in-range Response transmission, Red– Last Chance Response, further attempts torespond will be ignored.Unique to last digit of ID: Each digit, 0 through 9,is assigned a color, e.g., 0=orange, 1=pink, 2=blue,etc. When responding to a Question, each IRClicker’s Response will display in the colorassigned to the last digit of its ID. This makes iteasier for a respondent to find his Response in theResponse Grid, especially if there is no ResponseMap in the Class definition.Clear: All students display the same Responsecolors: Green = an in-range Response transmis-sion, Yellow = an out-of-range Response transmis-sion, Red = the Last Chance in-range Response,further attempts to respond will be ignored.Response BoxColorUnique to last digit of IDClearDisplayResponse inBoxDo you want to display each student’s Responseto each Question during a Response Session?Your setting here will depend in part on whetheror not you plan to identify students during theResponse Session – Known or Anonymous(Audience option, New Session) – and whether ornot you want each student’s Response to bepublished, especially if his name is displayed. Ifthis is a survey, you may want to show Re-sponses and names. If it’s a test, you probablywon’t want to show Responses.Yes/NoClasses – IR Class Settings
49Chapter 3Top Line ofResponse BoxDisplaysClicker ID Last4 digits Clicker IDLast 2 digits Clicker IDLast NameFirst NameNicknameFirst Name Last InitialLast Name First InitialStudent IDWhen the Response Grid is chosen as the DisplayMode for the Session, the selection from this listdetermines what type of student identificationwill display on the top line of the Response Box.Be mindful of privacy issues if you choose todisplay the Student ID.Option DescriptionSettingsDisplayQuestionYes/No If the Questions for a Session are going to bepresented orally, written on the board, or displayedon an overhead projector, for example, set thisoption to No.Attendee ListShowsChoose from this list which field from eachstudent profile you want to display to identify thestudent when Attendee List is chosen as theDisplay Mode for the Session.AutomaticallyAdvanceQuestionYes/No When this option is set to Yes, after the Timer hasexpired and the Results Chart has been closed,the next Question will automatically display. Whenset to No, you must manually advance to the nextQuestion in the Session.Clicker ID Last4 digits Clicker IDLast 2 digits Clicker IDLast NameFirst NameNicknameFirst Name Last InitialLast Name First InitialStudent IDClasses – IR Class Settings
50 Chapter 3Chart TypeShow CorrectResponseChart ValuesbyBar VerticalBar HorizontalPieYes/NoPercentNumberAutomaticallyShow ChartYes/NoDo you want the bar chart to display along thehorizontal or vertical axis, or would you prefer apie chart of the results?Percent: The results are charted based on thepercentage of Responses for each ResponseChoice.Number: The results are charted based on thenumber of Responses for each Response Choice.Do you want a chart of the Response distributionresults to display automatically after each Questionduring a Session? If you choose No, you can clickon the Show Chart Function Button on theSession dialog Toolbar when you are ready todisplay the Results Chart.Option DescriptionSettingsWhen this option is set to Yes, the number of thecorrect Response, percentage of Correct andIncorrect Responses and number of Out of RangeResponses is displayed above the chart, thecorrect answer is displayed as bright blue in thechart legend, and the color of the correctResponse’s chart bar or pie section is combinedwith bright blue.ShowConfidenceLevelsYes/No The Confidence Level of Responses is shown inthe color of the bars and pie sections—Red=HighConfidence, Green=Medium (default) Confidence,Yellow=Low Confidence. If you choose No, theHigh Confidence and Low Confidence colors willnot display in the Results Chart.Classes – IR Class SettingsThe following table describes the Results Chart settings options.Chart Section Responses are graphed to provide immediate, visual feedback about theResponse distribution for each Question during a Session, making theResults Chart an excellent tool for on-the-spot assessment. After aQuestion is run during a Session, the Results Chart is displayed eitherautomatically, or manually by clicking on the Show Chart button on theSession dialog Toolbar. These default settings can be changed from oneSession to the next.
51Chapter 3 Classes – Class Function ButtonsSelect a Class definition in the Classes List Window. Click on the CreateReport Function Button. The Report, listing the complete Class Roster,will display in a Print Preview window. The Print Preview window featuresa number of Export options on the File Menu, navigation tools on theNavigation Menu and Toolbar, and zoom tools on the Zoom Menu andToolbar.Select a Class definition in the Classes List Window. Click on the DeleteClass Function Button. You will be prompted to verify you want to deletethe Class. A Class cannot be deleted if it’s the only Class in the ListWindow.Select a Class definition in the Classes List Window. Click on the Edit ClassFunction Button. The Class definition window displays. Make your changes toany of the settings in the tabbed sections. Note that everything about theClass definition can be edited, except the Class Name.
52 Chapter 3We recommend keeping a few Loaner Clickers on hand incase a Clicker malfunctions or a student has forgotten to bringhis. Each IR Loaner Clicker should be profiled in the ClassRoster. When a student uses a Loaner Transmitter during aSession, edit the Class Roster before starting the Session.Insert the student’s Student ID into the Loaner’s profile. Thiswill ensure that the student’s Responses are correctly recordedand credited to him. After the Session, remove the student’sStudent ID from the Loaner profile.An RF Clicker is configured as a Loaner. Select the ConfigureClickers option from the RF Menu (see Chapter One, PRSMenus for details). The student using the RF Loaner Clickerwill not be able to join a Class until he has entered hisStudent ID.A Class Roster can be created by adding names here in the PRS application,or a Roster can be imported. Existing Class Rosters can be imported into, aswell as disassociated, or removed, from the Class. When a Roster is estab-lished as part of a Class definition, it becomes associated with that Class.When a Roster is removed, it is disassociated from the Class definition.However, the Roster file itself is not deleted and remains available to beassociated with other Class definitions.The Add Name to Roster Function Button is used to build the Roster locallyin the PRS application, and/or to add names to an existing, associated Roster.A Name can be deleted from the Roster by selecting the name in the RosterList Window and clicking on the Delete Name From Roster Function Button.Classes – Class RosterThe Roster identifies the people in the class, meeting, or polling group.The purpose of the Roster in the IR environment is to link a student’sname and Student ID to his or her Clicker ID, ensuring the student’sResponses are attributed to him or her. The IR Clicker ID is sent witheach Response transmission during a Session. Without a Class Roster,there is no way to match Responses to students and subsequently to markthe results of a Session.In the RF environment, a Class Roster does not have to be in place inorder to run a Session for the Class. The Student ID, saved in the student-owned RF Clicker’s memory, or temporarily stored in the Loaner RFClicker’s memory before the student joins the Class, is transmitted witheach Response, ensuring attribution and identification. So a Class Rosterbased on Student IDs can actually be generated during a Class Session.Student names can be added to the Roster after the fact.The ClassRoster
53Chapter 3 Classes – Class RosterCreating and Maintaining a Class RosterAs described earlier, Class Rosters can be developed locally as part of theClass definition, or they can be developed outside PRS and imported into theClass definition. A Roster associated with a Class definition can be maintainedusing the Add Name and Delete Name Function Buttons. Rosters developedusing third part CMS applications are usually maintained in the applicationand reimported into the Class definition.A somewhat unique situation exists when a Class Roster is developed usingthe Web-based PRS Registration Application described in Chapter Seven. TheWeb-based PRS Registration Application can be set up so that studentsrequired to buy a PRS Transmitter for one or more classes can register onlinefor those classes. The resulting Roster, in addition to being managed online inthe Admin portion of the PRS Registration application, can be downloaded tothe PRS/Roster directory for import into a Class definition. Conversely, aRoster developed locally in PRS for a Class definition using the Add Namesfunction can be imported into the PRS Web Registration Application. Theregistration files created by PRS and the PRS Web Registration Applicationare stored separately. Online registrations are maintained in a database on thePRS Registration Application Web site. Rosters created in PRS using the AddNames function and downloaded Rosters are stored and maintained in thePRS/Roster directory on the computer. If you want to keep individual Rosterssynchronized, you should make all changes at one location and download orimport to the other location.Roster Display ModeDuring a Session, the Class Roster can be displayed in one of two ways in theResponse Area below each Question and its Response Choices. The Rostercan be displayed in a Response Grid, or as an Attendee List.A Response Grid is made up of individual Response Boxes that are arrangedin a grid of rows and columns. When a student transmits a Response to aQuestion, confirmation of a received signal in the form of the student’sTransmitter ID number or his name (this identification selection is made inthe Response Window Defaults dialog of the New Class definition) isdisplayed in a Response Box in the Response Grid. When a Response Map(the next tab) has been set up as part of the New Class definition, eachstudent will have an assigned Response Box—a permanent location—in theResponse Grid, where that confirmation of transmission and receipt of his orher Responses will always appear.The Attendee List (the list of everyone from the Class Roster who is inattendance during the Session) is also displayed in the Response Area beloweach Question and its Response Choices. As each student transmits his
54 Chapter 3Classes – Class Roster Function ButtonsResponse to a Question, his name is removed from the list to verify transmis-sion receipt. When the Question’s Countdown Timer has expired, theremaining names in the Attendee List are of those students who did notrespond to the Question.Both Display Modes are useful in helping the instructor monitor Classparticipation during a Session. An option to toggle between the two RosterDisplay Modes is available from the Preferences menu on the Session dialogToolbar, and can be used at any time during the Session to view either theResponse Grid or the Attendee List.The Function Buttons above the Roster List Window in the Classes Sectionrepresent the options available for creating and maintaining Class Rosters.Roster FunctionButtonsImported Rosters can come from a variety of sources, includingthird party Course Management Systems and other Class defini-tions. Click on the Import Roster Function Button when you want to importan existing Roster to associate with the selected Class.By default, the Import Roster Function Button displays the PRS/Rosterdirectory. You can browse to another location to find the Roster you want toimport for this Class definition. Rosters associated with PRS Classes must bein a .csv file format. Imported Rosters can come from a variety of sources.They can be created in PRS for another Class, created as a .csv file in Excel,downloaded from the PRS Web Registration Application (Chapter Seven), orcreated in a Course Management System, such as Blackboard (ChapterSeven), WebAssist or Web CT.If you want to create a Roster from an existing MS Excel spreadsheet, hereare a few tricks to make the process go smoothly. PRS can read only thoseRosters stored in a .csv format. In addition, PRS expects a specific structure inthe .csv file. It is recommended that you use one of the example filesaccessed on the GTCO CalComp Web site from the Help Menu, or create adummy Roster file. Use the Add Names Function Button to add one name,real or phony, and include any other information you want in your Roster filefrom the choices available in the Add Names dialog. Name and save the file.When you open it in Excel, you will have the proper file structure into whichyou can copy and paste roster information from your existing spreadsheet.The .csv file format does not accept embedded commas in names, which iswhy student names are broken down into separate First Name, Middle Initial,and Last Name fields. When you save the file, you will be asked whether youwant to save the formatting. Click on the Yes button. When you exit Excel,you will be prompted again to save the file. You do not have to save it again,unless you want to save it in the Excel .xls format.
55Chapter 3 Classes – Class Roster Function ButtonsEnter the student’s profile information into the appropriate fields, being sureto include his or her Student ID and, for IR, the IR Clicker ID number. Clickon the Add button to save the profile to the PRS database in the PRS/Rosterdirectory. The Add Names To Roster dialog is persistent, allowing you to editand add as many profiles as needed to the Class Roster. Each profile will bedisplayed in the List Window as it is added to the Roster in the Class defini-tion. Click on the OK button when you have finished editing and addingstudent profiles. They will display in the Roster List Window in the Classessection.When you click on the Remove Roster button, a prompt displays toremind you that the Class Roster you are removing will no longerbe associated with this particular Class, but the actual Roster .csv file is notdeleted. It will continue to be available to import into this Class or any otherClass you define.Use the Add Name To Roster Function Button to create a ClassRoster, or to add a name or names to the existing Roster. You canalso use this function to edit any of the student profiles in the Roster. Click onthe Add Name To Roster Function Button to display the dialog shown here.
56 Chapter 3Classes – Class Roster Function ButtonsSelect the name you want to delete from the Class Roster and clickon the Delete Name From Roster Function Button. A prompt willdisplay to verify that you want to delete the selected name from the ClassRoster. This option deletes the name from the Roster file identified in thefield above the Roster List Window. If this Roster is used with any other Classdefinitions, the name just deleted will no longer appear in those ClassRosters.Editing On The Fly You can directly edit an item in a List Window by double-clicking on it andmaking the change in the Edit dialog that displays.
57Chapter 4LessonsThe screen shot above shows a typical display of Lessons section, whichare branches of the Lesson Tree, and of the Questions in the selectedLesson.New Lessons and Imported Lessons can be added to the Lesson Tree.Existing Lessons can be edited, copied, deleted and exported. A variety ofReports can be created from the Lessons in the Lesson Tree. A NewSession can be started up for the selected Lesson from this section.Lesson TreeList WindowQuestion List WindowLessons is the section where you define and organize your questionnaires,which are called Lessons. Each Lesson is made up of a series of Questions.The Lessons main screen, shown below, is divided into two panes. TheLessons are organized in the Lesson Tree in the left pane. Questions forthe selected Lesson are displayed in the right pane in the Questions ListWindow. Note that each pane has its own set of Function Buttons.PRS Lessons
58 Chapter 4Lessons – Lesson Tree List Window, QuestionsQuestions Questions can be composed and stored in the selected Lesson in PRS byclicking on the New Question Function Button. Questions in a variety ofdifferent formats can also be imported as a Lesson. As described inChapter One, many textbook publishers provide electronic Question Setswith their textbooks. The PRS software has the capability of importing theQuestion Sets from Wiley (WileyML format), Pearson (proprietary XMLformat), Learning Pathways (proprietary format), Bedford, Freeman,Worth (QTI XML format), and native PRS XML (Open Specificationformat); as well as Questions in .png, .gif and .jpg image formats. Oncethese Question Sets, whatever their source, are imported into a PRSLesson, they become PRS Questions. You can set Question Defaults forthe Questions in the new, imported Lesson and use the PRS QuestionEditor to edit, manage, and delete them as you would the Questions inany of the homegrown PRS Lessons. You can also add new Questions toan imported Question Set.And finally, for those teachers and presenters who prepare their presenta-tions using Microsoft’s PowerPoint software, the good news is that youcan incorporate the Audience Response System capabilities of PRSdirectly into your PowerPoint Slide Shows. You’ll see how easily that’sThe Lesson Tree is structured like a file directory, providing a way ofarranging and organizing your Lessons. Branches are created in theLesson Tree, and individual Lessons are categorized and stored in theBranches. A Branch is defined by clicking on a position in the Lesson Tree(initially, the Lessons Branch is the only Branch), clicking on the NewLesson Function Button, and naming the Branch. No other New Lessonsettings are necessary in a Branch definition. Typically the Branch isnamed for the Class, e.g., Biology. Subbranches can specify types ofLessons, i.e., Review, Quizzes, Midterms, Finals; or Lesson categories, e.g.,the Digestive System, the Nervous System, the Circulatory System, etc.Lessons are then defined by clicking on a Branch in the Lesson Tree andclicking on the New Lesson Function Button. The Lesson Function Buttonsare activated when you click on a Branch in the Lesson Tree.In the context of the PRS system, a Lesson is a questionnaire and consistsof a series of Questions. The Lesson is merely a storage container for theQuestions and their default presentation settings. The presentationsettings describe how the Questions are to be presented to the audienceduring a Session.The Lesson TreeList Window
59Chapter 4 Lessons – Question List WindowThe Question Function Buttons become active when a Lesson is selected inthe Lesson Tree. New Questions can be created for the Lesson, andexisting Questions can be edited, copied and deleted. Questions can alsobe rearranged in the Question List Window by moving them up or down.By default, all the Questions in the Lesson are Selected, indicated by thegreen Check Mark. This means that when the Lesson is presented in aSession, all the Questions in the Lesson will be displayed during theSession. If you wanted to present a subset of a Lesson’s Questions during aSession, simply clear each Question’s Selected checkbox by clicking on it.All Unselected Questions will be excluded from the Session. Theunselected Questions will remain stored in the Lesson, but they will notappear again in any Session that uses that Lesson until the checkboxes havebeen re-selected here.You can order, or index, the Questions in the Question List Window byclicking on the Table Header Button of the column of data you havechosen as the Index Key. Click on the Table Header Button again to togglebetween ascending and descending order.The QuestionList Window
60 Chapter 4Lessons – New LessonGive the Lesson a Name. The Name identifies the Lesson in the LessonTree. The default settings for the presentation of the Questions in thisLesson during a Session are set up in the Defaults section of the NewLesson dialog. Although the defaults set here apply to all the Questions inthe Lesson, you can change the default settings in the New Questiondialog for an individual Question. The following table describes eachDefault option and lists its possible settings.Timer The Timer is set for the amount of time you wantto give students to answer each Question. Beaware of the anticipated size of the Class whenyou set the Timer. When signals are transmittedfrom Clickers to the Receiver, the Receiverprocesses the first signal it receives and ignoresthe others coming in at exactly the same time.Signals from Clickers are not queued by theReceiver. Even so, each transmitted signal isprocessed very quickly, so signals that are sentwithin nanoseconds of each other are usuallyprocessed without having to be resent, especiallyOption DescriptionSettings00:30 – 90:00min.sThe New Lesson Function Button is used to create Branches in the LessonTree and Lessons within those Lesson Tree Branches. To create a Branch,click on the location in the Lesson Tree where you want the new Branchto appear and click on the New Lesson Function Button. Give the Brancha Name and click on the OK button.To create a new Lesson, click on the Branch in the Lesson Tree whereyou want to store the new Lesson and click on the New Lesson FunctionButton. In either case, the following screen will display.
61Chapter 4 Lessons – New Lesson, DefaultsSelect the number of Response Choices you wantto have as the default value for the MultipleChoice Questions in the Lesson.Choices 2 – 10Option DescriptionSettingsOrientChoicesRowsColumnsResponse Choices can be displayed either in rowsor in columns. The settings for this option shouldbe considered in conjunction with the QuestionLocation setting below. Typically, when you setthe Question Location to Left, the ResponseChoices are aligned in Rows to the right of theQuestion. When Question Location is set to Top,the Choices orientation probably depends moreon the type of Response Choices—columns oftenbeing more suitable for graphic Responses.Font SizeChances10 – 36 points1 – 10,000Font Face All SystemFontsChoose a font size that will project well.Choose a font from among the fonts installed onthe computer. Generally speaking, you shouldavoid using decorative fonts, which might bedifficult to read, or using a number of differentfonts on the same Question screen, which mightbe distracting.You can set a limit on the number of tries, orChances, a student can have to answer a Ques-tion. During a Session, when a student is transmit-ting Responses, the Last Chance Response, theupper limit of whatever value the Chance option isset to, will display as red in the Response Box, andis the Response that will be recorded. AdditionalResponses will be ignored. An out-of-rangewith smaller, classroom-size groups. But, withgroups of several hundred, serial processing canbe an issue. Just be sure to set enough time on theTimer so that every student has a reasonablechance of getting their Responses to eachQuestion processed. If, as you are presenting theSession, you see that the default Timer value is notgiving all the students enough time to respond,you can change the setting for the Timer at thebeginning of each Question. Or, you can set thedefault Timer to a higher value. Then, during theSession, click on the Stop Question button atthe top of the Question dialog to stop the Timerwhen you have verified that everyone hasresponded to the Question.
62 Chapter 4Lessons – New Lesson, DefaultsFont Color BlackRedGreenBlueYellowOrangeBrownPurpleDark GrayLt BrownLt GreenSlateCyanDk BlueMagentaSet a default color for the Questions and Re-sponses in the Lesson. You can use color changesin addition to, or instead of, Font Style changes toadd emphasis and to make your Lesson morevisually appealing and engaging.Option DescriptionSettingsShow Choices ShowHideYou can choose to Show or Hide the Questionchoices for each Question.Font Style RegularBold ItalicUnderlineBold ItalicBold Under- lineItalic Under lineBold Italic UnderlineRegular is usually the best choice for the defaultFont Style. As you are composing individualQuestions and Choices, you can use the differentFont Styles to emphasize specific characters,words, or phrases. When choosing different FontStyles, as well as mixing Font Faces, apply theprinciple of less is more.Points 0 through1000You can assign a point value, also called a weight,to each Question in the Lesson. Set the defaultQuestion Point Value here.QuestionLocationTopLeftQuestions can be located at the Top of the displayscreen, or on the Left. As indicated above,Question Location is usually set with considerationto the orientation of the Response Choices.Response will not count against the number ofChances a student has to answer the Question.The instructor should inform the students howmany chances they have to select the rightResponse during the allotted time for eachQuestion, and remind them to watch the Re-sponse Grid (IR environment) to make sure alltheir Responses have been properly transmittedand received.
63Chapter 4 Lessons – Lesson Function ButtonsThe Font Settings you choose here, including color, will be applied to allthe Questions in the Lesson. Nevertheless, you can change any of thefont settings on a character-by-character basis in the Question dialog asyou compose the individual Questions for the Lesson.Select the Lesson you want to edit in the Lesson Tree and click on theEdit Lesson Function Button to display the Lesson profile dialog. You canchange the Lesson Name and any of the Default settings. Click on theOK button to save your changes.In the Lesson Tree, select the Lesson you want to copy. A prompt withthe Lesson Tree will display. Select the Branch to which you want to copythe selected Lesson, and click on the OK button. The Lesson will displayin the Lesson Tree Branch as Copy of and the name of the Lesson youcopied.Select the Lesson you want to delete from the Lesson Tree. Click on theDelete Lesson Function Button. You will be prompted to verify you wantto delete the Lesson.As described earlier, Lessons are made up of Question Sets. TheseQuestion Sets can be imported into a PRS Lesson from a variety ofsources, shown in the screen shot below.Note that you can opt to use the question default settings from theimported file, or you can unselect this option at the top of the Informa-tion tab and set PRS Question Defaults on the Question Defaults tab.
64 Chapter 4Lessons – Export LessonWhen you choose to import a Question Set into a PRS Lesson, the PRSdirectory will display in the left pane. Browse to the directory where thefiles of the File Type you chose are stored. When you have reached thedestination directory, the files in the folders in that directory will display inthe pane on the right side of the window in Windows and on the left sideof the window on the Mac, with a heading that indicates the type of filesexpected from that source. When you are assured you have chosen thedirectory that contains the Question Set you want to import into thisLesson, click on the Select (Windows) or Choose (Mac) button. Click onthe OK button to save the imported Question Set as a PRS Lesson. Whenthe imported Lesson is selected in the Lesson Tree, the Questions willdisplay in the Question List Window. You can use the Question Editor toedit, copy, delete, and add new Questions to the imported set. ImportedQuestions can also be moved, selected and unselected.Lessons are exported to a PRS Open Specification XML format andstored in the PRS\Exports directory. You can select a specific Lesson inthe Lesson Tree to export, or you can select a Branch in the Lesson Treeto export. When you select a Branch, all the Sub-Lessons in the Branchwill be exported.Exporting a single Lesson1Select the Lesson you want toexport from the Lesson Tree.2Click on the Export LessonFunction Button.The name of the Lesson displays atthe top of the Export Lesson dialog.3Click on the OK button.A Choose Destination Directory and File Name dialog displays. PRS hascreated a folder in the Exports directory named for the Lesson.4Name the file that will contain the exported Lesson and click on theSelect button.A prompt verifying the path to the exported Lesson will display. The XMLfile containing the exported Lesson and using the filename you providedhere will be created in the named Exports subdirectory.
65Chapter 4 Lessons – Export LessonExporting the Lessons in a Branchof the Lesson Tree1Select the Branch of the LessonTree that contains the Lessonsyou want to export.2Click on the Export LessonFunction Button.The name of the Branch displays atthe top of the Export Lesson dialog and the Export Sub-Lessons checkboxis selected.3Click on the OK button.The Choose Destination Directory and File Name dialog displays. PRShas created a folder in the Exports directory named for the Branch.4Name the XML file that will contain all the Lesson files in the selectedBranch and click on the Select button.A prompt will display verifying the location of the file containing theexported Sub-Lessons. If this file is moved to another PRS system and isimported, it will recreate the Branch in the Lesson Tree and all the Sub-Lessons in that Branch.Select the Lesson for which you want to create a Report and click on theCreate Report Function Button. Choose the type of Report you want tocreate for this Lesson. The Text Only option means that graphics in theQuestion or in any of the Response Choices will not be included in theReport. This function is often used when an instructor is running a SelfPaced Session (Chapter Five). The Questions and Response Choices donot display during this type of Session, so this is an easy way to makethem available to the students.You can start a Session directly from the Lesson Module. Select theLesson you want to use during the Session and click on the New SessionFunction Button. Fill in the remaining Session options in the New Sessiondialog (Chapter Five) that displays.
66 Chapter 4Lessons – New QuestionThe settings options can be found below the Toolbar. Some of these options were set as De-faults in the New Lesson dialog. You can change the default settings for the Question you arecurrently profiling. The changes you make to the default Question settings are persistent forsubsequent Questions of the same Question Type until you change them again. There are twoadditional settings in the Question Editor: Choices Type, where you can choose between letteredor numbered Question Choices; and Answer, where you can choose between Any, or None. TheAny selection is used most frequently for survey Questions where there is not right or wronganswer. None is selected for a throwaway Question with no correct answer that is often used totake attendance. The difference between the two is that the Responses to a None Question arenot included in Session Reports that calculate Response totals. You will note that as you changethe Question Type (described in the next section), some of the settings options will be grayed outbecause they are not relevant to the selected Question Type being profiled.A Lesson is made up of a series of Questions. When you have profiledthe Lesson, click on the New Question Function Button to display theQuestion Editor, shown below. The editing tools you can use whencreating a Question are arranged in the Toolbar. The table to the rightdescribes each tool.
67Chapter 4 Lessons – New Question Toolbar* The PRS Question Editor is an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) editor. It hassomewhat different formatting requirements than a standard text editor. The special-ized HTML Editing Tools described above provide the formatting commands youneed when composing your Questions and Responses.Switch to FreehandModeUse this tool to toggle between writing or drawingfreehand and typing Questions and Responses.Tool FunctionTool NameUndo Undo, or remove, the most recently typed character.Repeat Undo until all characters are removed.Redo Redo to replace most recently removed character.Repeat Redo to replace all removed characters.Cut Cut the selected item.Copy Make a copy of the selected item.Paste Paste the copied or cut item.Insert Image Use this tool to add a graphic to the Question and/orto any of the Responses.Insert HorizontalRuleInsert a horizontal line at the cursor location.Insert Subscript Display the text box in which you will type thesubscript text. It will be half the font size.Insert Superscript Display the text box in which you will type the super-script text. It will be half the font size.Subscript/Super-script OffTurn off the subscript or superscript font option andreturn to the default font size.*****Indent 4 Spaceswith LinebreakIssue an HTML formatting command to insert alinebreak and indent four spaces.Indent 4 Spaces Issue an HTML formatting command to indent fourspaces.Insert Linebreak Issue an HTML formatting command to insert alinebreak.**Run CharacterMapLaunch the Windows Character Map, select a font,and either drag/drop or copy/paste the character intothe text.Show/Hide Notes This tool button toggles the Instructor Notes on andoff. The default is Hide Notes. Instructor Notes will notdisplay when the Question is presented during aSession, regardless of whether they are on or off here.
68 Chapter 4Lessons – Question TypesMultiple ChoiceQuestion TypeFirst, review your default settings to make sure they apply to the way youwant to profile and present this Question. Then, decide whether you wantthe Choices to be lettered or numbered. When you begin entering yourquestion in the window pane labelled Q, you will see that what you areentering is reflected in the Name field. This name will appear in theQuestion List Window, identifying the Question. You can edit this field, ifyou prefer a different way of naming the Quesstion.Typically, Multiple Choice Questions provide a set number of ResponseChoices (two to five) from which one Choice is selected as the correctone. When you are profiling a traditional Multiple Choice Question, youQuestion Types You can choose from among five Question Types:• Multiple Choice• Numeric• Answer Series• True/False• Short AnswerThe Question Editor interfaces changes to accommodate the differentQuestion Types. Following are some notes about what those differencesmean when you are profiling the different Question Types.
69Chapter 4NumericQuestion Typewill click on the checkbox of the correct Response. When you do, the baralong the left side of the correct Question Choice will display as blue.Multiple correct Multiple Choice Questions are also an option. Simplyclick on the checkboxes of the correct Choices. Each selected Choice willdisplay the blue bar.Numeric Questions are fairly straightforward – enter the numeric ques-tion in the Q window pane and enter the correct Response in the Answerfield. Numeric Responses can contain up to 11 numeric characters,including the decimal point and minus sign. RF Clickers have both aDecimal Point key and a Minus Sign key. However, IR Clickers do not. Inaddition, IR Clickers must go through a fairly complicated series of keypresses when transmitting numeric Responses. Instructions for transmit-ting Responses to Numeric, Multiple Correct Multiple Choice, True/False, Answer Series, and Short Answer Question Types when using IRClickers can be found on the Help Menu. You can display the instruc-tions for IR Clicker users, or create a handout for each IR Clicker.Lessons – Question Types
70 Chapter 4Answer SeriesQuestion TypeThe Answer Series Question expects Responses in which the Answersare arranged in a predetermined order. For example, each Responsemight be a specific historical event and the Question would instruct thestudent to put the events in order from earliest to most recent. Studentswith RF Clickers would enter the letters or numbers in order and send thestring in one transmission, while students with IR Clickers will send theordered Responses as individual key presses, one after the other, waitingbetween key presses for the Clicker LED to stop flashing.Lessons – Question Types
71Chapter 4True/FalseQuestion TypeEnter the statement in the Q window pane and indicate whether it is trueor false by clicking on the radio button in the appropriate Responsepane. RF Clickers have a key and an key, IR Clickers do not. That’swhy there is a (1) and a (2) next to the T and F, respectively. IR Clickerscan respond to True/False Questions by pressing the 1 key for a TrueResponse and the 2 key for a False Response.Lessons – Question Types
72 Chapter 4Short AnswerQuestion TypeShort Answers can contain up to 11 alphanumeric characters. You willenter the correct Response in the Answer field. Students with RF Clickerswill enter all the characters in the Short Answer Response and then press to send the answer. Alpha characters A through F and T are enteredby pressing the respective keys. For other alpha characters, studentsshould be instructed to press one of the alpha keys to go into AlphaMode and use the and keys to scroll to the letter they want toenter.Students with IR Clickers must press each character in the Short AnswerResponse and wait between key presses until the LED on the Clickerstops flashing, indicating it is ready to transmit another key press. Inaddition, Short Answer Responses coming from IR Clickers are limited tothe numbers 0 through 9 and the letters A through J.Lessons – Question Types
73Chapter 4 Lessons – Question Function ButtonsIn the Lesson Tree, select the Lesson that contains the Question youwant to edit. The Lesson’s Questions will display in the Question ListWindow in the right pane. Select the Question you want to edit. Click onthe Edit Question Function Button to display the Question Editor. Youcan change any Question setting, add or change Instructor’s Notes, anduse the Question Editor’s tools to edit or change the Question and theResponses. Click on the Previous and Next buttons to move to otherQuestions in the Question Set you want to edit. Click on the Updatebutton at the bottom of the dialog when you have made your edits andare ready to return to the Lessons main screen.In the Lesson Tree, select the Lesson that contains the Question(s) youwant to delete. The Questions for the selected Lesson will display inthe Question List Window. Select the Question you want to delete, orusing the Shift key, select a block of Questions you want to delete. Clickon the Delete Question Function Button. You will be prompted to verifyyou want to delete the Question(s).Use the Copy Question Function Button to copy a Question fromone Lesson to another. Select the Question in the List Window. Clickon the Copy Question Function Button. In the pop-up Lesson Treedialog, select the Lesson you want to copy the Question to. The copiedQuestion will be appended to the list of Questions in the List Window.Use the two directional Move Function Buttons, described below, toposition the copied Question where you want it in the Lesson.Select a Question in the Question List Window and click on the MoveUp Function Button to move the Question up one position in the listof Questions. If the selected Question is at the top of the Question List,this function will not be available.Select a Question in the Question List Window and click on the MoveDown Function Button to move the Question down one position inthe list of Questions. If the selected Question is at the bottom of theQuestion List, this function will not be available.
74 Chapter 4Lessons – Question Function ButtonsClick on the Unselect All Function Button to clear the checkboxesnext to all the Questions. You can then click on individual checkboxesto select a subset of the Questions for presentation during a Session.Click on the Select All Function Button to select all the Questions inthe List Window. Each Question will have a green checkmark in thecheckbox to the left of the Question to indicate it is selected. All selectedQuestions are included when this Lesson is presented during a Session.
75Chapter 4PowerPointLessonsLessons – PowerPoint LessonsA Microsoft PowerPoint Slide Show can be easily turned into a PRSLesson. When InterWrite PRS is installed on your Windows computer, thePRS PowerPoint Add-in automatically creates a PRS Toolbar in PowerPointthat provides the functionality to turn any PowerPoint slide into a PRSLesson Question.In an IR environment, when a PowerPoint Slide Show with PRS QuestionSlides is run, PRS views this as a PRS Session and a New Session dialogdisplays, allowing you to configure the Session and indicate whether youwant to display a Response Grid or Attendee List in the Response Areawhen a PRS Question Slide is encountered.On the Mac, the PRS PowerPoint Add-in must beinstalled manually. The instructions for installing the PRSPowerPoint Add-in on the Mac can be found at the endof this chapter. Once installed, the PRS PowerPoint Add-in works the same on both Windows and the Mac.In an environment, an RF Class is started and the students join theClass before the PRS PowerPoint Slide Show is started. When the PRSPowerPoint Slide Show is begun, a New Session dialog is displayed. It isnot necessary to display either the Response Grid or Attendee List in RF.At the end of the PRS PowerPoint Session, Responses are recorded in astandard PRS Session file. PowerPoint-based Sessions are displayed in theSessions List Window as a PowerPoint Lesson. You can then mark it asyou would any other Session.
76 Chapter 4Click on the New Question Function Button on the PRS Add-in Toolbar inPowerPoint when you want to turn the currently selected PowerPointslide into a PRS Question slide. The following InterWrite PRS Power-Point COM Add-in dialog displays. You will recognize some of the NewQuestion Settings options. The settings you choose here will be savedwith this PowerPoint slide, and the InterWrite PRS logo will display on theslide to identify it as a PRS PowerPoint Question Slide. The logo can bemoved to any location on the Question slide.Crafting aPowerPointSlide as a PRSQuestionLessons – PowerPoint LessonsThe presence of thePRS logo on thePowerPoint slideindicates this is aPRS Question.Animation effects cannot be used on PowerPoint PRSQuestion Slides.
77Chapter 4Define the Session Profile herejust as you would for any PRSSession (Chapter Five). Inaddition to the absence of thePRS Lesson selection option,there are differences in the lasttwo settings on the dialog. Youcan Automatically Advance theSlide, rather than the Question,and you can Ask Questions OnlyOnce. During the Slide Show,you may have reason to go backa slide or two. If a PRS Slide isamong the slides you go backthrough, and you don’t want tore-ask the Question, leave this setting at the default Yes. On the otherhand, you may have set up your presentation in such a way that PRSSlides further on in the Slide Show might reveal something that will hint atthe correct answer in an earlier slide. You may want to go back and re-askthat Question to see how many students picked up on the correctanswer. In that case you would set this option to No.As you go through the SlideShow, when a PRS QuestionSlide is encountered—identifiedby the PRS logo—a ResponseGrid or Attendee List, depend-ing on the Display Modechosen, will display in a Re-sponse Area across the lowerportion of the Slide. You cansize and move the ResponseArea to an optimal placementover the PRS Question Slide.PRS remembers the size andposition of the Response Areafor each Question Slide in theSlide Show.Lessons – PowerPoint LessonsWhen you run a PowerPoint Slide Show with PRS Question slides,InterWrite PRS is launched, if it isn’t already running, and the followingPRS New Session dialog displays.Running aPowerPoint SlideShow with PRSQuestion Slides
78 Chapter 4Depending on your Session settings, either the Countdown Timer willautostart, or you will have to click on the Start Question button tostart the Countdown Timer. If you set up the Show Results Graph optionto automatically display the Results Graph, it will pop up over the Re-sponse Area when the Countdown Timer runs down to zero.Lessons – PowerPoint LessonsWhile the PRS PowerPoint Session is running, thePowerPoint slide is switched into Annotation Mode, soyou can write notes on the slide. This also prevents youfrom accidentally advancing to the next slide while theSession is running.Click on the PRS button onthe Add-in Toolbar to displaythe About PRS Add-in dialog.In addition to providingversion information about thePRS PowerPoint Add-in, thisdialog is where you candisable the PRS Session whileyou are viewing the Power-Point Slide Show.About PRS Add-inBy default, the Enable PRS Session option is checked so that when you runthis PRS PowerPoint Slide Show, PRS will automatically launch and the NewSession dialog will display. If you want to run the PRS PowerPoint Slide Showso you can review the PRS Question Slides without launching PRS, clear theEnable PRS Session checkbox.
79Chapter 4 Lessons – Mac PowerPoint Add-inInstalling the PRSPowerPoint Add-inon the MacThe following steps describe how to install the PRS PowerPoint Add-in on the Mac.1Open PowerPoint and select the PowerPoint Menu.2Select the Preferences... menu option.3Click on the View tab and uncheck the Project Gallery at startupoption. Click on the OK button.4Select the Tools Menu.5Select the Add-ins... menu option.6Click on the Add... button. Navigate to the folder in which PRS isinstalled. By default, PRS is installed in the InterWrite PRS folder.7Select the PRS AddIn.ppa file and click on the Open button.8The PRS Add-in file will be listed in the Add-in List. Click on theOK button.9Restart PowerPoint.By default, the PRS Add-in Toolbar displays along the left side of thePowerPoint window. You can move it by grabbing the spot next tothe Close button and dragging it to the top of the window where theother Toolbars are located. Click and drag the Resize button tochange the PRS Toolbar’s orientation.On the Mac, there may be some lag time between whena Question Slide is accessed and when PRS is displayed.Remember, patience is a virtue.
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117AppendixAppendixPRS HardwareSpecificationsIR RECEIVER SPECIFICATIONSDimensions: 2.4 x 4.7 x 1.6 inches (60 x 120 x 41 mm)Weight: 3.8 ounces (108 grams)Power: 8-15V DC (via signal cable)Reception Cone Angle: Approximately 90 degreesIR CLICKER TRANSMITTER SPECIFICATIONSDimensions: 2.25 x 4.25 x 1 inch (56 x 107 x 25 mm)Weight (without batteries):Power: Two AAA (1.5V) Alkaline Batteries*Signal: InfraredEffective Distance: 21 yards (20 meters) minimum*Replace the batteries when the LED Light becomes dim.2 ounces (55 grams)RF RECEIVER HUB SPECIFICATIONSDimensions: 4.25 x 3.25 x .875 inches (108 x 83 x 23 mm)Weight: 3 ounces ( 85 grams)Power: 200 mAmpsSignal: 2.46 GHz ISM BandEffective Distance: >50 MetersRF CLICKER REMOTE SPECIFICATIONSDimensions: 6.0 x 2.56 x 0.7 inch (152 x 65 x 18 mm)Weight (with batteries): 4 ounces (138 grams)Power: Three AAA (1.5V) Batteries*Signal: 2.46 GHz ISM BandEffective Distance: >50 Meters*Replace the batteries when the Low Battery message displays on theLCD screen, indicating about 15% Battery Life remaining.
118 AppendixNote: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits of a ClassB digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules.These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interfer-ence in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radiofrequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions,may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is noguarantee the interference will not occur in a particular installation.If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception,which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encour-aged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures.·Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.·Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.·Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which thereceiver is connected.·Consult the dealer or an experienced Radio/TV technician for help.These devices comply with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject tothe following two conditions:1These devices may not cause harmful interference, and2These devices must accept any interference received, includinginterference that may cause undesired operation.CanadaIndustry Canada Class B emission compliance statement. This Class B digitalapparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.Avis de conformité á la réglementation d’Industrie Canada. Cet appareilnumérique de classe B est conforme á la norme NMB-003 du Canada.Regulatory StatementsThis device complies with Part 15 of FCC rules and with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not causeharmful interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received,including interference that may cause undesired operation.The radiated output power is far below the FCC Radio Frequency exposure limits.Nevertheless, this device should be used in such a manner that the potential forhuman contact during normal operation is minimized.
119Appendix Declaration of ConformityPRS IR Receiver Declaration of ConformityThe “CE“ mark on this device indicates compliance under the EMC 89//336/EEC Directive.Declaration of conformity according to ISO/IEC Guide 22 and EN 45014Manufacturer’s Name: GTCO CalComp,Inc.Manufacturer’s Address: 7125 Riverwood DriveColumbia, MD 21046 U.S.A.declares, that the productProduct Name: InterWrite PRS IR ReceiverModel Numbers: RX-02Product Options: Allconforms to the following product specifications:EMC: EMC Directive 89/336/EEC and amendment 92/31/EECEmissions Testing: EN 55022:1998 Class BEN 61000-3-2 Harmonics Class AEN 61000-3-3 FlickerImmunity Testing: EN 55024:1998 including:EN 61000-4-2;ESDEN 61000-4-3;Radiated ImmunityEN 61000-4-4;EFT/BEN 61000-4-5;SurgesEN 61000-4-6;Conducted ImmunityEN 61000-4-11;Voltage DipsDeclarationof ConformitySupplementaryInformationSupplementary InformationThe product herewith complies with the requirements of the Low Voltage Directive73/23/EEC and the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC.Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.A. 4-30-2004 Dana DoubravaLocation Date Engineering Mgr
120 AppendixDeclaration of ConformityPRS IR Clicker Transmitter Declaration of ConformityThe “CE“ mark on this device indicates compliance under the EMC 89//336/EEC Directive.Declaration of conformity according to ISO/IEC Guide 22 and EN 45014Manufacturer’s Name: GTCO CalComp,Inc.Manufacturer’s Address: 7125 Riverwood DriveColumbia, MD 21046 U.S.A.declares, that the productProduct Name: InterWrite PRS IR Clicker TransmitterModel Numbers: TX-01A, TX-02AProduct Options: Allconforms to the following product specifications:EMC: EMC Directive 89/336/EEC and amendment 92/31/EECEmissions Testing: EN 55022:1998 Class BImmunity Testing: EN 55024:1998 including:EN 61000-4-2;ESDEN 61000-4-3;Radiated ImmunitySupplementaryInformationSupplementary InformationThe product herewith complies with the requirements of the Low Voltage Directive73/23/EEC and the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC.Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.A. 4-30-2004 Dana DoubravaLocation Date Engineering Mgr
121AppendixPRS RF Receiver Hub Declaration of ConformityThe “CE“ mark on this device indicates compliance under the EMC 89//336/EEC Directive.Declaration of conformity according to ISO/IEC Guide 22 and EN 45014Manufacturer’s Name: GTCO CalComp,Inc.Manufacturer’s Address: 7125 Riverwood DriveColumbia,MD 21046 U.S.A.declares, that the productProduct Name: InterWrite PRS RF Receiver HubModel Numbers: H1Product Options: Allconforms to the following product specifications:EMC: EMC Directive 89/336/EEC and amendment 92/31/EECEmissions Testing: EN 55022:1998 Class BEN 61000-3-2 HarmonicsEN 61000-3-3 FlickerImmunity Testing: EN 55024:1998 including:EN 61000-4-2;ESDEN 61000-4-3;Radiated ImmunityEN 61000-4-4;EFT/BEN 61000-4-5;SurgesEN 61000-4-6;Conducted ImmunityEN 61000-4-11;Voltage DipsSupplementaryInformationSupplementary InformationThe product herewith complies with the requirements of the Low Voltage Directive73/23/EEC and the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC.Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.A. 1-1-2006 Dana DoubravaLocation Date Engineering MgrDeclaration of Conformity
122 AppendixPRS RF Clicker Remote Declaration of ConformityThe “CE“ mark on this device indicates compliance under the EMC 89//336/EEC Directive.Declaration of conformity according to ISO/IEC Guide 22 and EN 45014Manufacturer’s Name: GTCO CalComp,Inc.Manufacturer’s Address: 7125 Riverwood DriveColumbia, MD 21046 U.S.A.declares, that the productProduct Name: InterWrite PRS RF Clicker RemoteModel Numbers: R1Product Options: Allconforms to the following product specifications:EMC: EMC Directive 89/336/EEC and amendment 92/31/EECEmissions Testing: EN 55022:1998 Class BImmunity Testing: EN 55024:1998 including:EN 61000-4-2;ESDEN 61000-4-3;Radiated ImmunitySupplementaryInformationSupplementary InformationThe product herewith complies with the requirements of the Low Voltage Directive73/23/EEC and the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC.Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.A. 1-1-2006 Dana DoubravaLocation Date Engineering MgrEuropean Contact European Contact:GTCO CalComp GmbHEuropean HeadquartersKreiller Strasse 2481673 MuenchenGermanyTel: +49 (0) 89 370012-0Fax: +49 (0) 89 370012-12Declaration of Conformity
123AppendixEuropean Union Emission DirectiveThis product is in conformity with the protection requirements of EU CouncilDirective 89/366/ECC on the approximation of the laws of the Member Statesrelating to electromagnetic compatibility.This product has been tested and found to comply with the limits for Class BInformation Technology Equipment according to CISPR 22/European StandardEN55022. The limits for Class B equipment were derived for typical industrialenvironments to provide reasonable protection against interference withlicensed communication devices.European Union WEEE DirectiveThe manufacture of this equipment required the extraction and use of naturalresources. It may contain hazardous substances that could impact health andthe environment.• In order to avoid the dissemination of the hazardous substances into theenvironment and to diminish the pressure on our natural resources, weencourage you to return this product to the appropriate take-back systemfacility. These facilities reuse or recycle most of the materials in thisequipment in a responsible way.• The crossed-out wheeled bin symbol below invites you to use these take-back systems.• If you need more information about the collection, reuse and recyclingsystems in your area, please contact your local or regional waste authority.• Further information about the responsible end-of-life management of thisand other GTCO CalComp products is available on our Web site at www.gtcocalcomp.com.European Union Directives
124 AppendixLimited WarrantyLimited Warranty for InterWrite PRS Receivers and ClickersGTCO CalComp Corporation warrants these products to be free from defects in material and workmanship underthe following terms. Complete and return the enclosed warranty registration card to ensure that your productsare covered by this warranty.CoverageParts and labor are warranted for one (1) year from the date of the first consumer purchase for the InterWrite PRSReceivers and Clickers. This warranty applies to the original consumer purchaser only. This warranty does notapply to any product purchased outside the United States or Canada. For warranty information outside the UnitedStates or Canada, contact your local dealer or distributor.Warranty is valid only if original consumer’s purchase or lease date is less than or equal to six months from theoriginal GTCO CalComp sale date. This information will be captured by the system serial number and confirmedby the reseller’s purchase order.ConditionsExcept as specified below, this warranty covers all defects in material or workmanship in the products. Thefollowing are not covered by the warranty:1Any product on which the serial number has been defaced, modified, or removed (if applicable).2Damage, deterioration, or malfunction resulting from:aAccident, misuse, abuse, neglect, fire, water, lightening, or other acts of nature, unauthorizedproduct modification for any purpose, or failure to follow instructions supplied with the product.bRepair, or attempted repair, by anyone not authorized by GTCO CalComp.cAny damage in shipment of the product (claims must be presented to the carrier).dAny other cause which does not relate to a manufacturing defect.3Any product not sold or leased to a consumer within six months of GTCO CalComp’s original sale date.4Consumable parts, e.g., batteries.GTCO CalComp will pay all labor and material expenses for covered items, but will not pay for the following:1Removal or installation charges.2Costs for initial technical adjustments (set up), including adjustments of user controls.3Certain shipping charges. (Payment of shipping charges is discussed in the next section of this warranty.)4Packaging costs. (Customers should keep their boxes.)Warranty Service Procedures1To obtain service on your GTCO CalComp product, call the Service & Support Department at (410) 312-9221 (EST), or (480) 443-2214 (MST) to obtain a Return Material Authorization Number (RMA#) andshipping instructions.2Ship the product to GTCO CalComp with the RMA# marked clearly on the outside of the box. GTCOCalComp reserves the right to refuse the shipment, if not properly marked.3Although the consumer must pay any shipping charges to ship the product to GTCO CalComp for warrantyservice, GTCO CalComp will pay the return shipping charges for ground shipment. Other shipping optionsare available at an additional fee.4Whenever warranty service is required, the original dated sales invoice (or a copy) must be presented asproof of warranty coverage, and should be included in shipment of the product. In addition, please includeyour name, address, telephone number, fax number, email address, and a description of the problem.5If GTCO CalComp determines that the unit is not defective within the terms of the warranty, the consumershall pay the cost of all freight charges, as well as any repair charges.Technical SupportWeb-based Technical Support is available free of charge at:www.gtcocalcomp.comwhere current driver releases, as well as comprehensive technical support, troubleshooting, Technical Bulletinsand FAQs can be found.Telephone Technical Support is available by contacting our Service & Support Department at (410) 312-9221(EST), or (480) 443-2214 (MST). You can also fax your request to (410) 290-9065 (EST), or (480) 948-5508 (MST).Our toll-free numbers in the U.S. are: 800-344-4723 for our East Coast customers and 800-856-0732 for our WestCoast customers.LimitedWarranty
125AppendixDisclaimer of Unstated WarrantiesThe warranty printed above is the only warranty applicable to this purchase. ALL OTHER WARRANTIES,EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABIL-ITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. Assuming the warranty above stated isotherwise applicable, it is expressly understood and agreed that GTCO CalComp’s sole liability, whether incontract, tort, under any warranty, in negligence, or otherwise, shall be for the repair or replacement of thedefective parts, and under no circumstances shall GTCO CalComp be liable for special, indirect, or consequentialdamages. The price stated and paid for the equipment is a consideration in limiting GTCO CalComp’s liability.NoticeSome states and provinces do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so theabove exclusion may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights,which vary from state to state, or province to province.To obtain service on your GTCO CalComp product, call our Service & Support Department at (410) 312-9221(EST), or (480) 443-2214 (MST), fax us at (410) 290-9065 (EST), or (480) 948-5508 (MST). We can also becontacted through our Web site at www.gtcocalcomp.com.Important! All products returned to GTCO CalComp for service must have prior approval in the form of a ReturnMerchandise Number (RMA#), which can be obtained by calling the Service & Support Department.Limited Warranty
126 AppendixPRS Web Registration – The Admin ModuleCopyright© 2006 GTCO CalComp Inc.InterWrite is a trademark of GTCO CalComp Inc.All other products and company names are thetrademarks or registered trademarks of theirrespective owners.The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.GTCO CalComp assumes no responsibility for technical, or editorial errors, or omis-sions that may appear in this document, or for the use of this material. Nor doesGTCO CalComp make any commitment to update the information contained inthis document. This document contains proprietary information which is protectedby copyright. All rights reserved. No part of this document can be photocopied orreproduced in any form without the prior, written consent of GTCO CalComp Inc.GTCO CalComp, Inc.8224 East Evans RoadScottsdale, AZ 85260USATEL: 800.856.0732 480.948.6540FAX: 480.948.5508GTCO CalComp, Inc.7125 Riverwood DriveColumbia, MD 21046USATEL: 800.344.4723 410.381.6688FAX: 410.290.9065GTCO CalComp GmbHKreiller Strasse 2481673 MuenchenGermanyTEL: +49 (0) 89 370012-0FAX: +49 (0) 89 370012-12www.gtcocalcomp.com37-00874-01 Rev. D

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