CPS Training

CPS (Clicker) Training How-To Guide
Setting It Up.

Install the software. You can download the latest version here (choose the one that says CPS for PC Full Release). If you get an error message when you try to run it after, follow this link, and download/install the fix as directed.
Create a new database. It doesn't matter what you call it.
Create your classes. Eric Jarvis has a tutorial for importing your classes from MTG. The link is here. Otherwise, just enter each student's name. The software will assign a clicker number to each.
To use a pre-existing paper multiple choice quiz (good for tests and quizzes where you want to allow each kid to work at his own pace, and be on different questions):

Right-click on your database, and choose FAST GRADE.
Name your quiz.
Click in the answers, one at a time.
If you make a mistake, click the previous button (lower left), and go back to change your answer.
Be sure to click OK when you are finished.

To enter questions into CPS software (good for warm ups and such shorter things, where you want to allow only a specific amount of time for each question, and you want to stop after each and go over the answer):

Right-click on your database, and choose NEW... LESSON.
Name your new lesson.
Right-Click on the new lesson, and choose NEW... QUESTION
Use the next screens to enter your questions, answers, and correct answers.
Make sure you press save on your last screen before you close the Question Maker.

To Use the Lesson You Have Created.

To use your Fast Grade quiz (good for tests and quizzes where you want to allow each kid to work at his own pace, and be on different questions):

Click once on the lesson/quiz you want to use.
Click the big button that says ENGAGE LESSON.
At the next screen choose STUDENT MANAGED ASSESSMENT.
Check the box that says INCLUDE IN GRADEBOOK. (This can be easily changed later.)
Use the drop-down next to SESSION, choose the category you want this LESSON filed under. (This can easily be changed later.)
Use the drop-down next to CLASS to choose which class to test.
Click START.
When the Clicker screen comes up, click START. When you engage a Student Managed Assessment, the Student Feedback window appears.

The class name appears in the title bar of the window.

The top row of each bank of numbers, preceded by a response pad symbol, corresponds to the pad ID numbers assigned in the class. These pad ID numbers are black on gray numbers before you start the assessment.
The Student Managed Assessment mode is capable of supporting up to 2000 pad IDs.
The bottom row of each bank of numbers, represents question numbers. These numbers increment as each student proceeds through the list.
Click to change any of the session delivery options.
Click to initiate the session. Upon doing this, students can begin submitting answers.
To end the session, click End. Confirm ending the session by clicking Yes from the confirmation window that appears.
NOTE: Remember, if your students use IR pads, they can use the F button on their response pad to scroll through the questions, using any button to stop when they get to a question number they want to answer. They can also use the G button to move backward in the list of questions or the H button to forward.

To use a TEACHER MANAGED ASSESSMENT:

Click once on the lesson/quiz you want to use.
Click the big button that says ENGAGE LESSON.
At the next screen choose TEACHER MANAGED ASSESSMENT.
Check the box that says INCLUDE IN GRADEBOOK. (This can be easily changed later.)
Use the drop-down next to SESSION, choose the category you want this LESSON filed under. (This can easily be changed later.)
Use the drop-down next to CLASS to choose which class to test.
Click START.

Before you begin, click the OPTIONS button.

This is where you set the time for each question, and set it to show the number of students who chose each answer, whether you want it to move to the next question automatically, and whether to show the correct answer after. Click OK.
To start the lesson, click the NEXT button.
The timer will begin counting down, and the grid will show a blue square for each student who has responded. If you want to give them more time, click the + button.
When the time is up, it will display the results; how many chose each answer, and which is the correct one, as well as the cumulative percent correct.

To Use the Results (Reports and Gradebook)

The quickest way to see the results after a quiz/lesson is to click on the reports tab. You will get a screen that looks like this:

INSTRUCTOR SUMMARY gives the results for each class memeber for a particular lesson/quiz.
ITEM ANALYSIS breaks down how they did on each question. I use this with my Monday pretests, to decide which questions to review as warm ups during the week.
The Gradebook tab looks like a gradebook.

Use the View From at the bottom to set the date range you want to look at.
The buttons down the left can be used to view all lessons, or just certain types. These are the categories you chose when you engaged the lesson. The category for any lesson/quiz can be changed by clicking its column, and then clicking the EDIT button. The EDIT button can also be used to change correct answers, or to change student answers.
The REPORTS button on the left can be used to print various reports for the students. I usually use the GRADE POST SUMMARY, and print it out on Friday's to show how they did for the week's worth of lessons/quizzes.

Using Verbal Lessons

Open CPS to the Lessons tab and click . The Verbal Questions Setup window appears.
Click . The CPS Verbal Engage toolbar appears on-screen.
Click the Verbal… button. The Verbal Content Delivery window opens.
You can also engage verbal questions using just the Feedback Grid.
Change the question type using the T/F, Y/N, A-B, A-C, A-D, A-E, A-F, A-G, A-H, and 123… buttons in the bottom left corner. You can type in a question and answer choices now or simply verbalize the question and answer choices.
Click Start and allow students the time they need to use their response pads to select an answer choice. You may have to repeat the answer choices several times if you do not type them in.
Click End when all students have answered. The Verbal Question Answer Distribution window opens. From here choose a correct answer choice or leave the question subjective. In addition, you can view the performance feedback in multiple chart formats.
Click Close. To ask another question of the same question type, just click Start again. You can type in the question or answer stem boxes if you like.
The data collected from your Verbal Questions session is available from the Reports tab.