iClicker Student Response System
The iClicker Student Response System is an interactive polling technology that allows instructors to quickly collect and display student responses to questions featured in a lecture presentation. The instant feedback can be used to gauge student understanding and generate peer learning, especially in a large classroom. The system also has a grading function and an anonymous mode, which support the use of different incentives for participation.
For more information about iClicker's pedagogical literature, advantages, best practices, and more, consult the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) iClicker web page.
Operating on radio frequency, the iClicker system consists of a base receiver, an instructor remote, a software application, and student remotes. The new Reef Polling feature, once enabled, allows student polling from networked devices such as smart phones, tablets, and laptops.
Related policy:
For the protection of Concordia students’ data and personal information, iClicker registration must take place in Moodle rather than the external iClicker company website. Instructors must maintain the confidentiality of student personal information at all times. For a definition of “personal information” and more, refer to: SG9 - Policy concerning the protection of personal information.
If you are interested in enabling mobile polling using the external Reef service, make sure to consult the guidelines for In-course use of external educational software and services. The document specifies the conditions under which external services can be used in a course and also provides the standard text to be included in course outlines.
Who can use it?
Faculty.
How much does it cost?
There is no cost for instructors to borrow an iClicker teacher’s kit. Professors who wish to buy a device may contact the Concordia bookstores for availability and pricing information.
Students who require an iClicker device for their class may contact the Concordia bookstores for availability and pricing information.
Students who require a Reef license (use of iClicker software via personal device) for their class are to acquire the code at the bookstore.
Note: The price for a Reef license on the REEF education websire is listed in USD. It is cheaper to buy a Reef license at the Concordia bookstore, since their price is listed in CAD.
How to get it
To borrow an instructor kit, contact the Service Desk by phone or email.
In-person requests can be processed at the Service Centre locations.
Service availability
Requests are processed during Service Desk or Service Centre operating hours.
Documentation
This documentation provides guidelines and step-by-step instructions to help professors get started with using iClicker in the classroom.
- iClicker road map for instructors
- iClicker moodle registration guide for students
- iClicker V7 moodle integration instructor guide
- Reef polling instructor guide
- Reef polling quick start guide for students
- Customizing iClicker for Moodle integration for Mac OS Sierra
- Guidelines for in-course use of external educational software and services
A variety of resources are also available for instructors on the iClicker support site.
FAQ
If you are just getting started, use the iClicker road map for instructors as a start guide.
Prior to Moodle integration, students had to register their iClicker remotes in the old portal. Instructors had to manually create a roster file in order to be able to download student registrations into the iClicker gradebook. It was also quite cumbersome to make iClicker scores accessible to students on an ongoing basis. As a result, many instructors only published iClicker grades once toward the end of the semester.
With Moodle integration, instructors no longer need to generate a roster file. As students register in Moodle, the student roster and registration data can be downloaded from Moodle to the iClicker gradebook with a click of a button. Uploading iClicker scores to Moodle gradebook is a breeze. Instructors can easily publish iClicker scores after each session, giving students the ability to track their iClicker session scores throughout the semester.
To use Moodle integration, you will need to download Concordia’s customized version of the iClicker software from the iCLICKER RESOURCES Moodle page. To access the site, log in to Moodle and click the iClicker Resources link. On the new page, enter iclick into the “Enrolment Key” box and then click the Enroll me button. Once on the site, you can download the version of the software that works with your operating system.
For step-by-step instructions on how to configure the software to allow Moodle integration, refer to the iClicker moodle integration instructor guide.
At Concordia, students register their iClicker remotes in Moodle. As an instructor, you can download the iClicker moodle registration guide for students and send it to your students for their reference.
To quickly identify unregistered students after you have already synced the roster, click the Students icon on the gradebook's main window. You will find all unregistered students listed under the Unregistered student(s) tab. You can export the list by clicking the Export to CSV button.

If you wish to send a reminder to unregistered students via Moodle, use the Participants list in your course site (found in the “People” block in Moodle). You can quickly select the students and send them a Moodle message.
Reef Polling refers to a feature available in the iClicker software. Once enabled, Reef Polling allows students to take part in polling sessions using their mobile devices, such as smart phones, tablets, or laptops. An advantage of using the iClicker software with Reef enabled is that students are given the freedom to participate using either an iClicker remote or a mobile device.
If you wish to enable Reef, it is important to familiarize yourself with the Concordia University guidelines around In-course use of external educational software and services before you begin using it. Instructors with concerns about the use of smart devices in the classroom can choose not to enable Reef.
Reef Polling is a technology that allows students to participate in polling through networked devices such as smart phones, tablets, or laptops. However, Reef Polling can refer to both a standalone system and a feature available within the iClicker system.
The main difference between the two options is that Reef Polling as a feature in iClicker (hybrid solution) provides an alternative for students who are concerned with their data being stored on third-party servers. To store their data locally, these students can register their iClicker remotes in Moodle and vote only with the locally registered remotes.
For data security purposes, Concordia has adopted the hybrid solution and does not support Reef Polling as a standalone system.
What is the difference between iClicker Classic and Reef polling enabled in iClicker Classic?
The matrix below explains in detail the similarities and differences between the two options:
Reef Polling as a feature in iClicker classic (when enabled) |
iClicker classic (with Reef polling disabled) |
|
Software used by instructor |
iClicker |
iClicker |
Student input devices allowed |
Networked devices iClicker remotes |
iClicker remotes only |
Where students register |
For students voting from networked devices: Reef server (by creating a Reef account) For students voting from iClicker remotes: Moodle (data locally stored) |
Students register their remote IDs in Moodle |
Where student registration and polling data are stored |
For students voting from networked devices (using Reef): in the cloud and also locally (in iClicker’s gradebook and Moodle upon syncing) For students voting from iClicker remotes: |
Locally (in iClicker gradebook and Moodle upon syncing) |
Need for the base |
Needed if any of the students use iClicker remote or if the instructor wants to use the blue instructor remote |
Needed |
Advantages |
Option to purchase the Reef app and/or the remote |
Student data stored locally and accommodates for students' privacy |
You may find yourself in a situation where some of your students are pushing for the use of Reef while others prefer to vote with an iClicker remote. Using the iClicker software while enabling the Reef Polling feature will satisfy both needs. However, student Reef users should be informed that their personal information and voting data will be stored both locally and on the external Reef server. Instructors should consult the university guidelines around In-course use of external educational software and services before enabling the Reef Polling feature.
Before students can use Reef on their mobile devices, the instructor must enable Reef Polling in the iClicker application. Reef Polling can be accessed via the Settings button on the iClicker main window. For step-by-step instructions, refer to the Reef polling instructor guide.
Students can participate via web browser at https://app.reef-education.com or by downloading the Reef iOS app from the iTunes App Store or the Android app from Google Play.
Note that iClicker does not have a Reef Windows app, but Windows users can still use a web browser to participate in Reef polling.
You can download this Reef polling quick start guide for students and send it to your students for their reference.
Yes, if you enable Reef to be used in your course. Purchases of new physical remotes may come with a free six-month access card for Reef. If a student has purchased an iClicker remote and would like to try Reef, they may register their Reef account using the same name and student ID they used to register their physical remote. That way votes made using the physical remote and Reef will both be stored in the iClicker gradebook.
Note: students should only use one method in any one polling session. Using both in one session may distort their scores.
The instructor remote allows instructors to control the polling (start/stop a polling, display/hide results, display correct answer) as well as move through the PowerPoint slides. To enable the instructor remote, click Settings on the iClicker main window. Under the General tab enter your instructor remote ID (printed on the back of the remote) and click Save.
You can use either. When using the classroom computer, keep your iClicker software in a USB key and connect the USB key to your iClicker base receiver. Ensure that all of the iClicker data is stored on your USB key and not on the hard drive of the classroom computer itself. You do not need to use a USB key if you are using your own laptop. You can simply launch the software from your laptop and save the data there.
Note that the classroom computer is hardwired to Internet. If you use Reef polling, the classroom computer provides more stable Internet connection than your laptop that runs on Wi-Fi.
Interference may occur if two iClicker base stations are used in close proximity to each other. These stations, however, can be set to any of 16 different frequency channels to prevent such interference. The default frequency is set to AA for the base, the instructor remote, and the student remotes. If you suspect you are having a problem with interference (for example, seeing a message indicating an interference or receiving more votes than there are students in your class), you can change your frequency via Settings>General tab.
You will then need to change frequency for your instructor remote and instruct students to reset their own remote’s frequency to match the new frequency.
Note: changing a remote’s frequency must be done in class in the presence of an active base station.
If you have chosen a frequency other than the default AA, iClicker will alert your students to this change when you begin polling.
After starting a session, instruct your students to:
- Press the On/Off (power) button on their remote for about 2 seconds until the blue Power light begins flashing (iClicker remote) or the frequency code on the LCD screen begins flashing (iClicker 2 remote).
- Press the new two-letter code that you’ve designated in the Settings. A green Vote Status light (iClicker remote) or a checkmark (iClicker 2 remote) will indicate to your students that they have successfully reset their remote frequency.
Note: For iClicker remotes, frequency settings are only temporary and the remote will reset itself to the default frequency of AA each time it is turned off. Students will need to repeat this procedure for every session. The iClicker 2 remote, however, remembers the last saved frequency. If your students change the frequency in your class and do not later change it again, the frequency does not need to be reset. The frequency code briefly appears on the LCD screen every time a student turns on their remote.
If you find changing the frequency of your iClicker base disruptive to the class, you can choose to display results from registered remotes only. This will prevent voting results from nearby classrooms to show up in the results chart.
CAUTION: This method should only be used when all your students have registered their remotes. Otherwise, votes from unregistered students will not appear in the results display. Also note that this only affects the results chart display; the gradebook records all results.
To enable this feature, click Settings on the iClicker main window, select the Results tab, check Only display results from registered remotes and click Save.
Although iClicker only displays a single correct answer, you can award points for multiple correct answers by doing the following:
- On the iClicker main window, click Open Gradebook.
- Click the View link below the session you wish to adjust.
- Navigate to the question by clicking either the question screenshot on the left or the arrow buttons on top right of the window.
- Designate a correct answer for the question by either checking the box in front of the answer or typing the answer in the Correct answer box.
- To assign another correct answer, double click on the points for that answer in the “Points” column, type in a value, and hit Enter.

You should now see points for both correct answers in the “Points” column (even though only one answer is checked). Students selecting either correct answer will get the points.
A variety of resources are available for instructors on the iClicker support site. Other than the documents available on this page, there are two user guides provided by iClicker company located in the iClicker software folder.
Concordia loans iClicker instructor kits (base receiver and instructor remote) and provides consultation and training to instructors. For more information or to request the equipment, contact the Service Desk.