Information Technology Services

TurningTechnologies Clicker Resources

General Information

This page contains information on the TurningTechnologies software and devices that are used by instructors and students to create, present, participate in, and report on interactive sessions. Manuals and instructional handouts designed to provide more information on or step-by-step directions for using the software and devices are also included. 

Additional information on TurningTechnologies award-winning  software and devices is included on the company's polling software and response devices pages.

Hardware

The TurningTechnologies devices required to conduct interactive polling sessions are ResponseCard clickers and RF receivers.

ResponseCard Clickers

The ResponseCard RF LCD clicker is the device students will use to participate in TurningTechnologies interactive sessions. These small, lightweight devices, roughly the size of a credit card, are accurate up to a range of 400 feet. 

The ResponseCard clicker contains 12 keys (10 for alphanumeric choices students will use to select and submit their answers, a Help button, and a button to check or change the current RF channel). The students receive confirmation of their answer submission via a green LED light (3 second duration) on the face of the ResponseCard. The LCD screen indicates the students' answers. After submitting an answer, the device will go into a sleep mode in order to preserve power. However, the device is active and ready to be used at any time to respond to an active poll question. 

Other information displayed on the LCD screen includes confirmation of connectivity during a session, overall battery life, and the current RF channel. All devices are currently programmed to channel 41. Click here for instructions on how to change the channel on the ResponseCard clicker. Each ResponseCard clicker is powered by a pair of coin cell CR2032 (3.0 volt) lithium batteries.

RF Receivers

The RF receiver allows instructors to receive responses from the TurningTechnologies ResponseCard clickers. The RF receiver accepts responses from clickers within a range of 400 feet. LED lights on the device indicate whether the unit is active and receiving responses from the ResponseWare clickers. 

This "plug and play" USB receiver requires no drivers and is easily transported from and used with a variety of computers regardless of operating system or which TurningTechnologies software is being utilized. 

The receiver is powered by the computer's USB port. 

Equipment Checkout

Library and Information Services is responsible for checking out clicker hardware to faculty and students. Faculty must complete the online notification form to ensure that a clicker is available for each student in their course.  LIS will reserve clickers for courses based upon the student count specified on the notification form.  Failure to notify LIS of the number of clickers required for the course may result in some students not receiving clickers.

Faculty will need to go to the Lovejoy Library Circulation Desk to obtain a RF receiver. ITS recommends that faculty also check out a clicker to use for testing and troubleshooting purposes. Students needing to obtain a clicker for a class will also need to go to the Lovejoy Library Circulation Desk to check out the device. Both faculty and students will be issued the hardware for an entire semester. You will need to have your SIUE Cougar Card to check out a clicker or receiver. Users are liable for any lost or damaged items. If you experience problems with your device during the course of the semester, you will need to obtain a replacement from the Library.

Software

TurningTechnologies TurningPoint or TurningPoint Anywhere must be utilized for the students' clickers to communicate with the instructor's presentation. These products are used to create interactive slides, view response graphs, and configure the session parameters.  Both products have been installed in almost all of the computer classrooms supported by ITS.  We strongly encourage you to test the TurningPoint or TurningPoint Anywhere software and the RF receiver with the ResponseWare clickers in your computer classroom or lab prior to the first session with students to ensure that the hardware and software are functioning correctly.  If you experience any issues, contact ITS at (618) 650-5500 or via email at ftc_help@siue.edu

In addition to the desktop programs, a "no-install" version of TurningPoint Anywhere is available for use on Windows operating systems.  This product can be stored on and run from a flash drive, meaning that all components (main program as well as user lists and generated session records) are all contained in one location. 

Access the main TurningTechnologies Software Downloads page to obtain the last versions of TurningPoint or TurningPoint Anywhere. Both products are provided free-of-charge by TurningTechnologies and can therefore be installed on any personal or work computers.

TurningPoint

TurningPoint is polling software used to create questions for and accept input from TurningTechnologies's ResponseCard clickers. The software integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Office's PowerPoint. Using TurningPoint, instructors can generate interactive slides that are interspersed with the rest of the informational slides in their PowerPoint presentations. TurningPoint presentations help instructors assess student understanding of lecture concepts and topics, create large or small scale polling opportunities (identifiable or anonymous), and even take attendance. TurningPoint slides can be customized with charts, graphs, countdown timers, and correct answer indicators. Points can be awarded for participation or correct responses and then uploaded into Blackboard's Grade Center. Session data can be extracted into a variety of reports that are generated in either Excel or Word formats. 

Please note that if you are using a Mac, TurningPoint only works with PowerPoint for Office 2004.

Conducting a TurningPoint Session 

The sequential steps to conducting a TurningPoint Session include:

• Plug in the RF receiver.
• Open the TurningPoint software.
• Open the presentation using the Open option inside PowerPoint.
• Select a previously downloaded participant list from the drop-down menu on the right side of the screen if you are not running an anonymous session.
• Clear the session data by using the Reset option.
• Run the presentation and pose the interactive questions to the participants.
• Once the presentation is finished, use the Save Session button to preserve the data.
• Generate reports to see participant data or export the data into Blackboard.

The illustrated 8 Steps to Running a Session Using TurningPoint handout is useful to have when conducting a session in the classroom.

TurningPoint Anywhere

Unlike TurningPoint, the TurningPoint Anywhere polling software is not integrated into PowerPoint; instead of being tied directly into a presentation, a Showbar with the TurningPoint polling tools floats on top of whatever is displayed on the screen at the time.  Therefore, a variety of content (web pages, documents, articles, images, etc.) can be displayed during the presentation or lecture and polls can be presented to the students at anytime regardless of what is displayed in the background. Although Question Lists can be created in advance, existing presentations can be utilized, as well. Questions can also be asked on the fly; since the reporting feature takes a screen shot that captures question, result, and other relevant information on the screen at the time, question information can be entered later so a Question List can be created after a session, too. 

The individual IDs on the ResponseWare clickers enable you to generate a Participant List tying students to their submission data collected during the polls. Tracking the responses of individuals and/or groups is possible using the integrated reporting tool. Participants and students can submit responses during a TurningPoint Anywhere session using either traditional ResponseCards or ResponseWare.

Conducting a TurningPoint Anywhere Session (Mac) 

The sequential steps to conducting a TurningPoint Anywhere session using a Mac include:

• Plug in the RF receiver.
• Open the TurningPoint Anywhere software.
• Select a previously downloaded Participant List from the Participant List option on the menu if you are not running an anonymous session.
• Clear the session data by selecting Reset Session in the File option on the menu.
• Launch the Showbar from the Window menu. Open and close individual polls using the Showbar.
• Once the session is finished, choose Save Session As in the File option on the menu to preserve the data.
• Use the Session Viewer to edit the session details after the fact (add text of questions, edit point values, etc.).
• Generate reports using Reports on the Window menu to see participant data or use LMS Integrations on the Window menu to export the data to Blackboard.

Conducting a TurningPoint Anywhere Session (PC) 

The sequential steps to conducting a TurningPoint Anywhere session using a PC include:

• Plug in the RF receiver.
• Open the TurningPoint Anywhere software. The Showbar will open automatically.
• Select a previously downloaded Participant List from the Participants option on the Showbar toolbar menu if you are not running an anonymous session.
• Select Load a Question List from the Question option on the toolbar menu if you are using previously created questions.
• Clear the session data by selecting Reset Session from the Session option on the toolbar menu.
• Open and close individual polls using the Showbar.
• Once the session is finished, choose Save the Session from the Session option on the toolbar menu to preserve the data.
• Generate reports using Reports from the Tools option on the toolbar menu to see participant data or use LMS Integrations from the Tools option on the toolbar menu to export the data into Blackboard.

The illustrated 8 Steps to Running a Session Using TurningPoint Anywhere (Mac) and 8 Steps to Running a Session Using TurningPoint Anywhere (PC) handouts are useful to have when conducting a session in the classroom.

ResponseWare

ResponseWare enables students and faculty to participate in sessions using a variety of devices including cell phones and computers. Instead of utilizing a ResponseCard clicker, students use ResponseWare to participate in the interactive polling session, transforming their computer or mobile device into a virtual clicker. Question and answer choices are displayed on the device while polling is open and students use the keypad on their device (either alphanumeric entry on a web-enabled cell phone or the keyboard on smart phones and computers) to submit their answers.

Web-enabled cell phones and laptop and desktop computers will connect to a ResponseWare-enabled polling session using a browser. ResponseWare is not a browser or operating system specific; since all of the services integral to conducting a ResponseWare session are handled by TurningTechnologies, the only thing students need to participate in a session is an Internet connection. However, in order to allow students to take full advantage of the features of some mobile devices, a device-specific ResponseWare application is also available to download for use with iPhone, iPod touch, or BlackBerry. iPhone and BlackBerry users can access a session via Wi-Fi or cellular connection.

Instructors can run a ResponseWare session at the same time they are conducting a traditional TurningPoint or TurningPoint Anywhere session. This allows the students to respond to the polling questions using either ResponseCard clickers or the devices listed above. 

Using ResponseWare in a TurningPoint Session 

Use these directions to configure and enable ResponseWare for the different Turning Technologies software:

TurningPoint (PC)

• On the TurningPoint tab, click the Tools menu button.
• Select ResponseWare from the menu.
• Enter your Username and Password.
• Select the Options (using the Do Not Allow Guests to Connect option is recommended).
• Click the Login button to preserve the settings and begin the ResponseWare session.

TurningPoint Anywhere (PC)

• Click the Main Menu button on the TPA toolbar.
• Select Tools from the menu.
• Select ResponseWare.
• Enter your Username and Password.
• Enter your Reserved ID.
• Click the Login button to preserve the settings and begin the ResponseWare session.

TurningPoint Anywhere (Mac)

• Click Windows on the top toolbar.
• Select ResponseWare from the menu.
• Enter your Username and Password.
• Select your Participant Options (using the Require Login option is recommended).
• Enter your Reserved Session ID.
• Click the Login button to preserve the settings and begin the ResponseWare session.

Participation in a ResponseWare session requires an active ResponseWare account.  Purchasing ResponseWare accounts is the responsibility of the department, professor, or student; ITS does not provide these accounts. For information on ordering ResponseWare accounts, please contact ITS at (618) 650-5500 or via email at ftc_help@siue.edu.

Blackboard Integration

The TurningPoint and TurningPoint Anywhere software can be used in conjunction with the Blackboard Learning Management System in a variety of ways. Using a building block within Blackboard, students can register their ResponseCard clickers; registration will allow instructors to create a participant list that links the students' names on a Bb roster with the ID of the clicker used during an interactive session. Not only will professors be able to determine which responses came from which student, but they can also, if assigning points to students' responses, interface with the Bb Grade Center to add those points to the students' grades.

Activating the Registration Tool in Blackboard 

To activate the registration component:

• Log into Blackboard and enter the course where you want to add the registration tool.
• Click on the Control Panel.
• Access the Manage Tools link in the Course Options section.
• Click the Building Block Tool Availability link.
• Make sure that the Registration Block option is available. Click the Submit button at the bottom of the page.
• Click the OK button on the next two pages.
• Once you are back on the Control Panel, click the Manage Course Menu link.
• Click the Modify button next to Tools.
• In the Tools Availability section, make sure the TurningPoint Registration Tool is available. Click the Submit button at the bottom of the page.

The students can now access the registration tool in the Tools section of Blackboard. To make a direct link to the registration tool in the main navigation section of Blackboard:

• Access the Control Panel. 
• Click on the Manage Course Menu option.
• Select the Tool Link from the options at the top of the page.
• Select the TurningPoint Registration Tool from the drop-down menu.
• Click the Submit button at the bottom of the page.

To register a device, students need to enter the six digit alphanumeric code on the back of the ResponseCard clicker. Please inform your students that the code is case-sensitive so they will need to input capital letters (not lower case) if these characters appear in a code.

Importing Participant Lists from Blackboard to TurningPoint Programs

To create a participant list using your Blackboard roster as the base, students must have already registered their devices using the tool described above. To import the participant list from Blackboard into TurningPoint or TurningPoint Anywhere (PC or Mac), follow the directions provided on this handout.  Despite the software being used, the server URL that is requested is: http://bb.siue.edu

Exporting Session Data to Blackboard from TurningPoint Programs

Session data (correct/incorrect responses, general participation, etc.) can also be extracted from TurningPoint or TurningPoint Anywhere and used as the basis for a Grade Center column in Blackboard. However, before you are able to upload the results, the session information needs to be preserved by using the Save Session As ... option in either software. To export the results from TurningPoint or TurningPoint Anywhere (PC or Mac), follow the directions provided on this handout. Despite the software being used, the server URL that is requested is: http://bb.siue.edu   Once you have selected the desired session, you will be able to specify what student data to upload (include all participants or exclude non-responders), where in the Grade Center the data should be entered (new column or add to existing item), and whether or not you want to inform the students via email that the data is being added to Blackboard.

Merging Data from Multiple Sessions to Export to Blackboard from TurningPoint

Session data from various files can be merged into a single file and used as the basis for a single Grade Center column in Blackboard. This approach is useful if you would like to only have one column (for an entire semester's responses, for example) or a select few merged files (responses from chapters or reviews) in Blackboard. To merge the session files:

• Open TurningPoint.
• From the ribbon at the top of the page, click the Tools option and select Session Management.
• On the Session Management menu, select the Merge Session Files option.
• From the files stored in your Sessions folder, select the files that you want to merge.
• Click the Merge button to generate the merged file.
• Name the merged file and click the Save button.

This option is currently only available in TurningPoint and cannot be performed using the TurningPoint Anywhere (PC or Mac) software. Sessions generated using TurningPoint Anywhere can be merged, but TurningPoint must be used to create the merged file. To export the merged results file from TurningPoint into Blackboard, follow the directions provided on this handout. 

Miscellaneous Session Tips and Known Issues

Directions for various tasks that can be performed with TurningPoint and TurningPoint Anywhere are listed below. Any known issues with the software or hardware are also listed.  If you have a suggestion for this section, please contact ITS at ftc_help@siue.edu

Matching Data from Previous (Anonymous) Sessions to Updated Participant Lists 

If students participated in sessions prior to registering their clickers, instructors can retroactively align the anonymous results to an updated participant list so the amended data will match the students to their original submissions.

TurningPoint (PC)

• On the TurningPoint tab, click the Reset button and choose the Session option.
• Select the Continue Prior Session button and select the previous session.
• From the Participant List drop-down menu on the right side of the page, choose the most updated participant list.
• Click the Save Session button. The new file will have the original results merged with the new participant list.
• Select Reports from the Tools menu and choose the appropriate file from the Saved Sessions area to view, print, or save the session data.

TurningPoint Anywhere (PC)

• Click Reset Session from the Session option on the toolbar menu.
• Select Continue Prior Session from the Session option on the toolbar menu and select the previous session.
• On the Participants menu, select the Load Participants option, choose Browse, and open the most updated participant list.
• On the Session menu, click the Save Session option. The new file will have the original results merged with the new participant list.
• Open the Session Viewer from the Session menu. Check the Questions and Participants tabs to make sure that the question and participant data is present. If needed, enter the question and answer text and assign point values to the questions.
• Select Reports from the Tools menu and choose the appropriate file from the Saved Sessions area to view, print, or save the session data.

TurningPoint Anywhere (Mac)

• Click the Reset Session option in the File menu.
• Select Continue Prior Session from the File menu and select the previous session.
• On the Participant List menu, click the Choose Other option and open the most updated participant list.
• Click the Save Session As option in the File menu. The new file will have the original results merged with the new participant list.
• Open the Session Viewer from the Window menu. Check the Questions and Participants tabs to make sure that the question and participant data is present. If needed, enter the question and answer text and assign point values to the questions.
• Select Reports from the Windows menu and choose the appropriate file from the Saved Sessions area to view, print, or save the session data.

Known Issue with TurningPoint on a Windows 7 computer with SmartBoard Software

The SmartBoard Software "Aware" add-in conflicts with TurningPoint when run in Windows 7; many of the SIUE smart classrooms have SmartBoard software installed. The conflict causes the TurningPoint showbar to not display during a PowerPoint presentation. This issue only affects the PowerPoint-based version of the TurningPoint software; TurningPoint Anywhere is not impacted.

To disable the add-in for PowerPoint (Office 2007):

• Click the Office button.

• Click the PowerPoint Options button.

• Choose Add-Ins in the left navigation area.

• (You will see Aware in the list of active Add-ins.)
• 
In the Manage section at the bottom, select COM Add-ins and click the Go button.

• Remove the check mark from the Aware Add-in and click the OK button.
• 
Close out of the PowerPoint options. 
Close all instances of PowerPoint.

• Restart TurningPoint.

To disable the add-in for PowerPoint (Office 2010):

• Click the Customize Quick Access Toolbar button from the top menu bar.
• Click the More Commands option.
• 
Choose Add-Ins in the left navigation area.
• 
(You will see Aware in the list of active Add-ins.)
• 
In the Manage section at the bottom, select COM Add-ins and click the Go button.
• 
Remove the check mark from the Aware Add-in and click the OK button.

• Close all instances of PowerPoint.

• Restart TurningPoint.

The SmartBoard "Aware" plugin will only need to be disabled a single time on each instructor computer used for TurningPoint presentations. If you continue to experience problems or have questions about this process, please contact ITS at ftc_help@siue.edu.

Resources

Manuals

• TurningPoint (Office 2003)
• TurningPoint (Office 2007)
• TurningPoint Anywhere (PC)
• TurningPoint Anywhere (Mac)

Quick User Guides

• TurningPoint
• TurningPoint Anywhere

Start-Up Guides

• 8 Steps for Running a Session Using TurningPoint
• 8 Steps for Running a Session Using TurningPoint Anywhere (PC)
• 8 Steps for Running a Session Using TurningPoint Anywhere (Mac)

Blackboard Guides

• Import from Blackboard (Participant List)
• Export to Blackboard (User Results)

Technical Support

A comprehensive knowledge base for TurningTechnologies hardware and software is accessible from the company's support page. If a solution to the problem cannot be found in the knowledge base, instructors and students needing technical support with TurningTechnologies devices or software should send an email to ftc_help@siue.edu or contact ITS at (618) 650-5500. Users can also consult the Technical Support Forum for further information and assistance.

Since ITS might be unable to resolve your problem, TurningTechnologies offers several types of support to supplement our local service. Use this form to notify TurningTechnologies of the problem you are having, making certain to mention the specific hardware or software. You can also contact TurningTechnologies support at (866) 746-3015 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.