Following the University’s open tendering process for audience response tools, we are pleased to inform University instructors and staff that iClicker Cloud (integrated with Quercus) is available for supported use.
The iClicker solution has a fee associated with it, usually paid for directly by students (although some departments may purchase the solution for their students; the exact arrangements should be confirmed on a departmental basis with the local EdTech support team).
While students can purchase iClicker licenses directly from various app stores, we have partnered with the University of Toronto Bookstore to ensure that the best price for students is through the U of T Bookstore, and not directly from online app stores. We encourage instructors considering the adoption of iClicker for their teaching to contact the U of T Bookstore in advance of their teaching to ensure there is enough stock for all their students. The U of T Bookstore can also help with other related teaching inquiries.
While we note that some instructors are interested in using iClicker integrated with MacMillan’s Achieve system, Achieve is currently not supported at the University. Instructors should be aware of the guidelines regarding Tools Beyond Quercus before making this decision.
In addition to iClicker Cloud, instructors have access to other audience and student response solutions, including through their Microsoft 365 account.
What are student response systems?
Student response systems allow you to engage your students in a live class by soliciting responses to questions or polls in real-time. Depending on the student response system you choose, they can use their own internet-connected device, or a physical hand-held unit.
Available student response systems at the University of Toronto:
iClickers
For information on using iClickers and integrating with your Quercus course, please visit our iClicker Support Tool Guide.
If you require any technical support regarding iClickers, please contact your divisional support representative.
Microsoft Forms
With Microsoft Forms, you can create surveys, quizzes, and polls and see results in real-time.
- Create surveys
- Create quizzes with feedback on correct and incorrect responses
- Gather (anonymous) feedback (e.g., mid-course evaluations)
- Use Microsoft Forms as a Polling Tool in a Live Session
- Promote reflection and metacognition
- Live Poll in PowerPoint by Integrating Microsoft Forms, for polls in in-person and synchronous online sessions
- Create polls for Teams meetings
Microsoft Forms is part of the Microsoft Office 365 suite of tools available to Faculty. Consult the EASI Forms site for more information.
Webinar tools:
Polling with Microsoft Teams Meeting:
You can use Microsoft Forms to create polls before your Microsoft Teams meeting, then launch them during it so attendees from any endpoint (mobile, web, desktop) can view and answer. You can even poll attendees before your meeting and collect information ahead of it.
Follow these instructions to learn more and how to poll attendees during a Teams meeting.
Polling with Zoom:
This feature allows hosts to create sing choice or multiple choice polling questions that can be launched during a webinar. The poll can be downloaded after the webinar. Polls can be conducted anonymously or with names. Refer to Zoom Knowledge Base on Polls for details on how to set up polls.