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School of Medicine Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Medical Center

Educational Technology

Audience Response System (ARS)

ARS handset

Most teachers are knowledgeable.
Good teachers are intelligent.
Great teachers are patient.
Exceptional teachers are students themselves.
Dale Durbin, M.D.
Author of “Rapid Interpretation of EKGs”

ARS Tutorials

  1. Inserting a Question Slide
    • opening the CPS for PowerPoint software
    • creating questions
    • saving your files to be used in the classroom
  2. Engaging Questions in the Lecture Hall
    • loading the CPS files on the lecture room computer
    • running CPS PowerPoint lecture
    • “Which button do I click next?”
  3. Tips and Tricks
    • copying and pasting pre-existing questions
    • comparing question responses and results
    • retrieving response data for reports

Timeline - Using the SOM CPS Clickers

Quick Reference
When What Who can help Tell me more . . .
4 weeks prior to lecture CIRC
804-828-8319
circ@vcu.edu
  • Jeanne Schlesinger
  • Kim Fisher
  • Katherine Tucker
 About content for questions
  • What topics do students typically find confusing year after year?
  • What key concepts are the building blocks upon which future knowledge will be built?
  • What are the steps involved in my discipline-specific thinking process?
    • How can I make this thinking visible to students?
2 weeks prior to lecture Install CPS software on your machine


Begin entering your questions into CPS for PowerPoint 		Educational Technology, somedtech@vcu.edu

CIRC, 804-828-8319
circ@vcu.edu
  • CPS for PowerPoint is an add-in; we'll install it on your computer. It is a duplicate of the add-in on the podium. We'll show you how to use it to insert interactive slides into your presentation.
  • Schedule a time to practice. It's best to practice in the classroom where you'll give your lecture. We recommend scheduling a date and time with us during the installation.
3-4 days prior to lecture Practice in classroom Educational Technology, somedtech@vcu.edu

Frequently Asked Questions about ARS:

  • What is it?
    “An audience response system is an interactive polling technology that permits the instructor and students to receive real–time feedback about questions asked in class. Through the use of handheld remotes, commonly called ‘clickers,’ students can respond to questions posed by instructors. A histogram of all student responses is then displayed for the instructor and students to see.”
       – VCU Center for Teaching Excellence

    Visit these resources from the VCU Center for Teaching Excellence to learn more about the benefits of working with an ARS:

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  • Who can use it?
    The Audience Response System is being integrated into the M1 and M2 curriculum. However, any member of the VCU School of Medicine faculty or staff can use it.

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  • Where can it be used?
    There are four auditoriums that are preinstalled with the software and have been tested to work with the response pads:

    • MSB
    • Baruch
    • GBJ
    • Sanger 1-044

    A portable unit of the Audience Response System can also be used in any lecture hall or conference room. Contact [E-mail]: somedtech@vcu.edu for more information.

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  • How many audience members can participate?
    The M1 and M2 classes have a pool of clickers to use; we can accomodate both classes in a single session. We have enough loaner clickers to support a class of about 100 people. Clickers are kept in the CIRC lab, and are distributed by student A/V Techs.

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  • How do I get started?

    1. Attend an ARS session to observe, if scheduling allows.
    2. Fill out the ARS registration form on SOM's eCurriculum website. Faculty members must be on the block schedule before the ARS form will be available to them.
    3. Contact [E-mail]: somedtech@vcu.edu to schedule a time to have the software installed on your computer, learn how to insert questions into PowerPoint lectures, and schedule a practice session to see how to run the slideshow in the classroom.

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  • How do I create and enter ARS questions?
    First, you will need the CPS for PowerPoint software installed on your machine. This will allow you to insert questions directly into existing PowerPoint lectures or into new PowerPoint files. A brief tutorial is available upon installation of CPS for PowerPoint. Contact [E-mail]: somedtech@vcu.edu to get started.

    Consultation for question design and writing is available from Jeanne Schlesinger, Office of Faculty and Instructional Development, [E-mail]: jbschles@vcu.edu or Phone: 804-828-3918.

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  • Links

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