|
Basics
Hardware &
Installation
Lack of Data Collision and
Interference from Other Systems
Classroom
Techniques
Software
| Basics
UP |
What is the technology used for signal
transmission?
The PRS RF system operates in the 2.4GHz frequency range and uses a Direct
Spread Spectrum Sequence (DSSS) technology. Range for the system in Free
Space is 150 feet.
How many students (Clickers) can participate in a session?
There can be 2047 Clickers used per Receiver. Up to 4 Receivers can be used
concurrently, making the theoretical limit for the system 8,188 Clickers.
Are there recurring registration charges for students?
No, there are no ongoing registration fees required of the school or the
students to continue using the system. The only cost of the PRS RF system is
the hardware. The initial cost is up front—purchasing the system. The only
recurring costs are for replacement batteries.
Can the RF Clickers be set up as Loaners?
Yes. The PRS RF Clickers are configurable and can be set up as Loaners,
which allows them to be shared with other students. The RF Clicker
configured as a Loaner will prompt the student to enter his or her Student
ID each time the student joins an RF Class. The Student ID is purged from
the Clicker’s memory when it is turned off. With the student-owned model,
the Student ID is entered just once and is permanently stored in the
Clicker’s memory.
Can the PRS RF System be used in Anonymous mode?
Yes. Anonymous mode gives the instructor the option of collecting students’
responses without the associated Student ID that identifies the student.
Anonymous mode is set when the RF Class is started.
Do I need to manually create a roster?
No. PRS RF provides the ability to easily and reliably associate a specific
student in the class with a specific Clicker. Using this information, the
class roster is then automatically created. The Clicker ID is captured with
the Student ID at the time the student joins the class and participates in a
PRS Session. As such, a direct and immediate association is established
between the student and the Clicker. In the model where the student owns the
Clicker, this relationship remains a constant. In the model where the
Clicker is loaned to the student for the class, the association between the
Student ID and the Clicker ID is temporary and exists only for the duration
of the Session. When the Clickers are shared, the Clicker ID will be
associated with different Student IDs as different students use them.
What batteries do the RF Clickers use and how long do they last?
The PRS RF Clicker uses three (3) AAA batteries – standard alkaline
batteries. One set of batteries is included with the purchase. The batteries
are installed in the battery compartment, the cover of which is secured with
a screw. The average life expectancy of the three AAA batteries in the PRS
RF Clicker is estimated at 26 weeks with typical use. Variations in battery
life will occur based on the unit’s sleep time setting and on how often Self
Paced Test and Homework modes, which typically consume more power, are used.
The PRS RF Clicker has a battery level indicator that displays at power up.
A diagnostic battery display in the Setup Menu provides an indication of the
percentage of battery life remaining. When the battery gets very low, the
PRS RF Clicker will display a “Low Battery” warning. |
| Hardware
& Installation
UP |
What are the minimum system requirements?
| For the Windows
environment: |
Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP only (for an RF Receiver
installation) |
|
Microsoft Windows 98 SE, Me,
2000, XP, or NT 4.0 with Service Pack 6 or later (for an IR Receiver
installation) |
|
500 MHz or faster processor |
|
Internet Explorer 5.01 or greater |
|
256 MB RAM |
|
200 MB hard disk space is required |
|
CD-ROM drive (for installation) |
|
SVGA (800 x 600 or higher
resolution) monitor with minimum of 16-bit color |
|
Available USB Port for RF Receiver
installation |
|
Available Serial port for IR
Receiver installation |
|
Microsoft Office 2000, XP or 2003
(for PowerPoint Integration) |
Recommended system is Windows
XP on a computer with a Pentium 4 processor, 2 GHz+, 512 MB RAM
and 1024x768 resolution
monitor with 32-bit color |
|
|
| For the Macintosh
environment: |
|
OS X 10.3.9 or
greater |
|
Java 1.4.1 or greater |
|
500 MHz or faster processor |
|
512 MB RAM |
|
200 MB hard disk space is
required |
|
CD-ROM drive (for installation) |
|
SVGA (800 x 600 or higher
resolution) monitor with minimum of 16-bit color |
|
Available USB Port for RF Receiver
installation |
|
USB to Serial Adapter for IR
Receiver installation |
Recommended system is OS X
10.4 on a computer with a G4 867Mhz processor, 512 MB RAM and 1024x768
resolution monitor with
32-bit color |
How are the RF Receivers powered and
connected to the computer?
The PRS RF Receiver is attached to the computer via the provided 15-foot
USB cable and requires a power supply. The power supply provided is an
international power supply and includes power supply adapters for various
countries. You will need to install the power supply adapter used in your
country in order to use the power supply.
How can I add additional RF Receivers?
Up to 4 Receivers can be used with one PRS system. Each Receiver requires
its own USB connection and power supply.
Where should I place the RF Receiver in the classroom?
The PRS RF system is a very portable system. The Receiver does not rely on
line-of-sight transmission, so a special wall mount is not necessary. The
only caveat regarding the placement of the RF Receiver is that it should
not be located near anything made of metal, including the computer box.
Metal serves as a shield to the RF signal. Otherwise, after the Receiver
is connected to the computer, it can be placed anywhere in the room.
Is the PRS RF system RoHS-compliant?
Yes. The PRS RF system complies with the European Union’s strict
environmental standards referred to as RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous
Substances). PRS RF is compliant for the following six substances
restricted by the RoHS regulations: Lead, Hexavalent Chromium, Mercury,
Polybrominated Biphenyls, Polybrominated Biphenyl ethers, and Cadium.
|
|
Lack of Data Collision and Interference from Other
Systems UP |
How many channels does the PRS RF system
use and how does it find a channel?
The PRS RF system partitions the 2.4GHz frequency band into 78 separate
channels with two PN code options, providing up to 156 channel combinations.
Of these 156 channels, 26 are allocated to broadcasting class information
from the Receiver. The 130 remaining channels are used to send data from the
Clickers to the Receiver. The PRS RF Receiver selects channels dynamically.
At startup, the Receiver performs a scan of the entire 2.4GHz spectrum and
selects the channels that have the least amount of RF energy. This ensures
that, in all likelihood, other products operating in the 2.4GHz band will be
avoided. Channels 1-9 and A-D are the designated channels used by the RF
Receiver to broadcast the class. PRS will display the assigned channel to
provide a quick jump directly to that channel, so students can avoid having
to wait for the scan to complete, which can take several minutes.
Can the RF Receiver detect conflicting RF Receivers in adjacent areas?
The PRS RF Receiver scans the entire environment and looks for energy on all
channels in the 2.4GHz frequency band in order to avoid other PRS RF
Receivers in nearby classrooms. The PRS RF Receiver also broadcasts a 16-bit
Receiver ID as a unique identifier for the Clickers in the classroom.
How does PRS RF deal with interference from or with other radio sources?
PRS RF uses a DSSS (Direct Spread Spectrum Sequence) technology called
Wireless USB that provides a high level of noise immunity from other
systems. With DSSS, the signal is spread across the entire channel and
reconstructed at the Receiver. By spreading the signal across the channel,
PRS RF minimizes interference with other systems that might be in close
proximity. |
| Classroom
Techniques
UP |
What types of questions are supported by
the PRS RF Clickers?
The RF Clicker keys include the numbers 0 through 9; alpha characters A
through E, T and F; a decimal point; and the minus (negative) sign. The
entire alphabet can be accessed by pressing one of the alpha keys and
scrolling up or down to the desired letter. A forward slash can be entered
into an answer by pressing the decimal point key twice. A space can be
entered by pressing the decimal point key three times.
Question types supported by PRS RF include Single Answer Multiple Choice,
Multiple Correct Multiple Choice, True/False, Answer Series, Numeric, and
Survey. Lettered response choices or numbered response choices can be
designated for both of the Multiple Choice question types, and for Answer
Series and Survey question types.
How do students enter their responses on the Clicker and will they know
when their responses have been received?
The PRS RF Clicker has an LCD display that is 2 lines by 16 characters. The
keys pressed by the student appear on the first line of the display. The
second line shows status messages returned by PRS. The response is sent when
the Send/Enter key is pressed. A status message, such as Received, will
appear on the second line of the Clicker display when the response has been
processed.
Can the students change their responses?
The instructor can set the number of chances, from 1 to 99, a student has to
answer a question. PRS tracks the number of times a student responds to a
question. Only the last response is saved.
How are the results reviewed with the class?
When the question timer is stopped, or time runs out, a Response Chart is
displayed. The Response Chart graphs the distribution of the responses to
the question and the correct response (instructor’s choice). Students and
instructors appreciate the instant feedback. It opens up opportunities for
discussion and reveals areas of weakness in the level of comprehension of
the material being covered.
How do I review the results of a session at a later time?
The InterWrite PRS software has a “Review Session” feature that allows you
to go over the results of a session at any time. Session results, the
students’ responses, are saved in a comma-delimited, CSV file, which can be
viewed in a variety of applications, including Microsoft Excel, Notepad, and
Word. |
| Software
UP |
What are the software license
restrictions?
When PRS is purchased, the software is site-licensed to the institution
purchasing it for use with the PRS hardware. This means that the institution
has the right to make as many copies of PRS as needed for use on the
institution’s computers that are connected to the PRS hardware. Copies of
PRS can also be made for personally owned computers that are used for class
preparation or teaching at the purchasing institution.
Does the latest version of the PRS software work with both IR and RF
Clickers?
Yes. The PRS software labeled version 4 works with both IR and RF Clickers.
When you set up your PRS class, you will specify the type of Clickers that
will be used in the class—RF only, IR only, or both RF and IR. If both RF
and IR Clickers are going to be used in the class, you will need to install
both an IR Receiver and an RF Receiver.
How can I upgrade my PRS software?
Current users can download the latest software at: http://www.gtco.com/rf_login.php
How can I use my Microsoft® PowerPoint files with PRS?
Any slide in a PowerPoint Slide Show can be turned into a PRS Question
Slide. We have developed a PRS PowerPoint Add-in for both Mac and Windows
users that makes it easy to set up PRS question slides in PowerPoint. All of
the PRS question types are supported by the PRS Add-in.
Can questions, student responses and grades be exported to a data file for
use in Microsoft® Excel or one of the course management systems, such as
WebCT or Blackboard?
PRS response data are saved in an ASCII, comma-delimited .CSV format. This
is an Excel file format that can be imported into a number of grade book
applications. PRS questions are saved in an industry-standard .XML format.
How do I create questions using PRS?
Questions can be easily created in several ways. A question authoring tool
is included in the InterWrite PRS software. You can use this authoring tool
not only to create questions in PRS, but to insert a new question or insert
an existing question from your lesson library. The PowerPoint Add-in module
provides a way to quickly and easily turn any Microsoft® PowerPoint slide
into a PRS question slide. The XML import function makes it possible to
import prepared questions, responses and correct answers provided by book
publishers into your Lesson. And finally, ad hoc questions can be created
“on the fly” during a PRS Session.
Can I import graphics into my questions?
Yes, the PRS software supports standard graphic formats such as .jpeg, .png,
and .gif.
Can a question be created "on the fly" during a class?
Questions can be created “on-the-fly” during a session by using either the
Insert New Question or the Insert Existing Question function. This activates
the PRS question authoring tool, which is used to compose your question and
response choices, if appropriate. You can use pen-based tools, such as the
InterWrite SchoolPad, to create freehand questions in the graphic window
section of the authoring tool.
Can the results of a question be displayed “on the spot”?
The software provides the option to automatically show a graph of the
audience responses as soon as the question timer expires or is stopped.
Other option settings allow the instructor to show the correct answer for
each question or hide the correct answer until after all of the questions
have been presented. InterWrite PRS can be run in a No Lesson mode, where
the questions originate in a separate application, or are written on a
blackboard or displayed on an overhead projector. Even in No Lesson mode,
responses are automatically charted and displayed.
Does the InterWrite PRS software have a “summary” feature that allows the
instructor to immediately display a question’s results for class discussion?
Yes. Responses can be displayed in a graph format allowing the instructor
and students to see the distribution of responses. A “% Correct” value can
be selected for each question’s responses, providing additional information
for the instructor. The correct answer can be toggled on or off – depending
on the instructor’s teaching style. At the end of a question, the instructor
can view the details of the responses – who responded and their individual
responses – in a tabular format.
Is the InterWrite PRS system software and hardware compatible with other
Clickers or Receivers? With other software applications?
The InterWrite PRS software is proprietary and operates only with the
InterWrite PRS RF and IR hardware at this time. The InterWrite PRS software
is provided at no additional charge to InterWrite PRS hardware users. PRS
employs XML and CSV file formats to provide a very broad standards-based
approach that supports the exchange of PRS data with numerous course
management systems and grading applications.
In addition, GTCO CalComp publishes a PRS API that makes it possible for
software developers to interface their applications with our hardware.
What technical support is available for InterWrite PRS RF?
Live phone support is available at 1-800-344-4723 (MD) or 1-800-856-0732
(AZ). Or, you can submit your question via our Internet site at http://www.gtco.com/supportprsrf.htm.
In addition, our support site maintains a Users’ Forum, where you can
discuss your PRS questions and issues with fellow PRS users and access
training videos and the InterWrite PRS User’s Guide. |
|
|
|
