Clicker review eInstruction Response on Mac OSX: Difference between revisions

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eInstruction is a company making [[Clicker in the life sciences (audience response systems)|clickers]] for audience response in lectures and seminars. This page is a review of the hardware clicker CPS Pulse and the accompanying software Response v6.71 (12/2012). The software appears to be mostly in Java and thus runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. I'm testing on a Mac, so the comments may not extend to the other run-time environments.
eInstruction is a company making [[Clicker in the life sciences (audience response systems)|clickers]] for audience response in lectures and seminars. This page is a review of the hardware clicker CPS Pulse and the accompanying software Response v6.71 (12/2012). The software appears to be mostly in Java and thus runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. I'm testing on a Mac, so the comments may not extend to the other run-time environments.


=== Mac software: Response v6.71 ===
=== Mac software: Response v6.71 ===
* The '''windows''' don't behave properly, for example, they cannot be minimized. And worse, a 2nd window can block another, e.g. preference pane makes the response bar inaccessible.
==== Installation ====
* The installation is very '''cluttered'''. The application should limit itself to one directory but instead dumps often various files with subdirectories into no fewer than 4 different locations: home, applications, documents, and library folder. Couldn't be much messier!
* The installation is very '''cluttered'''. The application should limit itself to one directory but instead dumps often various files with subdirectories into no fewer than 4 different locations: home, applications, documents, and library folder. Couldn't be much messier!
* The name space for files is often too short. Are we still in the 8+3 era?
* The name space for files is often too short. Are we still in the 8+3 era?
* The Powerpoint plugin doesn't respect toolbar customization and instead always resets to default (toolbar position reverts, icon only resets to icon+text).
* Ignores the custom path during install. I selected Applications/eInstructions. The device manager was installed in a separate directory named eInstruction without s. What???
 
==== Use ====
* The '''windows''' don't behave properly, for example, they cannot be minimized. And worse, a 2nd window can block another, e.g. preference pane makes the response bar inaccessible.
* The clicker control '''panel is oversized''' and largely empty. It is also always on top blocking what's underneath.
* The clicker panels '''break the Presenter View''' in Powerpoint. Whenever I start a question, it briefly exits from Presenter View and jitters back only if I click onto a Powerpoint window.
* The Powerpoint plugin '''ignores toolbar customization''' and instead always resets to default (toolbar position reverts, icon only resets to icon+text).
* '''Font is too small''' in the Powerpoint plugin window and there's no obvious preference command to increase it. On my MacBook Pro it looks like 6 or 7 point Arial.
* Deactivates common shortcuts like Cmd+W to close the question results summary window, for example.
 
==== Data analysis ====
* Clicker answers '''cannot be exported into a convenient format''', i.e. a spreadsheet last allows for fast analysis and number crunching. Instead Response creates an export in a strange RTF format that only Word can convert and that is composed of table cells / text boxes rather than text. PDF export is also possible but similarly inconvenient.
* Clicker IDs are not ordered in Response exports which makes them hard to compare.
* Points are not counted in the data output despite the ratio of correct answers being listed.
 


=== See also ===
=== See also ===
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstruction eInstruction Wikipedia]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstruction eInstruction Wikipedia]
* [http://www.amazon.com/CPSPULSE-CPS-PULSE-RESPONSE-eINSTRUCTION/product-reviews/1881483819/ref=cm_cr_dp_see_all_summary?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1 CPS Pulse clicker customer reviews on Amazon]
* [http://www.chanatown.net/2010/03/click-it-to-check-it.html eInstruction vs. Turning Point comparison]
* [http://www.chanatown.net/2010/03/click-it-to-check-it.html eInstruction vs. Turning Point comparison]
* [http://www.fctl.ucf.edu/teachingandlearningresources/technology/crs/faq.php UCF eInstruction FAQ]
* [http://www.fctl.ucf.edu/teachingandlearningresources/technology/crs/faq.php UCF eInstruction FAQ]
* [http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/eInstruction-Reviews-E237129.htm eInstruction company rating]
* [http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/eInstruction-Reviews-E237129.htm eInstruction company rating]
[[Category:teaching]]
[[Category:learning]]

Revision as of 12:03, 3 August 2013


eInstruction is a company making clickers for audience response in lectures and seminars. This page is a review of the hardware clicker CPS Pulse and the accompanying software Response v6.71 (12/2012). The software appears to be mostly in Java and thus runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. I'm testing on a Mac, so the comments may not extend to the other run-time environments.

Mac software: Response v6.71

Installation

  • The installation is very cluttered. The application should limit itself to one directory but instead dumps often various files with subdirectories into no fewer than 4 different locations: home, applications, documents, and library folder. Couldn't be much messier!
  • The name space for files is often too short. Are we still in the 8+3 era?
  • Ignores the custom path during install. I selected Applications/eInstructions. The device manager was installed in a separate directory named eInstruction without s. What???

Use

  • The windows don't behave properly, for example, they cannot be minimized. And worse, a 2nd window can block another, e.g. preference pane makes the response bar inaccessible.
  • The clicker control panel is oversized and largely empty. It is also always on top blocking what's underneath.
  • The clicker panels break the Presenter View in Powerpoint. Whenever I start a question, it briefly exits from Presenter View and jitters back only if I click onto a Powerpoint window.
  • The Powerpoint plugin ignores toolbar customization and instead always resets to default (toolbar position reverts, icon only resets to icon+text).
  • Font is too small in the Powerpoint plugin window and there's no obvious preference command to increase it. On my MacBook Pro it looks like 6 or 7 point Arial.
  • Deactivates common shortcuts like Cmd+W to close the question results summary window, for example.

Data analysis

  • Clicker answers cannot be exported into a convenient format, i.e. a spreadsheet last allows for fast analysis and number crunching. Instead Response creates an export in a strange RTF format that only Word can convert and that is composed of table cells / text boxes rather than text. PDF export is also possible but similarly inconvenient.
  • Clicker IDs are not ordered in Response exports which makes them hard to compare.
  • Points are not counted in the data output despite the ratio of correct answers being listed.


See also

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