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Northern Illinois University

Information Technology Services

Students Using CPS with Blackboard

How do I register my CPS Response Pad (clicker) through Blackboard?

You will need:

  • Internet connection
  • Enrollment Code/coupon (if you have one) from your new McGraw Hill textbook, your school bookstore or your instructor
  • Credit card or personal check
  • Using Mozilla Firefox as your browser is recommended to avoid issues during the registration process. It is available in the ITS labs.
  • Make sure that your browser does NOT have pop-up windows blocked before you register. Otherwise, you may encounter a variety of problems like blank screens or no response. The confirmation that you have successfully registered your clicker is a message giving you a clicker "pad" number for your course.

Enrolling through Blackboard

  1. Log on to your Blackboard account at NIU and select the appropriate course.
  2. Click the Course tab and choose Tools.
  3. Click CPS Connection.
  4. Click on Register Clicker

    Register Clicker screen

    Enter your CPS Response Pad serial number in the space provided. It is on your LCD screen when you turn on your pad: if your pad does not have an LCD screen, your serial number is on the back of the pad under the battery cover.

    CPS Blackboard Registration screen

    If you have purchased a new textbook that came with a Coupon Code, enter the code to get a discount on the registration fee. Students who purchased a used textbook will need to pay the full amount.

    Coupon Code screen

    Read and check acceptance of the Student Refund Policy. If you have ever participated in a CPSOnline class before and already have CPSOnline Username and Password, enter it in the space provided and click Continue. The enrollment codes are applied and stored in the student CPSOnline account. If you’ve never used CPSOnline before, please select "I have never used a CPS Response Pad Before" when enrolling in the class and fill in a new CPSOnline Username and Password and click Continue. If you use your Blackboard credentials, please keep in mind that when you change your password for Blackboard, it will not automatically sync with your CPSOnline password. You will then be asked whether you want to purchase a single semester, two semester, or lifetime subscription. You then will be asked to pay for the subscription. Apply the enrollment code you have from the textbook or if there is no enrollment code, you can choose to pay by either check or credit card.

    If you forget your CPSOnline password or need more detailed instructions, see: https://cpsonlinehe.einstruction.com/EnrollingThroughBlackboard.pdf

Can CPS pads be purchased for one class and be used in another class?

Yes, students can register clickers for multiple classes.
Detailed instructions can be found here: https://cpsonlinehe.einstruction.com/EnrollingThroughBlackboard.pdf

What is the procedure for exchanging a bad clicker?

If there is a problem with your response pad, before returning it you must contact eInstruction Technical Support at 888-333-7532 or  http://www.einstruction.com/support . If the pad problem cannot be solved, the student is sent (via email) an RMA which they take to the bookstore. The bookstore will give the student a new pad and return the faulty pad.

Are clickers purchased online directly from eInstruction less expensive?

Only the class registration enrollment code or “subscription” is purchased online. The hardware (pad) is purchased in the college bookstore. The enrollment code can sometimes be purchased in the local bookstore, but it will probably cost more.

Can two students use the same clicker?

Yes, two students can use the same clicker, but NOT IN THE SAME SEMESTER.

ESPECIALLY if the pad is linked via Blackboard, no single pad can be used in the same term simultaneously by two different students. Even using strictly CPSOnline, no two students should be using a single pad simultaneously even though it is physically possible.

Can students sell their clicker at the end of the semester?

Yes.

What is the projected battery life of a CPS response pad?

The projected battery life is about a year. Each pad has a battery life indicator.

Do CPS response pads come with batteries?

Yes, CPS pads come with batteries.

What are the purchase options of CPS pads? Prices?

CPS pads can be purchased from the bookstore. for $18-$20. Enrollments are purchased separately when students register their clickers online. Students can purchase one-term enrollment codes ($13 each) or a life-time enrollment code ($35). If they choose to purchase one-term enrollments, they only pay for three semesters ($39 total); afterwards, they don’t need to pay anymore.

How can faculty prevent misuse of response pads, namely, how do they prevent students giving other students their clickers for taking quizzes?

Each pad has a unique serial # tied only to one student. A roster can be produced (printed) that is a list of first and last names and corresponding serial number. This list can be used to verify (via student ID card) that each student leaving the classroom has used their own pad. At that time the pads can be powered down – so that students can not leave the room with test answers stored on their pad.

Problems?

Using Firefox may help resolve any issues where a blank page appears while trying to enroll or pay for your class. Please try a Firefox browser before contacting your instructor about the error. If you do receive an error, please attach a screenshot of the error when contacting your instructor via e-mail. Make sure all pop-up blockers are turned off.

If additional assistance is needed, contact eInstruction Technical Support at 888-333-7532 or http://www.einstruction.com/support.