Download the User’s Guides to help get you started with using your new radio-frequency PRS clickers.

Interwrite PRS User's Guide  [7.7MB]
Interwrite PRS RF Clicker User's Guide

Windows

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) 450 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-Résolution 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, 256 MB RAM, 1024 x 768 Résolution monitor with 32-bit color

Macintosh

OS X 10.3.9 or greater Java 1.4.1 or greater 400 MHz or faster processor 256 MB RAM 200 MB hard disk space is required CD-ROM (for installation) SVGA (800 x 600) or higher Résolution 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, 384 MB RAM et 1024 x 768 Résolution monitor with 32-bit color

 

Software

 

Operating System Support	Windows, Mac et Linux
Question Types Supported	Multiple Choice (including multiple correct), True/False, Answer Series, Numeric (including positive/negative, decimal point et fractions), Short Answer
Modes	Live Polling, Self-Paced, Homework (offline)
PowerPoint Integration	Yes (Windows et Mac environments)
Question Authoring Tool	Yes (can also import questions from book publishers)
Confidence Levels	High/Low Confidence
Software License	Included with PRS purchase. No recurring fees.
Reporting Capabilities	A variety of reports can be produced, including: attendance, results for a single session, individual student or an entire semester-to-date performance report.
Grade Book	Includes integrated grade book. Can also export to Blackboard, WebCT, WebAssign et comma delimited files (Excel compatible).

 

System

 

Frequency Bet	2.4 GHz
Max. Number of Clickers per Hub	2047
Max. Number of Hubs	4
Operating Distance	150 Feet (free space)

 

RF Clicker

 

Display	2-Line LCD
Keypad Buttons	0-9, -, T, F, A-E, Decimal Point
Battery Type	(3) AAA
Battery Life	20 Weeks (based on typical usage)

 

RF Receiver (Hub)

 

Connexion	USB
Alimentation	9V DC

Basics

What is the Technologie used for signal transmission?
The PRS RF system operates in the 2.4GHz frequency range et uses a Direct Spread Spectrum Sequence (DSSS) Technologie. 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 Enregistrementcharges for students?
No, there are no ongoing Enregistrementfees 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 et 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 et 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 et 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 et participates in a PRS Session. As such, a direct et immediate association is established between the student et 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 et the Clicker ID is temporary et 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 et how long do they last?
The PRS RF Clicker uses three (3) AAA batteries – stetard 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 et on how often Self Paced Test et 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 et Installation

How are the RF Receivers powered et connected to the computer?
The PRS RF Receiver is attached to the computer via the provided 15-foot USB cable et requires a Alimentation. The Alimentation provided is an international Alimentation et includes Alimentation adapters for various countries. You will need to install the Alimentation adapter used in your country in order to use the Alimentation.

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 et Alimentation.

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 stetards 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, et Cadium.

Lack of Data Collision et Interference from Other Systems

How many channels does the PRS RF system use et how does it find a channel?
The PRS RF system partitions the 2.4GHz frequency bet 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 et selects the channels that have the least amount of RF energy. This ensures that, in all likelihood, other products operating in the 2.4GHz bet will be avoided. Channels 1-9 et 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 et looks for energy on all channels in the 2.4GHz frequency bet 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) Technologie called Wireless USB that provides a high level of noise immunity from other systems. With DSSS, the signal is spread across the entire channel et 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

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 et F; a decimal point; et the minus (negative) sign. The entire alphabet can be accessed by pressing one of the alpha keys et 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, et Survey. Lettered response choices or numbered response choices can be designated for both of the Multiple Choice question types, et for Answer Series et Survey question types.

How do students enter their responses on the Clicker et 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 reVoired 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 et the correct response (instructor’s choice). Students et instructors appreciate the instant feedback. It opens up opportunities for discussion et reveals areas of weakness in the level of comprehension of the material being covered.

How do I reVoir the results of a session at a later time?
The Interwrite PRS software has a “ReVoir 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 Voired in a variety of applications, including Microsoft Excel, Notepad, et Word.

Software

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 et RF Clickers?
Yes. The PRS software labeled version 4 works with both IR et 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 et IR. If both RF et IR Clickers are going to be used in the class, you will need to install both an IR Receiver et an RF Receiver.

How can I upgrade my PRS software?
Current users can download the latest software at www.interwritelearning.com.

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 et 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 et 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-stetard .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 et easily turn any Microsoft® PowerPoint slide into a PRS question slide. The XML import function makes it possible to import prepared questions, responses et correct answers provided by book publishers into your Lesson. et 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 stetard graphic formats such as .jpeg, .png, et .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 et response choices, if appropriate. You can use pen-based tools, such as the Interwrite Pad, to create freehet 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 et 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 et 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 Voir the details of the responses – who responded et their individual responses – in a tabular format.

Is the Interwrite PRS system software et hardware compatible with other Clickers or Receivers? With other software applications?
The Interwrite PRS software is proprietary et operates only with the Interwrite PRS RF et IR hardware at this time. The Interwrite PRS software is provided at no additional charge to Interwrite PRS hardware users. PRS employs XML et CSV file formats to provide a very broad stetards-based approach that supports the exchange of PRS data with numerous course management systems et grading applications.

In addition, Interwrite Learning 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 1-866-496-4949. Or, you can submit your question via our Internet site at http://www.interwritelearning.com. In addition, our support site maintains a Users’ Forum, where you can discuss your PRS questions et issues with fellow PRS users et access training videos et the Interwrite PRS User’s Guide.