All About CPS

CPS or Classroom Performance Systems is the technology referred to as "responders" or "clickers" for use in the classroom. Basically, it's a polling system that collects data from students' responses to questions, performing a variety of calculations for teachers to use as assessments and evaluations.

iResponse  is a system with two apps--one for the teacher called iResponse Utility for the teacher's computer (PC or Mac) and another for the students called iResponse for the iPad. These systems work with WiFi.

Other CPS Systems are available from a number of companies for free or cut-rate cost as downloadable apps from iTunes. A CPS system guide for Windows gives specific directions for setting up the CPS system. Another CPS guide details the guides and manuals for not only setting up the system, but also using it.

Transmitter (See Figure 1)--The round device in the middle of the figure is an IR system. It Most systems do not have a transmitter that extends from a laptop, but instead have a simple USB stick receiver. These systems work in the same way as a television remote. The IR transmitter has a different signal than that emitted by bluetooth technology, which emits a radio frequency signal that's able to penetrate walls. 

This technology keeps improving, so that the responders soon will be phased out as they are replaced with iPads and computers with improved and easier-to-use apps.