As the campus begins the migration to TurningPoint Cloud this summer, students who purchased and registered their clickers on Blackboard prior to March 1, 2016 will receive Turning Account license codes via their UMBC email. Students will use these license codes to create their Turning Accounts and register clicker information on Blackboard.
License codes will be sent out to students starting the week of May 23. The length of a student's license subscription is based upon the student’s enrollment status during the Spring 2016 semester (e.g., freshman, sophomore etc). Please see below for more information.
Enrollment Status/Year | Subscription Length |
Freshman | 3 years |
Sophomore | 2 years |
Juniors | 1 year |
Non-graduating Seniors/ Graduate Students | 8 months |
Once students receive their license codes, they will need to log into Blackboard to create a Turning Account and register their clicker information.
The updated clicker registration link will be available in Blackboard starting on May 26.
Students who have not previously purchased and/or registered a clicker on Blackboard will be able to buy a clicker bundle from the UMBC Bookstore.
If you have any questions or concerns, please visit our Clicker FAQ page and/or contact Holly Owens at holly3@umbc.edu.
]]>Faculty who plan to use clickers for instruction during the Fall 2016 semester will need to have device order(s) submitted to the Bookstore no later than Friday, March 25, 2016.
This deadline allows the Bookstore to shop national wholesalers early
for used books and items, prepare for buyback, avoid sending back to
publishers leftover stock that will be reused next semester, and notify
faculty of any availability problems. "University policy dictates that summer and fall 2016 textbook adoptions should by submitted by April 24 to permit compliance with the USM Board of Regents policy".
There are three options for submitting your request(s):
1. Online System
2. Email
3. Paper Form
Please refer to the Bookstore's site for more information and instructions applicable to each these options.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the UMBC bookstore at textbook@umbc.edu or 410-455-2699.
To learn more about the clickers:
visit our Clicker FAQ page
open an RT Ticket for any technical issues
view the schedule of training workshops on the DoIT group page
contact the Instructional Technology Team with any questions or concerns
On Wednesday, March 9, from 11:30am - 1:30pm, DoIT's Instructional Technology team is sponsoring Techfest in the University Center (rooms UC 310, UC 312, and the UC Lounge) to bring the campus community together and present ways that technology can both support and improve the efficiency of day-to-day activities.
STUDENTS, FACULTY, and STAFF are all welcome and encouraged to attend.
Registration is required for this event. Please register here.
After attending your workshop, be sure to complete a feedback form to be entered to win Starbucks gift cards, Webcams, iPad cases, and more!
Registration will close on Friday, March 4, 2016 at 5pm. Register now!
Registration is closed for workshops already filled to capacity. If you have any questions about the registration process, contact Collin Sullivan.
Workshop descriptions have been provided below:
Session 1 Workshops (11:35 - 12:00):
LIMITED AVAILABILITY - Blackboard Tips & Tricks (UC 310): Blackboard is the current learning management system used at UMBC. Your professors may use it to supplement or replace the traditional classroom experience. Come learn a few tips & tricks for getting access, taking tests, receiving notifications about content & communication updates, and using the new Bb Student mobile app.
CLOSED - Where’s my iCloud? (UC 312): iCloud keeps popping up on my phone! What is this? Where is it? Why do I need it? Discover the essential basics of iCloud, like Find my iPhone, and how to use other features like Shared Photos, iWork for iCloud, and more.
Session 2 Workshops (12:05 - 12:30):
CLOSED - Collaborating with Google Docs (UC 310): Are you working on a team project or presentation? With everyone’s busy schedules, how can we all meet up together to get this assignment done? Learn how to use Google Docs to work with your group without physically meeting!
LIMITED AVAILABILITY - LinkedIn 101 (UC Lounge) (from the Career Center): What is LinkedIn? Why should you use this tool to make connections and build your brand? Come to this session to learn the basics of LinkedIn including how to create an “All-Star” profile and the do’s and don’ts of LinkedIn connection etiquette.
LIMITED AVAILABILITY - Upgrade Your Notes with OneNote (UC 312): Taking notes with paper and pen? There has to be a better way in the 21st century! Learn how to improve your journals with OneNote and how to stay on top of your class notes.
Session 3 Workshops (12:35 - 1:00):
Collaborating with Google Docs(UC 310) *Same as Session 2, see description above*
LIMITED AVAILABILITY - Making the Most of Your LinkedIn (UC Lounge) (from the Career Center): Go beyond the basics of LinkedIn. Learn how to take full advantage of this tool to network like a pro, increase your visibility, and make LinkedIn a part of your job search strategy!
CLOSED - Managing Your Gmail Tips & Tricks (UC 312): Are too many emails flooding your inbox? Want to change its layout? And what are these Google Gadgets? Learn how to make the most of your email and become a Gmail Guru from the Chief Information Officer here at UMBC, Jack Suess!
Session 4 Workshops (1:05 - 1:30):
CLOSED - 7 Secrets of Effective Calendaring (UC 310): Google Calendar is such a simple, yet critical app for managing our day to day activities. Is there more below the surface than just your list of meetings? Come learn about hidden or unknown benefits of this simple and powerful tool. The intended outcome from this presentation is that participants are able to gain more insight and effective skill in their use of Google Calendar.
LIMITED AVAILABILITY - Maximizing Your Storage with Box (UC 312): Want unlimited computer storage? Want to be able to access it anywhere, any time? Box Cloud Storage is your answer for storing files and collaborating on projects with your peers quickly and effectively.
Updates Coming to Clickers (UC Lounge): Learn about the changes coming to Clickers here at UMBC from our UMBC Turning Technologies Intern. Registration is not required to attend this information session.
We hope to see you there - don’t forget to register!
]]>The Instructional Technology Team is pleased to announce that registration for Techfest is now open. To register, please complete this Google Form. Registration will close on Friday, March 4, 2016 at 5pm.
Register soon! Seats are limited in each workshop - and when the workshop is full, you will not be able to register for that session.
Each session is 25 minutes long followed by a short 5 minute break. Attend 1, 2, 3, or all 4 sessions at Techfest. At the end of each workshop, complete a feedback form to be entered in a drawing to win tech prizes.
Session times and descriptions are provided below. Don’t forget to register!
Session 1 Workshops (11:35 - 12:00):
Blackboard Tips & Tricks: Blackboard is the current learning management system used at UMBC. Your professors may use it to supplement or replace the traditional classroom experience. Come learn a few tips & tricks for getting access, taking tests, receiving notifications about content & communication updates, and using the new Bb Student mobile app.
LIMITED AVAILABILITY-Where’s my iCloud?: iCloud keeps popping up on my phone! What is this? Where is it? Why do I need it? Discover the essential basics of iCloud, like Find my iPhone, and how to use other features like Shared Photos, iWork for iCloud, and more.
Session 2 Workshops (12:05 - 12:30):
LIMITED AVAILABILITY-Collaborating with Google Docs: Are you working on a team project or presentation? With everyone’s busy schedules, how can we all meet up together to get this assignment done? Learn how to use Google Docs to work with your group without physically meeting!
LIMITED AVAILABILITY-LinkedIn 101 (from the Career Center): What is LinkedIn? Why should you use this tool to make connections and build your brand? Come to this session to learn the basics of LinkedIn including how to create an “All-Star” profile and the do’s and don’ts of LinkedIn connection etiquette.
Upgrade Your Notes with OneNote: Taking notes with paper and pen? There has to be a better way in the 21st century! Learn how to improve your journals with OneNote and how to stay on top of your class notes.
Session 3 Workshops (12:35 - 1:00):
Collaborating with Google Docs *Same as Session 2, see description above*
LIMITED AVAILABILITY-Making the Most of Your LinkedIn (from the Career Center): Go beyond the basics of LinkedIn. Learn how to take full advantage of this tool to network like a pro, increase your visibility, and make LinkedIn a part of your job search strategy!
CLOSED-Managing Your Gmail Tips & Tricks: Are too many emails flooding your inbox? Want to change its layout? And what are these Google Gadgets? Learn how to make the most of your email and become a Gmail Guru from the Chief Information Officer here at UMBC, Jack Suess!
Session 4 Workshops (1:05 - 1:30):
CLOSED-7 Secrets of Effective Calendaring: Google Calendar is such a simple, yet critical app for managing our day to day activities. Is there more below the surface than just your list of meetings? Come learn about hidden or unknown benefits of this simple and powerful tool. The intended outcome from this presentation is that participants are able to gain more insight and effective skill in their use of Google Calendar.
LIMITED AVAILABILITY-Maximizing Your Storage with Box: Want unlimited computer storage? Want to be able to access it anywhere, any time? Box Cloud Storage is your answer for storing files and collaborating on projects with your peers quickly and effectively.
Updates Coming to Clickers: Learn about the changes coming to Clickers here at UMBC from our UMBC Turning Technologies Intern. Registration is not required to attend this information session.
February 14, 2020
Update: As of Spring 2020, TurningPoint 8 is supported by UMBC. Turning Technologies no longer supports the software TurningPoint Cloud. All main lecture halls are up-to-date with the new software. TurningPoint products are not affected by the transition to TurningPoint 8. Clickers and subscriptions are compatible with the new software. Students will not need to purchase another clicker or subscription if it is still active. Rebates are no longer being issued. To learn more about pricing, visit the UMBC TurningPoint Pricing pdf. For more information on what is needed to participate in TurningPoint polls, visit our FAQ.
On Thursday, November 19 a Faculty Town Hall was held to discuss the current status of clicker software and to share survey results. Turning Technologies, our current clicker vendor, announced that they will no longer support our current software starting in June 2016. This announcement prompted DoIT to re-evaluate our current clicker software and conduct a market survey of other response systems available.
Q: What is happening with clickers at UMBC?
A: Current clicker software will no longer be supported starting in June of 2016. UMBC will have to update from TurningPoint 5 to TurningPoint Cloud before this support period ends, or decide to use another response system. It is important that our campus stays up-to-date with our software so we offer students and instructors the best classroom experience possible. A comparison chart of current clicker system is publicly available.
Q: What will be the cost to UMBC students?
A: If we stay with our current vendor, TurningTechnologies, students who currently have a clicker will need to purchase a license for a Turning account after the TurningPoint Cloud upgrade in order to register their clickers for UMBC courses. The cost of this license is $34.99 plus tax; however, the $34.99 will be fully refunded to UMBC students through a mail-in process.
Students who do not have clickers will purchase a clicker bundle in the bookstore. The bundle will come with a physical clicker and a 4- or 5-year subscription to ResponseWare, the mobile version of the clicker. All bundles come with a $15.00 mail-in rebate.
Q: When is this change going to occur?
A: The transition from TurningPoint 5 to TurningPoint Cloud will begin in Summer 2016.
Q: Where can I provide my feedback about this transition?
A: Please complete this survey and give detailed feedback about this transition.
Q: Where can I view the clicker survey results presented at the Faculty Town Hall?
A: Survey results presented at the Faculty Town Hall have been shared here.
For more information, please contact Holly Bielak at holly3@umbc.edu. ]]>