iClicker Cloud Student Guide

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iClicker Cloud is an online student response system that allows you to respond to polls and quizzes during a class session, using your computer or mobile device. When you answer questions, your instructor receives your responses instantly and may share the results and the correct answers during the class session or afterward.

Access Immediate You can set up an iClicker student account, then use this account to log in to iClicker.
Bandwidth Yes Low demand on internet connections.
Privacy Yes Verified by UBC’s Privacy Impact Assessment process.

What will I use it for?

Your instructor may have you use iClicker Cloud for a variety of activities:

  • Test your understanding or share your opinions at different points during a class session
  • Participate in peer instruction, where you answer a question, discuss it in small groups, and answer again
  • Record your attendance at a class session
  • Study outside of class sessions

A note about iClicker Cloud

You should not need to share your location through your computer or mobile device to participate in iClicker sessions. The location requirement feature in iClicker is not currently covered by UBC’s privacy assessment, and instructors should not require you to use it.

This tool guide was last reviewed in July 2024 with version 6.0.0 of iClicker Cloud.

What do I need to use iClicker Cloud?

A supported web browser

iClicker runs in your web browser and supports using Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari. You may find it more convenient to use the iClicker application that is available on mobile devices, especially if you are using your computer for other course activities. For more information regarding compatible versions, please refer to the iClicker student app requirements.


A UBC iClicker student account

You will need to create an iClicker account that is associated with UBC, as outlined in the accordion section below.

Tips

  • The student version of iClicker Cloud is often called iClicker Student or just iClicker. These terms refer to the same tool.
  • If you encounter issues connecting to iClicker, you can try to troubleshoot them yourself using the iClicker troubleshooting tips. You can also reach out to your instructor or teaching assistants, as they may be able to provide real-time assistance in helping you resolve issues.

How do I use iClicker Cloud?

You will need to set up an iClicker account to get started. Then you can join a live class session and participate in the iClicker activities that your instructor facilitates during lectures.

Click any accordion bar below to find instructions and tips for setting up and participating with iClicker.

Expand All

Set up an iClicker account

  1. Go to the iClicker student account creation page.
  2. Type "University of British Columbia" as your primary institution, choose University of British Columbia from the drop-down list, and click Next.
  3. Enter the rest of your information.
    • Note that to have iClicker and Canvas work together, your email for your iClicker account needs to match the default email for your Canvas account.
    • Make sure to enter your UBC student number in the "Student ID" field. This number is what will link your Canvas account to your iClicker account.
  4. Once you are ready, agree to the Privacy Policy / Terms of Use and use of personal information, then click Create Account.
    • If you are not comfortable agreeing to these items with your regular email address, you can set up an anonymized email address to use instead.
  5. You now have an account and are ready to add a course.

Tips

  • You only need to complete these steps once. After you have created your UBC iClicker student account, you can use the same account to access any UBC courses that have iClicker activities.

Add an iClicker course to your account

Most instructors will use iClicker with Canvas. As long as you have added your UBC student number to your iClicker account, you will automatically be enrolled in your course with no extra steps needed.

However, if you do not see your course, your instructor may have set up your iClicker course to allow students to self-enroll. In this case, you can enroll yourself manually:

  1. Once you have created an iClicker account, log in to iClicker using your iClicker account email and password.
  2. If you do not see your course, click the plus sign in the top right, choose University of British Columbia from the available options, and type in the name of the iClicker course that your instructor has provided.
  3. Click the course you would like to join, and click Add this course.
  4. You will now see this course and can access it from your list of courses.

Join a class session in iClicker

After you add a course to your account, you will join that course in iClicker each time there is a class session to attend.

  1. Log in to iClicker using your iClicker account email and password.
  2. Click the course name.
  3. Click Join when it appears on your screen (it may take a minute to show up). Note that this button only displays once your instructor has started the live class in iClicker and will not be available if you log in early.
  4. You will see a confirmation message, and your instructor will see you have joined the class.

Tips

  • Joining a class session marks you as present in the attendance record and enables you to participate in the iClicker activities during class. These activities include answering polls or quizzes.
  • The time when you join a class session is also recorded and is visible to your instructor. To ensure you receive full participation credit, it is best to join on time.
  • Not all instructors track attendance with iClicker. You can ask your instructor if you are not sure. Please note that instructors should not require you to share your location through your computer or mobile device to track your attendance.

Participate in iClicker activities

When your instructor initiates an iClicker activity in the class session, you will see the options for responding to it in the iClicker interface. For polls, you may see a screenshot of the question to answer alongside the response options. For quizzes, you will only see the response options. For both activity types, your instructor will share the questions with you in the live class, though the format will vary based on whether your class is in person, online, or hybrid.

Please note that some instructors may choose to show questions only for those in attendance, so you may have to be present in class in real time (whether it is in person or online) to see the questions.

  1. Once you have logged in to iClicker and joined the class session, wait for your instructor to initiate an activity.
  2. When an activity starts, you will see a question number and your options for responding on your screen:
    • For polls, you may be able to see a screenshot of the question to answer. You will respond to a single question in one of several ways, depending on how your instructor has set it up: by choosing one or more multiple-choice items, writing a short answer (up to 140 characters), typing a numeric answer, or clicking part of an image.
    • For quizzes, you will answer a set of questions by choosing a multiple-choice item for each, then reviewing and submitting all your answers together.
  3. Follow the prompts on screen to send in each answer. When completing a poll, you will see an “Answer Received” for each question. For a quiz, you will see a submission confirmation once you have finished the set of questions and submitted your entire response.
  4. When an activity ends, your instructor may choose to share the correct poll response and/or class results. Quiz results may also be available after the class session ends.

Tips

  • You may change your answer as many times as you like, up until the point your instructor closes the answer period. Instructors cannot re-open polls or quizzes, so make sure to review your answers before submitting your responses.
  • If you see an anonymous icon for a question, know that what your answer will not be tied to your identity. Your response to an anonymous question may still count for participation points, however.
  • Re-join the session if you accidentally close or get bumped out of iClicker during a lecture (e.g., you lose your internet connection). If you miss any iClicker activities during a class session, let your instructor know, as they may be willing to adjust your participation for that session.
  • You can review iClicker polls outside of class to help you study, as every question asked is recorded as part of the course. Check out the “Class History” tab when you first log in, and read about the available iClicker features that can help you study.
  • Make sure your iClicker work honestly reflects your learning and not anybody else's. Letting someone else answer your questions with your iClicker account counts as cheating.

iClicker Cloud FAQ

Find UBC-specific answers to frequently asked questions by clicking any accordion bar below.

If you do not see the course in your list of courses, try to manually add an iClicker course to your account.

If you still cannot see your course:

  1. Make sure your UBC student number has been added correctly to your iClicker account. To verify, log in to iClicker, click the three lines at the top left, and select Profile. Ensure that you entered your UBC student number—not your UBC CWL—in the "Student ID" field.
  2. If you have added your UBC student number to your iClicker account correctly, it is possible that you have multiple iClicker accounts with the same student number. iClicker will not add duplicate student numbers to the same iClicker course. You can contact us at the LT Hub if you think this might be the case.
  3. Make sure that your default email in Canvas matches the email that you used to make an iClicker account. This matching will ensure that the right account is added to your iClicker course. You can check and change which email you have listed in Canvas by following the instructions for keeping your email up to date in Canvas.
  4. If you are still experiencing issues with seeing your course, please contact us at the LT Hub for further assistance.

If you have properly linked your iClicker account with Canvas and you cannot see your grades in Canvas, it is possible that your instructor has not set up iClicker to sync grades with Canvas. Not all instructors plan to release iClicker grades in Canvas. Please ask your instructor or teaching assistants if you are not sure.

If your instructor has set up grade syncing between iClicker and Canvas and you are still having trouble seeing your grades, please contact us at the LT Hub for assistance.

You can try to troubleshoot some connection issues yourself using the iClicker troubleshooting tips.

You can also reach out to your instructors or teaching assistants, as they may be able to provide real-time assistance in helping you resolve issues. If not, they will at least know that you were trying to participate but could not connect during the class session.

Where can I get more support with iClicker Cloud?

Technical support

If you have trouble with iClicker:


Online learning support

Learn more


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