Using the InterWrite PRS Personal Response System (PRS)

INTERIM REVIEW of PRS - Digital Chem1A Spring 2003

The Department of Chemistry maintains a system in 1 Pimentel Hall for real-time, interactive collection and display of student responses to questions posed by the instructor.

How it Works: Students register their response via individual IR transmitters (similar to a TV remote controller). IR receivers in the ceiling receive the signal. Wireless RF clients collect the data and broadcast it to an RF server attached to a host PC running PRS software. The students' responses can then be displayed in a variety of formats, on the fly, or all at once via computer projection.

The PRS components: (RED: supplied by students; GREEN: supplied by instructor; BLUE: installed or provided in 1 Pimentel Hall)

· Transmitters: These are handheld units that students can buy at the local bookstores. There is no supply of loaner transmitters at this time.

· Personal Computer (PC): Student response data is collected, processed, and presented using a host PC which must have PRS software v2.81 installed. Most laptop PC's have the required serial (RS232, 2-row, 9-pin) port, and an auxiliary VGA (3-row, 15-pin) graphic output port needed for projection. Contact Lonnie Martin (ph. 2-6687) to have the software installed if you prefer to use your own computer as the host PC. Contact Richard Bloom for access to a properly configured on-site laptop host PC in 1 Pimentel Hall. Contact Campus Educational Technology Services ( ETS ) for longer term loan of a laptop PC.

· Computer Projector: ETS can project the PRS Data from the host PC onto the overhead screen in 1 Pimentel, or they can provide a portable projector for display elsewhere in the room. Make arrangements with ETS in advance.

· Receivers: Permanently installed in the ceiling; students just need to point their transmitters ‘up’.

· RF Client and Server: Used to transfer the data from the receivers in the ceiling to the host computer. The Client (RF transmitter) is permanently installed in the ceiling of 1 Pimentel; the Server (RF receiver) connects to the serial (RS232) port of the host computer.

How to Use the PRS in your class:

1. Arrange for students to buy TRANSMITTERS from the bookstore (they may be sold back at the end of the semester).
2. Contact Richard Bloom to arrange access to the SERVER, DATA PROJECTOR, and the PIMENTEL HALL PC if needed.
3. Contact Lonnie Martin (ph. 2-6687) to have the PRS SOFTWARE installed if you prefer to bring YOUR OWN HOST PC (we have a campus license).
4. Practice with the software. It is a very simple to use program with an interactive practice feature that allows you to collect virtual responses from your keyboard.

Assistance, contributions, comments, suggestions: Contact Lonnie Martin (ph. 2-6687) in the Chemistry Department Demonstration Lab.

InterWrite PRS has extensive additional information at their web site.

ETS - Educational Technology Services

Additional info from the predecessor of this page

Procedures for Digital Chem1A

Interim Review of PRS - Digital Chem1A Spring 2003

rev. 20041202