Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

Glitchy Classroom 'Clickers' Pose Problems at SDSU

A growing number of San Diego State students say a high tech device they're required to use in large lecture halls is a waste of time and money. KPBS reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.

Glitchy Classroom 'Clickers' Pose Problems at SDSU

A growing number of San Diego State students say a high tech device they're required to use in large lecture halls is a waste of time and money. KPBS reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.

Clickers are handheld remote control devices that cost students up to $55. Professors require them to take attendance, poll their classes and record student answers to multiple choice questions. But more and more students say the clicker and its operating system don't work.

Advertisement

Freshman Kerstin Winestein says her faulty clicker keeps her from taking part in class and get valuable participation points. 

Winestein : For those whose clickers don't work we kind of just sit there and don't do anything in class because we don't have anything else to do.

On the other hand, some students with working clickers hand them to friends who attend classes for them. College officials say they're asking teachers to be more vigilant. They say there are technical glitches right now because the system is overloaded, and they're working to iron out the problems.

Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.