Hundreds of San Diego State freshmen are clicking their way through lecture classes this semester. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.
More than 4,500 SDSU freshman are required to use a device called The Clicker in their large lecture classes. The Clicker is a hand-held, wireless keypad that looks like a calculator. Professors use clickers to take attendance or when they want to ask the entire class a question. Students key in their response and the information is sent directly to the professor's laptop. College officials say clickers get students to show up and participate in class. SDSU student Laura Fischer says The Clicker helps her stay focused in psychology class.
Fischer: It makes me understand and do questions as we're learning it, and not just go home and review.
Students have to pay $35 to use the device for a semester. But not all students are happy with the new technology. They say it costs too much and all the technical bugs still have to be ironed out. Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
