Slashdot Mirror
Clickers Redefining Classrooms
markmcb writes "It seems that teachers may have a new way to boost classroom participation using a device called a clicker. A clicker is a small handheld device that allows its user to wirelessly respond to various prompts selected by a teacher. So when a teacher wants opinions on topics that people tend to shy away from like sex, religion, and politics, the question can be asked and the students can answer anonymously via the clicker. Everything from a simple poll to a graded quiz can be conducted using the device. In the age of cell phones and wireless computers such a technology is likely to be well-received by students, but one can't help but wonder if such a device will breed less assertive graduates who lack the will to stand up and voice their opinion on sensitive issues."
Yea, we use them sometimes down here at University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign). They rarely record the responses, are decently expensive, and while they say at the begining of the year the bookstores will take them back, they don't always, and then you're out the cash those damn things cost.
Yup, we used them in our physics classes as well (SFSU). We also have to "rent" them for the semester and it costs us $15, that we never get back.
These things take up valuable class time trying to get them to work in the first place, only work via line of sight... which you think wouldn't be a problem in a smallish classroom (if they are even working at all) and just are a huge distraction.
In short, they suck balls.
RTFA.
The article indeed goes over the problems that IR clickers have, but notes that they're being replaced by RF clickers which work much, much more reliably.
Wish they'd had something like this back when I was in college.
Editor Emeritus and Senior Writer, TeleRead.org