Some students sit outside the classroom door, click, then leave. Other students give their clickers to classmates and ditch class completely.
But the bottom line is, too many students are abusing this newfangled technology in order to abuse their ability to learn.
This year, MU decided to update its clicker technology to the new i>clicker2, which is designed as a reliable and simple form to provide class input or take attendance. Many MU professors will ask a question at the beginning of class, and students are expected to provide a clicker response, either as a quiz grade or a means of taking attendance.
Clickers can be purchased online or at the bookstore and need to be registered by that student.
Students have gone centuries without using the infamous clicker. What happened to going to class purely because we want to learn? We are pouring money and time into getting a college education, and a student wanting to go to class will do so without a clicker. Having a clicker to take attendance not only seems juvenile, but it takes the intrinsic value out of education.
Clickers also present a hassle in terms of technology. Sure, these new clickers are more reliable, but that doesn’t mean they are completely free of errors. What we don’t want to see is professors spending 10 minutes of precious class time trying to figure out how to connect the clicker. Even waiting for each clicker to connect to the system can be time consuming. Relying on each and every clicker to work is stressful and unnecessary.
Further, the new clickers cost $43.99. This is more than $40 that could be spend on books, tutoring and additional activities, rather than a way to take attendance.
Of course, professors have the right to use a clicker, but there are better ways to use it.
If you want to take a vote on test dates, by all means use the clicker. If you want to play a massive game of Jeopardy, definitely use the clicker.
All we ask is that you please click responsibly.
To the students, don’t lose the intrinsic value of your education just because you feel like the difference between passing and failing lies in a tiny clicker.
And to the professors, please consider why this technology is beneficial to us. If you’re going to make us use clickers, use them because there is some educational value, not just for taking attendance.