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However, students do not always approve of clicker use. The principal
complaints reported nationally (Caldwell, 2007) relate to the following
problems:
• Some clickers cost too much.
• Some instructors do not explain the purpose of using the clickers.
• Some instructors spend too much class time using the clickers.
• Some instructors let clicker use drive the course content.
• Some students are anxious about having their course grades depend, to
some extent, on their use of an electronic device.

Of these concerns, all except the one related to the cost of the clicker refer
to how instructors integrate the clickers into the course content. As many
commentators suggest, schools need to provide training for instructors that
covers technical questions not only about how to operate clickers and related
software but also about how to use them effectively in teaching the course.
We concluded that the most useful data we could obtain would relate to what
price CMSU students thought was reasonable. A review of the sites of the four
leading manufacturers of clicker systems (Turning Technologies, eInstruction,
iClicker, and Qwizdom) shows that pricing can vary, depending on the pricing
model the vendor uses. For instance, some companies (such as Turning
Technologies) charge a one-time price, with no fees for registering the clicker
so that it can be used. Other companies (such as eInstruction) charge once for
the clicker but have a per-semester registration fee. In addition, commentators
(University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, n.d.) point out that some vendors have
established relationships with textbook manufacturers so that the clickers are
packaged with selected textbooks. Finally, some schools have entered into
contractual relationships with clicker vendors that call for a particular price for
students at that school. Therefore, it is impossible to answer the cost question
simply.
We therefore decided to try to determine the one-time price that students would Here, again, the writers explain
find reasonable for a clicker. Although CMSU might not in fact be able to the logic of their methods. They
achieve a one-time price contract for the clicker, the answer to this question will decided to focus on what they
at least give the university an idea of student attitudes about price. We selected think is the most appropriate
a price ranging from zero (for students who wish to express an opposition information: student attitudes
to having to buy a clicker at any price) to approximately $60. (At this time, toward the price of the click-
Quizdom’s clicker, at $66.55, represents the high end of prices.) ers. Questions related to how
instructors use clickers will be
We wrote the following one-question questionnaire for the 11,324 currently addressed in Dr. Bremerton’s
enrolled undergraduate students. larger study.

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