Some law students see the benefit of having this system, while others have an issue with the system’s technological problems and the price. Lize Rossouw, a second-year law student, sees the clicker system as “a splendid way to adapt to a future with so much technology in sight and a great way to make class interaction grow miraculously.” There are other students who have experienced the technical problem of the clicker system. Neo Motlhoiwa, third-year BA Law student, explained that in his KTR 211 lecture students could not connect to the lecturer’s receiver, causing a delay of around ten minutes. This prevented the class from doing a mock test. Prof. Kok acknowledged that the system is not yet working optimally but that he does not “think we could have expected that after a month.”
The price of the clicker has received a mixed response from students. Bookmark sells the QT Clicker for R776.50 and the RF LCD clicker for R555.95. For some it is a problem while others feel that the price can be justified by its benefits.
When considering all of the other student costs, Rebone Dikotla, a second-year LLB student felt “really inconvenienced by the price of a clicker.” Prof. Kok says that law firms have sponsored clickers that will be loaned to students with financial difficulties and who cannot afford a clicker. However there are students like Carli Vorster, a second-year BCom Law student, who acknowledge that “It’s expensive in addition to other study costs, but using it throughout the remainder of your studies makes it worth it.”
For now this is a new system that, like anything new, has flaws that need fixing and will take time for both lecturers and student to adapt to it. Prof. Kok encourages students to “enjoy the experience of doing something a bit different in class than the old style of just listening and taking notes.” He also says that the clicker system will very likely be extended next year to third-year and first-year law.
Photo: Hendro van der Merwe
