Class Technology at KSU

Inside a KSU lecture hall, students in Dr. Gwenn Volkert’s 9:15 a.m., Introduction to Computer Science course use their cell phones during class.

Professor Volkert says the decision to use the software began years ago.

“I originally used the “Turning Technology’s clicker system, I would say, six or seven years ago, when class size started getting really big.” 

As wireless technology progressed, Volkert implemented an additional software app called, “Tophat”.

“What happens in the ones where there using apps, whether it’s “Top Hat” or “Turning”, is they have a nicer interface, in the sense that’s a typical smartphone interface,” Volkert said. 

Students sign in and throughout the lecture, answer questions on their devices, from Volkert. 

KSU Graduate Student, Electra Barett, enjoys the apps’ simplicity. 

“I like it because it makes it simple, it’s a lot faster since you don’t have to pass paper around,” Barett said. 

 Art History Major, Brian Schmuck, looks forward to using his device. 

“There’s a lot of use for this, I’m looking forward to using it this semester,” said Schmuck. 

However, there is a downside to using the software.

“It was pretty clear to me, that people were gaming the system. I would have a certain number of students in the room and they were using “Turing” I’d get an attendance count and when I looked at the records later in the day, there’d be like 10, 15 number higher!” Volkert said.

Now the software asks for the user’s location, leaving some students uncertain. KSU Junior, Hannah Smith, ponders over the unknown.

“If you didn’t close the app immediately whether you know, you walk to your next class and it’s still tracking you.” Said Smith.

Other students feel possible surveillance is inevitable. 

Barett says, “I’m not really paranoid about that kind of stuff, I mean, I guess you’re being tracked all the time.”

Volkert says, when users are geolocated the information is discarded. 

“Once it’s marked you, “geolocated” or “not geolocated”, it never checks your geolocation again.” Said Volkert. 

According to Top Hat’s Privacy policy, certain information may be retained. However, steps can be taken to ensure information is “de-identified”. 

Other students feel the resolution is simple.

“You have control of it, so it’s not to be freaked out about. Use it in the classroom. Turn it off when you leave.”

KSU student, brian Schmuck