Issue date: 9/3/08 Section: News

The Turning Point Program is being used as Eastern new classroom response system that requires student to purchase a Response Card keypad (shown above) for $35. Many students are not happy with the price of the Response Card keypad. (Karla Browning / The Daily Eastern News)

Ashley Bertocchi is not happy about purchasing a Response Card keypad for the Turning Point program used in her psychology class.

"I think it's stupid because it tracks your attendance and it should be your own choice to attend class or not," said Bertocchi, a sophomore early childhood major.

Bertocchi is frustrated with buying different supplies she thinks should be offered in the Textbook Rental Fee.

For her major, Bertocchi has to purchase other computer programs and has to pay to take certification tests, she said.

Purchasing the Response Card would be another added expense, she added.

Turning Point is Eastern's new classroom response system that is used for taking attendance, quizzes and tests.

The program runs through PowerPoint and turns regular presentations into slide shows, allowing students to use the program by the click of a button.

Professors have added the Turning Point program to the syllabus along with the keypad. Classes with Turning Point are required to purchase the Response Card keypad at the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union bookstore for $35.

John Henderson, director of instructional technology services, said students may be able to find the keypad on eBay for a different price.

This fall, 26 classes will use this program in the psychology and education departments.

Psychology professor Joseph Williams is using the Turning Point program for the first time this semester.

"The system allows me to pre-assess students to gauge beforehand knowledge of the topic," Williams said. "I can then test for understanding following the lecture presentation."

Williams said he believes the software program makes the class more engaging.

Henderson said it is up to the professors to allow students to view the content on the screen or to change an answer.

Jamila Anderson, sophomore psychology major, believes this program is unnecessary.

"I guess Eastern has to keep up with rest of the world because it's becoming so dependant on technology," Anderson said. "But students shouldn't have to pay for their upgrades."

Because this is Williams first semester using this program, he does not know how successful it will be.

"But, if it is even half of what I've seen in classes that have used it, I'll be very satisfied," Williams said.

Although Michele Haber, senior Family and Consumer Sciences major, is not using Turning Point this semester, she is also disturbed with the cost of the ResponceCard keypad.

"Personally, I don't understand why we can't do things the old fashion way," Haber said. "If these remotes will be required in more classes, I think they should be something that can rent from textbook rentals."

Eastern will host a discussion on Turning Point at noon Oct. 21 in the Paris Room of the union.

Brittni Garcia can be reached at 581-7942 or at bmgarcia@eiu.edu.

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