More schools are beginning to experiment with "clicker technology". It allows students to take quizzes and exams from their own desks without pencil and paper.

"It's better than writing it down on a piece of paper," said fifth grader Juan Trujillo.

Questions are projected onto a Smart Board. And each student is equipped with a calculator-like contraption called a responder.

"It's funner than taking quizzes on paper and it's not killing trees," said Agustina Martinez.

On the responder, the student can select their answers.

The students are challenged to answer correctly and quickly. The program even keeps track of the responses by student. This allows the teacher to see the deficiencies in learning.

"My students are more engaged, its interactive, and it's not paper and pencil activity," said teacher Laura MacBride.

The questions are typed in by the teacher in the same way a slide is made for a PowerPoint. Rob Gaertig, Principal at Roeding Elementary, brought in the technology at a cost of $1,500 per classroom.

"[The students] are interested, they're focused, we know learning is taking place when you can get instant feedback from students," said Gaertig.

Otto Benavides, a professor at Fresno State in the Education department, says he's encouraged when education moves in tune with technology. But he's also critical of the "clicker technology.

Benavides says there are too many publishers out there and compatibility can be an issue. Currently, there is no universal clicker to match with the many types of clicker programs.

In two years, Benavides expects it to be commonplace for students to use their phones to interact with teachers.