In 1952 the College of Engineering tried out the use of a “student reaction meter” in its classes. Unique in the South, and perhaps in the nation, the system had a meter connected to push buttons at students’ desks. Students who did not understand the material being presented pushed the buttons, which set the needle on the meter quivering and allowed the professor to ascertain how many students were not understanding the material and go back and re-explain. The device was suggested by Dean of Engineering N. W. Dougherty and built by professors C. H. Weaver (later, dean of engineering and, subsequently, UT Knoxville chancellor) and W. O. Leffell of the Electrical Engineering Department. It was first used in elementary engineering drawing courses.