The Fight for Classroom Attention: Professor vs. Laptop

By JEFFREY R. YOUNG

Some instructors ban computers or shut off Internet access, bringing complaints from students

Like a growing number of college students, Michelle Mei brings her laptop to most of her classes at Bentley College, using it instead of a spiral notebook to take notes.

Well, sometimes she takes notes — if whatever the professor is going on about seems important. At other times, she uses the wireless Internet access in the college's classrooms to do some online shopping or