March 29, 2006
Do Lots of Professors Ban Computers?
June Entman, the law professor at Memphis University who banned laptops from her classroom, said in an e-mail message to The Chronicle this week that she's not alone in taking a stand against computer use during lectures.
"During last week's brouhaha about the matter, I heard from law professors at Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, University of Texas, Widener, and Pace who have also banned laptops for much the same reasons. One had done so three years ago," Ms. Entman wrote. She said that newspaper accounts "blew the events all out of proportion."
The story is getting blown to greater levels of proportion today, thanks to a mention on The Drudge Report. But is laptop banning common on campuses? Do you or other professors at your college stop students from using computers during class? Is this something that more professors should do? We'd like to hear your views for a possible follow-up article.
Posted on Wednesday March 29, 2006 | Permalink |Comments
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There are teachers who actually use the computers in class to make the class more interactive and a better learning experience. Tools like Conference XP for example can make the laptops powerful learning tools. I don’t see how banning laptops will help. If a professor cannot keep their students attention they will sleep, doode or just stop listening anyway.
— Alfred Thompson Mar 29, 11:45 PM #
Indiana University promotes the use of laptops and technology. Visiting the lawschool, it is less likely to see a student without their laptops then with them. As a doctoral student, I could not imagine not having my pc in class and thankfully, this is promoted by the faculty.
— Johnnie Meadors Mar 30, 10:31 AM #
In many cases laptops may actually be a useful learning tool. Still, when I want a student to listen to what others are saying and actually process that information rather than just record the information, then a laptop is a distraction.
— Terry Clarke Mar 30, 10:38 AM #
In my literature and writing classes, I place a premium on discussion and working together in groups. Not only do I ban laptops, I also require that cellphones be turned off. Anything less than this results in what is called “continuous partial attention” on the part of the students, to the detriment of the learning process.
— douglas haneline Mar 30, 11:35 AM #
As an academic technology staff member/adjunct philosophy instructor I have learned that there is a a time and a place for the judicious use of laptops and Ipods. If you are encouraging Socratic interaction in a place-based environment, for example, then listening, speaking, reflecting, and dialectical exchanges require focused attention. Laptops, cell-phones, and other devices are distractions.
— Douglas Borcoman Mar 30, 12:04 PM #
The key clicks alone are as distracting as student side conversations. In other faculty’s classes I have observed (graduate) students surfing the web and checking email during lectures [just before their cell phones go off “accidentally” and they rush from the room talking to the callers]. Goodby manners, hello Six Flags Over Me. To avoid the laptops, I make class presentations and notes available in hard copy only. The classes are fast-paced enough that they do not have time to goof off without missing something important. Strangely, with this traditional teaching approach I often receive the best student evaluations in the department.
— Richard Barr Mar 30, 12:43 PM #
Ok, if you want to ban laptops when teaching the 18 year old freshman, that is fine. Graduate students, however, are a different breed. I am taking an eCommerce class & the professor tried to pull this off. Can you imagine? When you are 30 years old grad student and a professor tries to ban laptops, it makes him look silly and lacking control of the classroom/lecture.
— Matt McCulley Apr 1, 07:41 AM #