Computers (connected to Internet) could be a great distraction in class. Here is an article from the Washington Post about banning laptops in classroom.
Jinjing, I loved this article! I think it's totally true...for these reasons (and because typing is annoying) I have bannned laptops from my Spanish class. We do spend 1 day per week in the computer lab though, and I am sure they're not paying as much attention as they should. The temptation is much too great. And you know what? Grad students do it too!! ;)
Jinjing and Katie--I agree. This is an issue I've thought a lot about in my classes, where I usually don't allow laptops (unless we're using them for a specific in-class activity). And I think Katie's totally right--it's not just undergrads. If I'm honest, it takes a concerted effort for me not to just quickly check email when I've got the computer in front of me in class. But the Georgetown student quoted in the article is right. I'm not getting my money's worth out of my classes if all I'm doing is checking email or whatever else instead of fully participating. A question is, how do we get students to realize that?
I think it's a tough call, because college students are adults, and they should be able to make their own decisions. On the other hand, there's a lot of research showing that laptops distract more than they help. Maybe showing students the research will help them make the adult decision.
I'd say that computers are not the only distractors. There's the ipod, iphone, blackberry, too. In a language class I think that there's more control than in a lecture. Inn a language class Ss should practice more or an engaged in tasks. In a lecture, Ss are supposed to be taking notes.
I didn't have a laptop when I was an undergrad and was able to send msg to my friends and doodle or do something else...
I think a way to deal with this is to have an interesting class.
Jinjing, I loved this article! I think it's totally true...for these reasons (and because typing is annoying) I have bannned laptops from my Spanish class. We do spend 1 day per week in the computer lab though, and I am sure they're not paying as much attention as they should. The temptation is much too great. And you know what? Grad students do it too!! ;)
ReplyDeleteJinjing and Katie--I agree. This is an issue I've thought a lot about in my classes, where I usually don't allow laptops (unless we're using them for a specific in-class activity). And I think Katie's totally right--it's not just undergrads. If I'm honest, it takes a concerted effort for me not to just quickly check email when I've got the computer in front of me in class. But the Georgetown student quoted in the article is right. I'm not getting my money's worth out of my classes if all I'm doing is checking email or whatever else instead of fully participating. A question is, how do we get students to realize that?
ReplyDeleteI think it's a tough call, because college students are adults, and they should be able to make their own decisions. On the other hand, there's a lot of research showing that laptops distract more than they help. Maybe showing students the research will help them make the adult decision.
ReplyDeleteI'd say that computers are not the only distractors. There's the ipod, iphone, blackberry, too. In a language class I think that there's more control than in a lecture. Inn a language class Ss should practice more or an engaged in tasks. In a lecture, Ss are supposed to be taking notes.
ReplyDeleteI didn't have a laptop when I was an undergrad and was able to send msg to my friends and doodle or do something else...
I think a way to deal with this is to have an interesting class.