I settled in my desk on a warm Thursday afternoon in Hyde Hall at Plymouth State University for the third installment of a class required for my major, with a professor I’ve never had before. I had just bought a laptop this summer, and having previously owned a desktop, I was excited to be able to carry my computer to class with me. Because I type so much faster than I can write, it’s much easier to take notes with a computer. In addition, I’m more organized and use less paper.
Nobody else in the class had laptops, and I remember receiving some questionable looks from my classmates, but I was too excited to let this keep me from using my brand new Dell. However, I did question my decision when the look on my professor’s face told me I had made a mistake in assuming taking notes on my computer would be okay with him.
He continually looked over at me and my computer screen and when I offered an answer to a question we were struggling with in class, after looking it up online, he said loud enough for the entire class to hear, “Oh you’re actually doing something? I thought you were checking your e-mail.”
I was mortified. I have always been a good student. I pay attention in class, do my homework, and respect my professors. My professors almost always like me, so this comment made me feel like he might as well have just slapped me in the face. The unfortunate thing is this is not an isolated incident. While at first I was insulted, I wonder who can blame professors for being skeptical of students who use laptops when so many students use the resource for anything other than class work-we’ve all seen it. The use of technology in classrooms has become increasingly problematic as the use of cell phones, MP3 Players, and laptops become more and more frequent.
Plymouth State professors aren’t the only ones that have problems with laptops and other forms of technology. According to an article that appeared in the Boston Globe in June of 2006, more and more professors are banning laptop use in their classrooms, arguing that they are distractions for the professors themselves, the students using the laptops and their peers. Some colleges are even threatening to ban them in classrooms campus-wide. This includes prestigious schools such as Harvard. While it’s easy to understand where professors are coming from, it seems a shame to rob students of this valuable resource because some abuse it.
Laptop use in class as many advantages as well. Students have the Internet at their fingertips to use class materials that are online such as assignments and syllabi, as well as the option to look up words and do research. It’s easier for some students to take detailed notes with a computer because it’s much quicker to get thoughts down and keep those thoughts organized. From an environmental standpoint, using laptops as opposed to notebooks saves a lot of trees.
As Plymouth State students, there are a number of rules, which are outlined in this article, that we can follow to ensure professors don’t get the wrong idea about students who use laptops and other technology in their classrooms and guarantee that those who choose to use their laptops in class can still have that option without feeling embarrassed or singled out. There are also a number of things professors can do to ensure students use their techology appropriately.
While some professors allow MP3 Players in their classes during in-class writing, it’s a good idea to keep them off unless your professor specifically says it’s okay. If you do choose to use it, make sure you don’t have the volume on full blast- trust me, your classmates can probably hear it. And while this may seem obvious, don’t sing along, no matter how fantastic your voice is.
Generally it’s not necessary to turn your cell phone off in class, in fact, some colleges and universities are insisting professors allow students to keep their phones on during class because of the introduction of text message alert systems. Regardless of the college’s policies, be sure to put your phone on silent. It’s embarrassing for you and distracting to others when a phone rings in class. Be careful about putting it on vibrate, since this setting is often louder than a ring, especially if it’s resting against something hard in your backpack or purse. It’s NEVER okay to answer your phone or text in class. Not only is it distracting, but it’s rude, especially if your professor is in the middle of a lecture. Lastly, don’t constantly check your phone to see if someone called or even to check the time. To your professor it looks like you’re not paying attention.
Finally, but most importantly, students need to understand classroom laptop etiquette. According to Ryan Harris, a technology professor at the University of Dayton, the best way for professors to ensure students are using their laptops appropriately is to be upfront about it, “Set ground rules for wireless use in the classroom,” Harris said. That way a situation like the one in the beginning of this article would be less likely to occur because students would know up front exactly what their professor’s policy is on laptop use and etiquette. One way to do this would be to include a technology policy in the class syllabus.
If professors aren’t explicitly clear, students should know the general rules about laptop use. Jane Henerson, the e-Scholar Program Coordinator at Stout University in Wisconsin, sheds some light on the appropriate use of laptops in classrooms.
She suggests laptops should only be used as learning tools in classrooms, “During class, students should not check e-mail, browse the Internet, instant message, play games, or perform other off-task activities,” she said.
Because laptops can be such a huge distraction to students who use them, they should be sure they are still, “engaging in class activity actively. This includes making eye contact, paying attention and staying on task. The computer should not become a barrier to one-on-one interaction, but instead should help facilitate the exchange of ideas and engagement in classroom contact,” Henerson said.
As well, she suggested that students should, “use laptops for specific classroom tasks as assigned by the instructor including taking notes, conducting research required for activities, and other assignments,” and most importantly, “Demonstrate sensitivity to others. Students should not display screen images, including wallpapers and screen savers, which might be distracting or offensive to other members of the class,” she said.
Some universities are providing suggestions to their students to help them avoid frustrating their professors and classmates. Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania hands out a “Code for Laptop Etiquette” to its students, which includes suggestions such as, “Laptop volume controls should be set to mute or off before coming to class. Keep your laptop to the side so you can still see the professor during a lecture. Don’t look like you’re hiding behind your computer screen,” and “stay off the internet, keep out of games, and off instant messenger during class unless instructed otherwise by their professor.”
These suggestions may seem like common sense, but professors and administration wouldn’t be pushing towards banning technological devices in class if students weren’t abusing the privilege. So for the sake of your professor, classmates and future college students everywhere, follow these simple rules and think about your use of technology in the classroom as something more than personal.