We live in the technology era where computers are our brainchild and the entire world of knowledge literally lay at our fingertips. Why, though, has this ability seemed to evade our perceptions of etiquette?
One Clock staffer was sitting in class when she was practically accosted by the professor for having her computer out. After the professor made some comment about how she was checking her e-mail and not actually using the computer to take notes (though she was in all truth taking notes on it) her face turned red. Embarrassed in front of the whole class for embracing technology seems an unjust punishment. Who was this professor to shed such bias and judge our staffer so severely? Professors should be more foreword thinking, right?
This editorial could have been just a rant about our professors’ lapse in judgment, but we cannot so quickly resent them. Our educators seem to have reason supporting their opinions of computers in the classroom.
A second staffer was sitting in her classroom when she experienced the frustration from the professor’s point of view. The topic of discussion was pretty important and seemed pertinent to the night’s assignment, so her full attention was on the professor. Or at least, she tried to focus her whole attention on the professor, but was rudely distracted by two girls all the way on the other side of the room discussing how they were unable to connect to the wireless. A second-long conversation one would assume reading this editorial. Person One: “Hey, I don’t have internet. Do you?” Person Two: “No.” But, unfortunately, this was not the extent, as they continued by discussing measures they could take to get access, followed by the sharing of something funny on one of their screens with the other party.
This second staffer, as she seems to take all of the classes in which computer etiquette is written in a foreign language, spoke of another experience, this time with a Mac user. The computer type may seem insignificant to one who has not been forced to write creatively in class while sitting next to someone playing with their Photo Booth capabilities. From experience, please know that poetry seems to flow less smoothly with the idiot next to you making weird faces at their computer. Note to Photo Booth user: you are only making yourself chuckle while those around you are creatively writing about how they want to throw your computer out the window.
We may seem to be turning on our peers, as we too should be forward thinking and in favor of computer use in the classroom. Our concern is that some of us have not yet learned how to function cooperatively in a technological world, and those of us who have are now being punished for it. Stop the madness people, and grow up.
-The Clock Staff