Recently a debate has begun over students' use of laptops in classrooms and the effect they have on the learning process. Several professors at universities across the country, including Harvard Law, have banned laptops from classrooms, as many educators view these personal computers as hindrances to students' ability to retain information.
"They are such distractions," Harvard Law Professor Carol Steiker, who banned students from bringing laptops to class for the first time in the spring of 2006, said. "The students end up looking at their screens, and they are not looking at each other."
Certainly with wireless connectivity, the Internet is readily available with the click of a button and can easily distract students from the class lecture. However, is this enough to deny students the benefits that a laptop offers, such as the ability to take notes more quickly and a better medium for organization?
Charlie McGrath, FCRH '10, explained why he brings his laptop to class.
"It really depends on the class for me," he said. "In a class that I really feel I can easily obtain an A, I use my laptop primarily for Facebook, e-mail, Netflix, etc. However, if it's a class where you need to know detailed information, a class where notes are more useful than the textbook, or if I need to use verbatim information from the teacher to help with research papers, my laptop is primarily used for class notes."
Professor John Houston, associate dean of Fordham College of Liberal Studies and professor of history, said he understands the arguments made by those opposing the use of laptops in class but that there have always been distractions in the classroom.
"It all comes down to trust in the student," he said. "It can be confusing to know whether a student behind a computer screen is engaged in the class or not, but similar problems arise with notebooks, as well. A student may have his/her chemistry notebook out to study for a test later in the day instead of taking notes. It's the same problem educators have always had; these new machines have just changed our opinion of it."
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