Professors argue laptops distracting, insulting

In previous years, educators welcomed the new age of technology and encouraged students’ use of personal computers.

But now, laptop computers seem to be more of a distraction than an extension of the learning process.

Recently, adjustments in the price of computers have caused an increase in the number of students owning laptops.

Students argue note-taking on laptops is more efficient than writing notes by hand.
But professors found note-taking was a cover for what students were really doing during lectures.

Professor Glenn Gass, who teaches History of Rock and Roll classes in the Jacobs School of Music, said he used to enjoy the sight of computers because he thought it was a great way for his students to take notes.

His feelings quickly changed when he realized that wasn’t all students were doing.

“It drives me crazy as a teacher to see a bunch of glowing laptops, and they’re doing a bunch of things that aren’t related to class,” Gass said. “If you really want to learn, you can’t do something else while you’re listening.”

And for the people who argue in favor of multi-tasking, he said, he doesn’t buy it, except perhaps in everyday life — but not in the classroom.

Other schools have decided to take official stances on the increase in computers.
As a remedy to professors’ growing concerns that students’ laptop use distracts them and other classmates, the University of Chicago Law School decided to disconnect all Internet access in classrooms in 2008.

Without an official IU policy addressing laptop use, professors such as Gass and Michelle Mosely decide to rely on including a no-laptops rule in their syllabi.

Mosely, a lecturer at the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, shares the same sentiment as some of her more seasoned colleagues.

“I don’t allow laptops at all in my class,” she said. “It’s a distraction. I don’t even allow cell phones or laptops on their desks.”

Mosely, like Gass, has fairly large classes, and she said students in large classes believe themselves to be invisible in the crowd.

Mosely penalizes her students for using laptops or cell phones in her class, which results in a verbal warning,

deduction of participation points or students being asked to leave her classroom and not receive credit for that day.

Jennifer Kincaid, director of policy administration for the Office of the Vice President for Planning and Policy, said in an e-mail she was not aware of any policy or discussion regarding this issue.

Both Mosely and Gass expressed that if laptops could be used in a structured way, they could be a great resource.

However, with the way classrooms are set up, neither of them thinks it would work.
Both professors also said students using laptops during class is disrespectful.
The problem is not the laptops per se, but rather the compulsive behavior for students to check e-mail, visit social media sites, write papers for other classes or play games.

“It is not that most teachers are anti-laptops, because we all use them as a part of our everyday lives,” Gass said. “Professors are passionate about what they teach, and we want students to learn the information because we care.”