The issue: Laptop use in class can be a contentious issue. Some argue that laptops can be distracting and that professors reserve the right to ban their use outright. Others believe that laptops aid in the learning process and students should have the right to use them in class. In today’s Viewpoints, two members of the DTH Editorial Board debate their side of the issue.
Students can make own decisions
The decision to bring a laptop computer to class should be the student’s, not the professor’s.
Laptops have become a valuable learning tool that shouldn’t be banned simply because some users might be distracted, it’s a personal choice that should be made by the student.
It’s understandable that a professor would want to have a level of autonomy within the classroom. Class time should be utilized in an orderly fashion that allows each student to get the most out of the course material.
But this isn’t high school. University students are adults who have the right to make their own decisions as long as they don’t disrupt the flow of class or harm others.
Many students not only use their computers to efficiently take notes but also to supplement class material with information online.
Clearly, there are some caveats to this right. For example, if a professor demonstrates that a student repeatedly detracts from others’ learning experiences within the classroom, an exception can be made.
But otherwise, the decision to use a laptop within class should be a personal one. Even if a student is using the Internet for uses unrelated to class, that is still the decision of the student. A professor cannot force a student to pay attention if he or she does not want to.
If laptops weren’t considered such a valuable tool for learning, the University wouldn’t require every undergraduate student to own one.
In fact, a study conducted several years ago at the United States Military Academy at West Point demonstrated that the use of laptop computers improves performance on tests.
The study concluded that entering freshman scored higher on exams in an entry level psychology course when they were allowed to bring laptops to class
Students should be given every chance by professors to excel in their coursework, even if that means the student may become distracted by his or her computer.
The modern classroom is becoming a digital environment, and so a professor’s ability to incorporate laptop computers into courses is becoming essential.
By banning laptops, professors stifle movement toward this digital environment.
But what’s more important than moving with this trend is retaining the rights of students. If laptop use doesn’t affect others, this right should exist as a formal university policy that allows laptops unless a professor has a compelling reason to ban them.
Christian Yoder
Professors can dictate laptop use
Professors and teaching assistants apply a bevy of restrictions to their classes to ensure that students learn the course material efficiently.
In some cases, this means prohibiting the use of laptops during class.
While plenty of valid reasons for banning laptops exist in a classroom setting, the bottom line is that our professors should reserve the right to specify what classroom tools are acceptable based on how they prefer to conduct their classes. Professors are the backbone of a university’s prestige. Many of UNC’s professors are highly respected in their fields, and they conduct research to which UNC is able to attach its name. These professors teach classes to share their wealth of knowledge with students, and students should trust that they know how to best teach their material. If that includes restriction of laptops to either prevent distraction or ensure discussion, the decision should be respected.
When professors assign certain books or teaching aids for a class, students heed the requests. If a professor announces that bringing food to class causes distractions, students take note of this and eat before they show up. If someone is caught filling out a crossword puzzle or the daily sudoku, the student is told to put it away and everyone else follows suit.
Mandating that laptops are to be left at home, however, always seems to generate complaints. But professors have legitimate reasons for restricting laptop use while they are teaching.
Quite often in large lectures, bored students use their computers to engage in a game of solitaire, a session of Facebook stalking or an inspection of what is in their Google calendar for the upcoming weekend.
These types of activities can distract the classroom. And professors are forced to assume the role of kindergarten teachers when they stop class to remind their students to pay attention.
The case against laptop use is even greater in small classes, whether they are seminars or recitation sections. Students are generally encouraged to engage with their professors and peers in these classes and it can be difficult when laptops are in use.
Taking notes with pencil and paper should be no foreign concept to students. Many of us did not have access to computers during class until coming to college, and while having a laptop to take notes is nice, it is an unnecessary luxury which in some cases causes distractions.
Students should accept the requests of professors who ban laptops, and the University should not interfere with a professor’s decision.
George Drometer
