The issue: Three editorial board members share their viewpoints on whether or not students should have their laptops in class.
Sophomore year is when it really hit me. As I fell into the routine of my second year of college I realized: I am a real life adult with actual responsibilities.
Upon this realization, you can imagine my dismay as every single class I walked into on the first day of class had a strict no-laptop policy.
I understand the strict policies and why laptops are becoming increasingly banned in the classroom. The discussion professors have about cognitive abilities and laptop usage are important.
I have the utmost respect for our professors. Their classrooms are their domain and I trust their expertise in regard to teaching styles. But, with the knowledge of how laptops affect learning in class, students should then be able to make the decision on what is best for their individual needs.
There are a variety of reasons why a student may want to use their laptop in class. For some, it is necessary to save printing money by pulling up the readings to follow along in class. For others, using the diagrams on word processing applications can help them take effective, more comprehensive notes.
There’s an unspoken trust between professors and students. We, as students, trust them with our education and they trust us to make the most of the opportunities they present. It’s our job as students to use laptops as tools for learning and not social media machines during class time.
The best solution for this issue is to ask laptop users to sit near the back of the classroom if possible to avoid distracting other students or to have a note from the accessibility resources center regarding laptop usage.
With great power comes great responsibility, and it’s time for students to prove to professors they’re completely capable of paying attention in class.
