NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Re: More professors banning laptop use in classrooms
You speak like someone whose not been in school a really long time. Most people in schools use laptops. Some people game with them, yes, but most of the people are getting a lot more out of the class. I was in a class just last night sitting with my laptop on my desk, listening to the class, and wikipediaing/searching things I didn't know and was interested in. Add the fact that there's better notes taken with a laptop, banning them (or internet) simply takes away from students. I've been thinking about using my phone in order to take notes and other such things of late, although mostly because it's a small computer, rather than because it's a phone. But - honestly - the banning of laptops is because people don't understand or empathize with the students, and also people who don't understand the way information is starting to flow. My hatred of the myth that laptops are the great evil for all of Studenthood is quite great. Perhaps by understanding and engaging the potential is better. Now, the two responses to this are simple: I am tempted to bring a manuel typewriter to class, to remind them why a computer is better. Secondly, I am paying the professor to teach me, not for them to arbitrarily choose HOW I am able to learn from them. If I choose to use a laptop, it's my money. Somebody claiming to be George Ou wrote: > I can completely understand why Professors would ban computers and phones. > The temptation to do something other than class is simply too great, and the > students are effectively cheating themselves. I took a speech class in fall > of 2008 at a junior college (first time in a school for 10+ years) and I was > a bit shocked. There was a kid in class that would bring his Alienware > Notebook with a massive brick adapter and plug into the back of the class > and play games the entire time. He couldn't speak or write a proper > sentence. It was a real eye opener to see what technology has done to this > generation of kids. > > A good way to attack this problem is to simply ask that students not access > any device with a screen by default, unless they specifically ask for > permission, or are given permission, or it's an absolutely emergency for > phone use. Most students know to obey this and if they continue to be > abusive, the professor is well within his/her right to ask the student to > leave and not come back until they're ready to follow the rules. There's no > need to shut off Wi-Fi or 3G access and we wouldn't want to because what if > there is an emergency like a crazy kid or professor with a gun shooting > people. > > > > George Ou > > -----Original Message----- > From: nnsquad-bounces+george_ou=lanarchitect.net@nnsquad.org > [mailto:nnsquad-bounces+george_ou=lanarchitect.net@nnsquad.org] On Behalf Of > Lauren Weinstein > Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 12:24 AM > To: nnsquad@nnsquad.org > Subject: [ NNSquad ] More professors banning laptop use in classrooms > > > More professors banning laptop use in classrooms > > http://bit.ly/da4MDZ (Washington Post) > > (Hmm. You can turn off Wi-Fi access easily enough. But blocking > cellular data legally in the U.S. that way? Nope.) > > --Lauren-- > NNSquad Moderator >