Law professor: Why I don't allow laptops in class

David Cole says he implemented the ban for two reasons: Note-taking on a laptop encourages verbatim transcription so the student no longer processes information in a way that's conducive to the give and take of classroom discussion. Also, laptops create temptation to surf the Web, check e-mail, or IM friends. Colleagues have accused Cole of being paternalistic, authoritarian or worse. (Washington Post)

Comments

[vksjk]

I think it's a sound classroom policy. Getting a strong legal education is paramount and the Socratic method is not well served when the classroom's full of distractions.

[V]

I've used my laptop in certain classes where the amount of information was so great that it was more efficient to take notes in that fashion than to write them-I can type faster than write. In any other classes, however, I agree. It's too much of a tempation and a distraction. It also retards class discussion because you have students hiding behind their laptops.

[V]

I'm actually a grad student at Gtown, but not at the Law School, so I've never met this prof. I do, however, know many others like him on the campus. I'm actually surprised more by his comments on the reaction from his colleagues-my guess is that they just don't have the moxie to enforce the same policy.

Laptops hadn't even been invented when I was in college. These spoiled, whiny brats need to get over themselves and do some actual schoolwork.

[oxhead]

Taking notes on a laptop may or may not be better than handwriting (I wouldn't know), but I agree with David Cole that allowing laptops with wireless capabilities into the classroom impedes the learning process.

[V]

Hey, anon, RTFA. The students quickly got used to the policy and actually felt it was worthwhile. It's his colleagues that are really giving him crap.

[V]

It is much faster, but it really disrupts the flow of any class that isn't designed as a pure lecture course. I used mine in a course last semester, but that was truly a lecture course.

[Nick]

I still bust out my laptop to take notes in Microsoft OneNote. That way they are written down and categorized. Otherwise I tend to write things down and put them in a notepad that I never refer to again.

[V]

Do you refer to them in OneNote? I often use my written notes for papers and such, so they do come in handy, bt often after the class I don't refer to any of the notes again...unless it becomes significant for another class. Written notes don't disappear if your hard drive crashes :D

[kate]

im currently in school, and most of our professors allow us to use laptops in class. the reason i dont is because i will use the computer to play games, download music, chat and check email....everything im not supposed to be doing.......

[V]

Yup, kate, just like what I do at work :D

My first year in grad school every member of our class had an intro course together. One of the guys always brought his laptop and surfed the internet during class. He didn't even bother to pay attention. It drove the rest of us nuts, but we didn't want to say anything because some of us used laptops to actually take notes, and we knew the prof would just ban them altogether if she knew. I would have carpal tunnel if I'd had to take that class without typing my notes!

[Swangirl]

My husband had one class in law school at Vanderbilt with a professor who had a similar policy. It became one of his favorites because the discussions were more intense and students were more engaged than distracted. But the rest of his classes DID require a laptop.

[Bryan]

I love MS OneNote.
"Written notes don't disappear if your hard drive crashes :D"
But they do if your house catches fire!
Seriously who doesn't have a backup solution now days? If you don't its your own fault!

[V]

Point taken, Bryan, it's true!

[boynamedsue]

the first anon comment is hilarious. Any innovation spoils. who cares if you can write faster with a ballpoint than with a quill? you brats have it too easy!

[lowercase becky]

i feel a little obsolete and antiquated. fifteen years ago, when i went to college in a cave, laptops were not only not recommended, they weren't allowed. the only thing you could use--with permissiion from the instructor--was a micro recorder. we were allowed to use calculators in math classes. but i found it more instructive to do the work on paper. so, am i missing something here? of course, i can understand with the size of the classes, and the probable length, that these days it would be handy. but i thoroughly understand and agree with what this professor is trying to accomplish.

[Cameltoes]

I ALWAYS take my laptop to class. Of all my classes, I have only met one who prohibited the use of laptops in class.
I don't see what the big deal is. If someone takes a laptop to class and uses it to surf the web or IM friends, so what? If that student fails, he only has himself to blame.
I have been guilty of surfing the web on my laptop during class. Being stuck in a classroom for 4 hours is pretty boring, and every once in a while I need a mental break.
As long as the student isn't there giggling and distracting others who are trying to take notes or listening to the lecture, then no harm no foul.
In my opinion, cell phones are a bigger distraction in class than laptops.

[run me my money]

I realized one day as I wrote out my tuition check. . .I'M PAYING THEM! Now, this seems simplistic, but when you think about it the professors should shut up and teach. The goal is to learn and demonstrate the correct knowledge, retention and application to get a passing grade. As long as I'm paying and not being disruptive to my the class, who cares what we bring to class to help us take notes? BTW, I did not have a laptop in college. . .

[Max_Power]

>I'M PAYING THEM
For what?
You're paying them to teach you.

You pay a doctor to treat you. Do you the doctor HOW to treat you?
Why are you telling the instructor HOW to teach you?

If you don't like the policy, pick a new school.

Back in my day, laptops ran for 10 minutes on a charge and porn looked like this:
/(o)(o)\

Sorry to subject everyone to the nudity.

In all fairness, I'd probably fuss about the policy too, but I understand that I'm that instructor's student and gotta submit to his style.

[lowercase becky]

max:hahahahah. hahahahah!hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!

Teachers are there to teach.
Students are there to learn.
Laptops are just a tool.
Tests/papers are supposed to show whether you understood.

Every instructor has his/her own teaching style, if the class was meant to be really interactive, I can understand banning the laptops. OR the teacher can give marks for class participation and NOT have to enforce any policy.

What's going to happen when these students reach the work force? Is there boss going to be forced to enforce a No Internet policy? What am I going to do then?
:)

Among the things that schools (and parents for that matter) should be teaching kids is discipline.

Ace.

[AngrySockMonkey]

waahhh! now i have to use a pen! waahhh!!
i still havent put down my crayons yet!!! waahhh!!

teacher: good job

student: shut your facial orifices and learn for a change

[Jaycatt]

I always preferred tiny tape recorders anyway, in class. Especially during the "class before the test" days, where all the test material would be covered in the hour and a half. Best study aid was just listening to that cassette every day for the week.

[JimmyVa]

Bring back the f*ckin' slide rule and you'll see these students whine, whine, whine!!!! Give it a rest.

My guess is they are checking e-mail, the internet and IM during class. Kudos to the teacher.

[Tape]

Laptops are practically required, but taperecorders are banned at my law school.

[Sean, Torrington CT]

Being a CompSci grad student, they encourage the use of laptops and electronic documents!

[robry]

i believe, that with a laptop students can accomplish a lot more then they did when they used pencil and paper. laptops are meant to enhance learning, if the person doesnt use it its their loss. its a win lose situation, which is dependant on their behaviour.

[mary]

I personally prefer not to take notes on a laptop, so this would not affect me except for the fact that any time someone in one of my classes is using a laptop in class, it is incredibly distracting to me. It is particularly a problem when they are doing something other than taking notes and I am sitting behind them. I am not purposely eavesdropping, but when you are in a boring lecture and there is something moving and colorful in your line of vision, it is incredibly distracting. If the person is sitting behind me and I cannot hear the typing, I'm fine. But I can imagine that it would be very distracting for the teacher because they are seeing a sea of computer backs instead of their students' faces, making it harder for the teacher to tell if the students are comprehending what they are saying.