Laptops In Class: a Learning Tool or A Distraction?

Computers are very beneficial in classrooms and with technology skyrocketing, laptops have made it easier for students to work more efficiently.

However, are personal computers like laptops really a beneficial tool for students in classrooms or is it more of a distraction?

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Banning computers from classrooms

Some professors believe that laptops are a bad idea and should be banned from classrooms. Professors who believe so have good reason.

Many students become distracted in their classrooms because of laptops. Online entertainment such as Facebook, Twitter and online games are a distraction while professors are giving lectures.

For some students, online entertainment also reflects poor grades.

By banning laptops in classrooms, many professors believe that the attention span of their students will increase as well as grades.

Resourceful tool

However, many people, particularly students, believe that laptops are actually very important tools to use in the classroom.

With all the widgets and applications laptops offer, some students find it easier to take notes and to stay organize on a laptop.

Some students find it difficult to keep up with professors who talk too quickly and find that typing while listening is the only way to keep up in the classroom.

Other students find it easier to follow along with slides that are opened on their computer so they can take notes right on the teacher’s powerpoint presentation (assuming the notes are available online).

Laptops also offer programs that are very beneficial and vital for students such as math, language and study programs. There are online flash cards, study tutorials on YouTube and a whole lot of other sites that are great resources for students to use in and out of class.

Pros and cons

Both parties make a valid argument.

Some students do get very distracted in class because of all the entertainment options that are readily available to them, however, for some majors, laptops in the classroom can be very beneficial.

Students with majors like graphic design, for instance, find it very useful to have their own laptops in class.

Laptops are only a distraction if the student allows him/herself to get distracted. It’s all about the individual and how they choose to utilize their personal computer while in class.

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3 thoughts on “Laptops In Class: a Learning Tool or A Distraction?

  1. Very interesting post. The argument for/against laptops in the classroom is one I think will never be resolved.

    This article depicts both sides of the argument very well. As a recent graduate, I’m keen on having laptops in the classroom. I feel my learning and productivity in the classroom was very well augmented by my use of a laptop. I’m not even going to try to claim that I did not catch myself on the occasional g-chat convo or FB stalking session, which absolutely commanded my attention away from my professor’s teachings. However, I made certain to be aware of my digressions and limit them as much as possible.

    There are plenty of productivity tools available as chrome and firefox plugins to monitor your actions online. Or just turn your internet off completely. Most classes do not require internet to follow along. Simply take notes in your word processor or download the lecture slides ahead of time. Then you have to actually connect to the internet before you start browsing away from the lecture.

    If you are that keen on browsing youtube, facebook, twitter or the million other internet distractors during class, then so be it. Professors should stop worrying about the students who do not want to pay attention in the classroom (as long as they are not taking away from the lecture by distracting others) and focus on the students who want to become an integral part of the conversation in class. It’s the students’ money; they pay for the class time, so I suppose they should be able to waste it on mindless internet surfing.

    There are valid arguments for banning laptops in the classroom to keep kids focused on the lecture, BUT I feel the arguments for allowing laptops, the fundamental personal technology, into the classroom to augment productivity and learning greatly outweigh their distracting nature.

    So I say, Bring in your laptops – surf at your own peril.

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