http://www.thebigmoney.com/articles/diploma-mill/2010/04/20/blackboard-versus-keyboard?page=full

Okay, this is just a BS move. So WHAT if some students are using laptops for goofing off instead of paying attention? Not every student is guilty of this and under no circumstance is it right to punish the innocent students for the actions of the guilty! Furthermore, why does anyone even CARE if students are failing themselves because they can't stop effing around and actually be academically diligent? Personally, I don't believe the idea that "professors are responsible for the students' grades". The only ones responsible for the students' grades are the students themselves. If a student can't pay attention in class, then maybe college (or that class at the least) isn't right for him/her. We have a whole lot of blue collar jobs I'm sure you'll do quite nicely in. I've always needed a new plumber.

Laptops, netbooks, etc... are a very util tool in class. Take myself and my netbook for example. My writing is HORRENDOUS. I cannot write legibly and quickly. If I am to take notes of what goes on in class, the only way I can do so is by typing it. I can type at over 60 words per minute if I have to. That's about twice as fast as I can legibly write. Take into consideration one of my classes goes VERY fast when discussing subjects, if not for my netbook I wouldn't have ANY notes (well, we have downloadable powerpoints but if I don't write the notes myself I'll never remember the information).

Do I goof off in class? Not really. Before class starts and during occasional breaks (2h45m classes FTL) I will browse the web (usually Digg or CollegeHumor [lol irony?]) but during actual class time, the only thing I ever do other than listen and take notes is chat with one person whom I hardly get to chat with on school days. And even then, I only reply during moments where I don't have any notes to take (prof reiterating something, I finished copying the powerpoint slide and understand the material, etc). I (almost) always put school ahead of fun during class.

Ugh, if I end up at a university that bans laptops/etc from classrooms, I don't know what I'll do.

I agree one hundred percent with you here, Keith. Ever since I've had a laptop to call my own I've used it in nearly every class. I can read my handwriting fairly well, but as an engineer my classes are very heavy on equations and diagrams, so I always get myself a Tablet PC for taking notes, saving myself piles of paper that I'm just going to eventually lose otherwise. And sure, I've been known to get distracted and write code if I'm learning something I already know, but I agree that that's my prerogative, and I assume responsibility for any detriment to my grade if I do so.

Impressive.



QFT. At my school you're required to bring your laptop to class (all of the ECE ones anyways).

Also, if if students are goofing off in class and just generally don't care what's going on, then why bother showing up for the lecture?

Same here, I am required to bring my Laptop to my ECE class and my GEEN classes which make up most of my class list. If I start IRC'ing or get generally distracted and miss somthing it is my fault. Banning laptops, phones or other electronics is not going to solve the problem of boring professors or students who don't care.

tldr, but my econ prof won't let people use laptops. I hate taking notes by hand. He even made one kid go out into the hallway because he had to schedule classes during class.

If people goof around with laptops, is removing them meant to stop them goofing around? because that's not going to happen, they will just find other ways to waste time.

Phones. I could easily do it.

The distraction potential of all of my stuff that I bring to classes basically makes any attempt to force me to study laughable.

That said, I do care about my study, and we are allowed laptops in every class here.

Also, in Australia *all* Year 9 students and above have netbooks and so do teachers which are "encouraged" to use them in class to aid learning.

I had a huge laugh one day when I was "Junior Clerk" (You go into administration and do stuff for them for 3 hours) and 1 student was in a Assistant Principle office questioning why there were picure (ie porn) on his laptop.

Which then brings us to Australia's view on cencorship. You can not install ANYTHING on the laptops, Administrative access is blocked out, the laptops have tracking tags inside, BIOS protection (No live linux booting) yet some kid put images on it.... what a shame there plan crumbled to peices.

I never saw a single person using a computer in lectures or classes. Then again, lecture notes were always provided on paper first, so all you'd need to do is scribble your own notes in the margin. Maybe they work differently outside the UK. *shrugs*

Whoa, interesting. I've had very, very few teachers provide lecture notes, and if they have, it's always after the class session so that you still pay attention. I think if they gave them out beforehand at my school people would jsut get them and leave.

What about students who fail because they're seriously ill, and can't keep up with the workload? Is it their fault they got sick?

...no, those students take a leave of absence ...

A friend of mine does this, actually. The notes are all available online, actually, so he doesn't even go to class. Not quite sure how he's passing the class if he never goes... I'm not worried about it though, it's not me.

My professors usually give notes during. They'll literally put the word document on a projector and we'll type them out as he scrolls and discusses them.

It depends on how comprehensive the notes are and if he's familiar enough with the material to not need it explained by some old guy way past his prime



lol wtf?

What if they have Parkinson's, do they not deserve an education then?

Most people with Parkinson's would let the university know that they needed special class requirements. You can't just fuck over the entire education system because a few outliers can't take notes.

Some classes at my school still have attendance policies.


Calculators Or just draw cubes ^_^

Actually, I prefer more interesting polyhedra, or seeing how many seconds I can tick off without getting distracting.

It would be understandable if we were talking about High School, where the majority students are likely to be incompetent and lack motivation and work ethic and need to be taught, but if a college student decides to dick-around in class and waste his tuition, then I'd say let him/her. That's his/her money, his/her future, etc... (s)he's an adult now, (s)he'll learn... Or not... and then he won't get anywhere. But hey, it weeds out the idiots, amirite?

hey i am almost in high school and i am very motivated cause i just think if i do bad i become a hobo livin in a box


i resent your statement