Should we be using technology in classrooms?

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Connections (the New York Times game) may be fun, but it is probably not a required assignment. Do yourself and your classmates a favor and do it on your own time!

Every professor has their own policy on whether electronics —like tablets or laptops— are allowed in their classrooms. Some classes allow students unrestricted access to their devices, while others have an “off and away” policy and will call you out if they see them. Students may have their own preferences, but which one is ultimately better for student learning?

The benefits of having tablets and laptops in the classroom seem fairly obvious and straightforward. Typing your notes is significantly faster than trying to write them down, so you may be able to record more lecture information. Many people also access texts for their classes on their devices, so being able to use their laptops might allow them to follow along in class discussions and participate more fully. 

Technology can also facilitate collaboration through shared documents or discussion boards. It can also allow students to better understand and build skills with technology. We, having grown up using technology, tend to understand intuitively how it works; further developing our skills, though, in such a digital world, may be useful in our future. 

So, then, why would some students prefer a classroom in which technology is not allowed? As someone who tends to fall into this category, I might be biased. Nonetheless, the classes I have taken in which laptops were not allowed —with potential exceptions— have been some of my most engaging and interesting. Students, myself included, may find themselves incredibly distracted when allowed full access to their laptops. It is easy to find other things to do; it may be difficult to avoid searching for a game to play, other classwork to get started on, or a friend to text. I personally have been in several lectures and seen at least two people in front of me playing chess while the professor taught. Technology is distracting— and even if you're not the one pulling out the New York Times games, seeing someone else play it is distracting, too.

In terms of learning how technology works, we also have no shortage of technological access outside of the classroom. Generally speaking, we are constantly working with technology and the internet. Taking technology out of the classroom —and for approximately 1-2 hours of our lives— will not hinder our understanding of it. It may actually be beneficial to have a forced break from our devices. Constantly looking at screens and working with technology is not good for us, and according to Harvard Health, doing so —while not actually physically harming your eyes/eyesight— may contribute to significant eye strain. If a class can be performed successfully without the use of laptops or tablets, why keep them rather than provide students with a (perhaps forced) break from the screens they are constantly staring at?

Ultimately, you have your own reasons for your preference, and your professors have their reasons for their policies. Just make sure to respect the classrooms you’re in— and if you do find laptops preferable in your classes, try not to venture too far away from class material, despite how tempting it may be to open the New York Times crossword. If you do plan on completing it in class, despite my warnings— at least make sure to turn off your volume. You don’t want to deal with that embarrassment.