Students have a plethora of gadgets available to keep them hip to the latest trends and in contact with their buddies, but some students and professors are beginning to notice devices such as iPods, portable video games and laptops making their way into the classroom.
Though new technology can offer students opportunities to take better notes and become more involved in the lecture, computers and phones with wireless Internet access can act like a double-edged sword, cutting into lecture time with online games and instant messaging.
“Laptops, Sidekicks, text messaging, playing games on computers or phones ““ I’ve noticed that,” said Marty Cohen, a political science professor. “I’m sure if the alternative is not coming to class at all or daydreaming, there’s no difference.”
New technology adds to a long list of distractions that already take place in the classroom, said Tatevik Vardanyan, a third-year pre-psychology student.
Though Cohen said he does not believe the increased use of technology by students makes a difference to students who want to pay attention in class, Vardanyan said she sometimes finds other students’ behavior problematic.
“In my (Psychology 1) class … I’m looking to my right and some dude is eating sunflower seeds in class; I look to my left and some girl, who is obviously obsessed with cats, is looking at endless pictures of cats on her laptop; I look next to me and someone is texting,” she said. “Here I am assuming I have ADD because I can’t manage to take legible, detailed notes in class, but that’s not the case at all ““ it’s because of the distractions.”
Other students say having access to technology in the classroom can help them better understand lectures.
Clifford Galiher, a second-year pre-history student, said having his laptop in all of his classes is great because he can go online and look at course materials to follow along better.
“I bring my laptop to every class and take notes on it. I use it to visit the class Web site as well,” he said. “Other people text messaging is something I notice a lot, which I don’t do.”
This trend seems recent, Cohen said, adding that he notices freshmen fiddling with electronics more often than upperclassmen. Cohen also said he does not think the problem is so widespread that a policy should be implemented to stop it.
Brian Walker, a political science professor, said he has also noticed a trend toward technology use in the classroom, but is unsure of how to solve the problem.
“I’m trying to encourage students to realize that it’s rude and distracting to other students,” Walker said. “If someone is trying to attend lecture and there are 10 people in front of them accessing Facebook, gambling online or looking at YouTube, these are visuals … adding craziness to the room.”
Walker said if the trend continues, he would consider getting wireless jamming signals in his classrooms or looking into other ways to block wireless access such as a paint that is believed to block signals.
Though Tabi Habib, a third-year political science student, said she recognizes that using a laptop to message friends, browse the Web or play a game of solitaire can be distracting, she only turns to these activities when the professor is on a tangent.
“When I see the professor getting off topic I will search the Web or play solitaire,” she said. “I don’t think it’s that distracting, plus you bring (a laptop) to class for work purposes.”
But some professors, such as communication studies Professor Tim Groeling, say it is never acceptable for students to entertain themselves with computer games or other devices.
Groeling said he would never tolerate such behavior, especially with devices such as iPods or video games that he said have no educational value.
“Laptops and cells have a legitimate purpose in class and are harder to police. I can’t imagine a professor tolerating a person bringing a PlayStation portable to class,” he said. “I can’t imagine why people are in class in this situation ““ why not just stay at home?”
Vardanyan said she is trying to combat these distractions by arriving to class early in order to sit in front, but that tactic doesn’t always work or is not always feasible. She said sometimes she is still stuck in the back or middle of the classroom and, short of arriving to class 20 minutes early, there is nothing she can do.
There are some tactics professors can use to prevent students from using these devices, including shame, Groeling said.
“The texting with the cell phones is a big distraction, but this is sort of a middle level of evil versus playing a game, which is a high crime,” he said. “I think to some degree the professor can control these things, even in a 300-person class you can shame the people, and I would think that would stop them pretty quickly.”