Mr. Daniel Picker
English 101-804/3:30 p.m T/TH
2 March 2013
Should Professors Permit Laptop Use In The Classroom?
A laptop computer is a lightweight computer that’s small enough to be transported with you wherever you go. The majority of college students use a laptop because it makes studying, taking notes and doing homework much easier. When professors put notes up on the board, they expect you to write it down. Physically writing it down helps the brain remember what is on the board. So what is the difference if you type it? Your brain is still processing the information as if you were writing it. Students will tell you themselves that its a lot easier to type notes than write notes. With today’s generation, most students can type faster than they can write. As an adult, it is your own responsibility to want to learn and to want to better your education. “You’re paying for your education, whether you learn or not is ultimately up to you” is a saying commonly used by most college professors and I agree with that statement which brings me to my first point; most students are encouraged to think for themselves and do for themselves, so why are professors upset when they make their own decision to not listen, or tune them out during a lecture.
Professors argue that the upraised laptops can prevent them from making eye-contact with other students because they’re looking at the lids. Elena Choy stated “the majority of my students, even in a big lecture course are not using laptops and therefore I can make plenty of eye-contact” (Stubbs and Barnet, 272). With today’s technology, there are tablets and iPads and even notebooks. The majority of students bring their tablets or notebooks to class because it’s easy to use and easy to carry. With a notebook, the lids low enough for the professor to still maintain eye contact while the students takes notes. Although most students carry laptops or tablets, there are still some students that would prefer to write their...