The days of handwritten notes are over. Technology has definitely earned a place in the classroom, and the professors that require their classrooms to power down are doing their students a disservice.
Take a quick look around any lecture hall. You’ll probably see a good chunk of students taking notes on their laptop, doing a web search on their iPad or maybe stealing a glance at Twitter or Facebook on their smartphones (yes, I’m guilty of that one).
There’s no way around it; technology has changed the classroom atmosphere.
Many professors and students agree that technology has numerous educational benefits. Students are saving money by buying textbooks in digital formats. EBooks often come with interactive features, allowing students to engage with the text in new innovative ways.
Instead of putting a presentation together using cutouts and poster boards, students can create stunning visuals with programs like Prezi and PowerPoint. Other web tools and applications like LiveBinders have allowed laptops to take the place of standard 3-ring binders and notebooks.
However, despite the many educational perks of technology, not every professor believes students benefit from a plugged-in classroom.
At Ohio University, instructors are still given room to create his or her own “electronics etiquette” policy — and without fail, every semester I have a professor that insists his or her classroom is a “technology free” zone.
A piece published in the New Yorker this past June supports anti-electronic classroom policies, referencing the famous Cornell University study from 2003 called “The Laptop and the Lecture.” In the study, half of the class was allowed unrestricted access to their computers during a lecture, while the other half was asked to keep their laptops closed. Researchers found that the disconnected students performed better on a post-lecture quiz, than the students who spent class on their laptops.
But it’s important to remember that study was conducted over 12 years ago.
It’s safe to say that most of us will be working with computers and online platforms post-graduation, so incorporating technology into the classroom seems like a necessary step. Although there will always be temptation to check Facebook during class, professors need to keep in mind that technology is used for more than social purposes. These gadgets help students learn, keep organized and stay connected to what’s happening in their field.
The days of handwritten notes are over. Technology has definitely earned a place in the classroom, and the professors that require their classrooms to power down are doing their students a disservice.
Maria Fischer is a junior studying journalism. Email her at mf628211@ohio.edu
