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Show DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE August 2010 C5 Laptops should be banned from classrooms Technology has advantages, but it detracts from learning environment very student knows how hard it is to pay attention in class sometimes. Focus can be lost with every sneeze of a fellow student, the vibration of a cell phone coming from a backpack, or the clicking of laptop keys from a neighbor. Laptops are useful tools that can provide students with precise notetaking and instant research. However, they can also be major distractions. We are stepping into the generation of technology—the age of gadgets. Laptop use grows with each semester. Alf Seegret, a professor in the English department, said, "In some of my classes in recent years, up to 25 percent of students have used laptops." There are many reasons a keyboard works more efficiently than long hand. Typing is more accurate, and words can be spelled correctly with the push of a button. It is also easier to understand, which eliminates worrying about bad or hurried handwriting. Typing is also faster. The average typing speed of college students is between 48 to 55 words per minute. There are advantages to laptops, but there are also some drawbacks. Many professors believe that laptops are an annoyance. Students get distracted by instant messaging, surfing the Web and sites such as Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and Twitter. It is important to note that many teachers have noticed this disruption and have made students with laptops sit on the sides or at the back of the classroom to alleviate some of this interference. "I teach English courses that depend on constant interaction between students and the instructor to make the course come alive," Seegret said. "The 'teacher as sender, student as receiver' model of instruction is simply the wrong metaphor for such courses. E Senior, English Laptops reinforce the wrong metaphor by becoming glorified dictation devices and serious It's time to get ready for winter. With 64 named runs, three bowls and over 1,200 acres of terrain, Solitude offers a whole lot to look forward to. Purchase all, the only thing that beats a day of Solitude, is a whole season of it. distractions from in-class discussion. But I'm not at all convinced that they are useful in classes where the purpose is to create dialogue between the teacher and students." Interaction between professor and student is limited because students' faces are hidden behind computer screens. This is frustrating for professors trying to teach in college classes. Many universities have already taken action by prohibiting the use of laptops in class. Schools such as George Washington University, American University, College of William and Mary and University of Virginia have banned laptops. In my experience, most students get preoccupied when they have an endless supply of websites at their fingertips. More times than I can count, I have looked over to fellow students' screens and found they aren't taking notes—they are playing games or updating statuses on their numerous accounts. I think laptop use in the classroom should be prohibited. Of course, I occasionally find myself wondering how much more resourceful I could be if only I had mine at my desk. I also know that human distractedness is strong, and having your laptop handy is basically like setting out your favorite gossip magazines. See LAPTOPS Page C12 The stuff I'll be talking about today. You'll want r to take with you for the rest of your life. WILLUS BRANHAM/The Daily Utah Chronic! THE PERFECT 10 EASY WAY SEASON PASSES EASY WAY MID EASY WAY ALL (Save $47) (Save $194) Monday - Thursday All Days (10 Passes for $39.90/day) Split into 2 paks of 5 for an additional $25 / Unused days do not roll over / Extra days cannot be added during the season / Not eligible for free Kids Pak ....-- CUSTOM SEASON PASS Choose One Weekday Mon thru Thur Custom Passes Will Sell Out Before Nov. 1st - So get it now! $44/Day $24/Day ADULT KIDS PAK FAMILY PAK 10 or More Days AGE: 7 to 15 30 days to share TRANSFERABLE TRANSFERABLE NON-TRANSFERABLE Purchase select passes and kids 10 and under* receive a FREE Ticket Pak! *kids in the immediate family with adult purchase, get more details at skisolitude.com/preseason BUY ONLINE NOW skisolitude.com/preseason Also, purchase in person Labor Day Weekend, during the SNIAGRAB Sale at The Sports Authority |