Laptops in the Classroom: Neither Educational Heroes nor Villains

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Recommended: The Role of Computers in Education

Computer access is an absolutely essential part of the education process. The Internet is a gold mine for information, collaboration, and publication. The spread of productivity software such as word processors and Power Point revolutionized the way students do homework. Computers are also addictive and distracting social hubs. The question of whether students should have access to laptops inside the classroom is a puzzling one, with research strongly supporting both the pros and cons. Ultimately, the way that laptops are used in the classroom and not the presence of laptops defines their value.

Studies on student laptop usage cover a wide range of classroom variables in an attempt to quantify benefits and/or negative outcomes. Studies conducted include research on the elementary to university level, among students that are high and low achievers, and in geographical areas with concentrations of high and low socioeconomic status. Dunleavy and Heinecke (2008) sum these studies up well, “The results suggest that 1:1 laptop instruction can increase student achievement under certain conditions.” Though that statement is rather vague, it is the key to putting these studies in perspective. Identifying the teaching styles and classroom environments in which laptops are beneficial and those in which laptops are a distraction is the ultimate task.

Laptops have the potential to revolutionize the way teachers teach. They give teachers the ability to create relevant learning activities that directly involve students in the learning process. Unfortunately, existing teacher practices often limit this potential. In studying the effects of laptop usage on educator techniques, Miller (2008) notes that “most educators underwent a superficial ...

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Rogers, D. (2009). Laptops deemed beneficial to classroom experience. The daily targum.

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Warschauer, M. (2008). Laptops and literacy: A multi-site case study. Pedagogies: An

International Journal 3, 52-57.

Wurst , C., Smarkola, C. and Gaffney M. A. (2008). Ubiquitous laptop usage in higher

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