Laptops in the Classroom Many educators oppose the use of laptops in the classroom, citing distraction and diminished performance as reasons. However, there are receptive others, including education columnist Rebecca Schuman. Her article “In Defense of Laptops in the Classroom” was published in June 15, 2014 on Slate, an online current affairs and culture magazine. Schuman aims to persuade educators to allow laptops on grounds that students can make decisions and that laptops could be utilized productively. However, her argument is flawed due to invalid assumptions, biased claims, and counteractive implications. Invalid Assumptions Schuman assumes that her teaching method would interactively engage students with laptops. For example, she asserts that “I have regularly planned activities that require students to post the results of their group work online in real time so that we can all discuss them; I have supervised the creation of interactive slideshows that we then all watch together”. However, research has shown that even the proper use of laptops increases distraction and reduces engagement (Hembrooke & Gay 2003; Muller & Oppenheimer, 2014). Moreover, simply allowing laptops without rules on when (and when not) to use them promotes ambiguity …show more content…
For example, she states that students “should be old enough to decide for themselves whether they want to pay attention in class—and to face the consequences if they do not”. Here, she is basing her argument on personal opinion of “free choice”, and undermining the negative effects of laptop use (Fried, 2008; Hembrooke & Gay, 2003; Muller & Oppenheimer, 2014; Sana et al., 2013; Sovern, 2011). Hence, confirmation bias is at work as she searches for biased information to confirm her own beliefs (Nickerson, 1998), whilst undermining objective empiricism. Therefore, her opinion does little to solve the existing problem of laptops serving as
Students are becoming more distracted in class because of technology resulting them to do poorly in education. In the story, “New Class(room) War: Teacher Versus Technology” by Samuel Freedman is about a teacher name Ali Nazemi that created a policy regarding no technology because the students are not paying attention anymore in class. Freedman’s states that, “Their perpetual war of attrition with defiantly inattentive students has escalated from the quaint pursuits of pigtail-pulling, spitball-lobbing and notebook-doodling to a high-tech arsenal of laptops, cellphones, Blackberries and the like”
In the New York Times article “Leave your laptops at the door to my classroom” written by Darren Rosenblum he explains why he prohibits the use of laptops in his college classroom. Rosenblum observed a senior colleague’s class and his class to discover that laptops are blocking the classroom connection between the teacher and student. Rosenblum noticed that laptops reduced a student’s education and it has become a distraction rather than allowing students to critically think and learn challenging and uncomfortable things. He believed there are two skills needed to succeed, listening and communicating, but with students using laptops it killed the connection when it was time to being listening and communicating with care. Therefore, he created
Since I was young I can always remember writing everything down by hand and it was the only effective way to take notes, but as the years went on technology advanced and I saw more people doing taking notes differently, yet I couldn’t change the way I was used to taking notes. In my little hometown in Cuba, we were taught to write the most important things down and then review them for any test. As I grew up I got so used to that style that to this day I still follow that habit since they have gotten me far in all of my tests and classes.
With the rapid growth of technology in America’s society today, the use of computers in school classrooms has increased tremendously—an action that certainly has become beneficial to students, educators, and parents. The use of computers has positively skyrocketed over the past ten years. Not only are computers utilized daily in large companies across the world, but the everyday use in classrooms has also become prevalent. Using modern technology to assist school instructors with his or her daily lessons should definitely be regarded as a positive, acceptable method of instruction and not definitely does not prohibit students from understanding or critical thinking.
While admitting the power of technology, he also points out the adverse effects of excessive use of technology in the education system. He states, “Computers make our worst educational nightmare come true” (279). According to him, improper or overuse of computers hinders learning ability. He reports that over the past few years, computers have been assumed to be a necessity in America’s classrooms and introduced to children from elementary levels. However, technology can be addictive, and students may overuse it, leading to a drop in educational standards.
David Gelernter author of the essay, “Unplugged: The Myth of Computers in the Classroom,” used some rhetorical appeals but not many in his essay, whilst trying to logically persuade his audience that computers could be utilized in the classroom, but under certain stipulations. Gelernter has great credibility for speaking on education and technology, as he is a professor of computer science at Yale University, so he more than anyone should know the outcomes of using a computer as a tool while teaching. However, when it comes to technology a lot of older generations usually are pretty biased when discussing technologies advancements, Gelernter still had some very good points! Using computers while teaching our young children can be useful but with strict moderations; when, where, and why, because if not heavily monitored, computers could be extremely detrimental to the learning experience and processes for many students.
Technology, one of the fastest growing industry in the world right now, it is also a characteristic that define how well and smart a country is. Simply because the ability and potential to accomplish great things that make technology really important, all this is proved through the fact that technology change the way people do things in every major, from nursing to even heavy manufacturing in factory. And there is no different in school, technology is used in student every day’s life, the most common device that every school have is computer. Computer is a powerful device that change the way student study completely, it make study more interesting, easy to understand and also allow students to do more things with their creativity.
Media technology is helpful in so many ways; on the other hand, it can be disruptive too. In the article “Why I Just Asked My Students to Put Their Laptops Away,” Professor Clay Shirky claims that students are not able to focus on the lesson and easily get distracted with their laptops, leading him to ban the use of technology devices in his classroom. Similarly, in article “Our Photoshopping Disorder,” fashion reporter Erin Cunningham addresses the topic about the use of photoshopped images in advertisements creating unrealistic standards causing harm to people’s health and well-being. Both article oppose the bad habits that people get by using media technology. Shirky and Cunnignham completely agree in their assessment
Almost everyone attends a school at one time in their life, whether the classroom includes technology or not. Research shows that technology isn’t used as often as one might think. The article, “High Access and Low Use of Technology in High School Classrooms” illustrates the use of technology by stating that only one in ten elementary and middle school teachers are daily users of computers (Cuban, Kirkpatrick, Peck). Most schools now have classrooms that use technology throughout the entire class time and even at home to do homework. Although some people might agree with the use of technology in class, it is more harmful to the students than useful.
Many people argue that by using laptops during lectures, students are able to actively participate in the class and they have better communication with the professors despite large class sizes (Fried, 2008, p.2). Through classroom resources such as university and course online platforms, students are able to access the information they are learning about in their lectures. However, students themselves also have a very particular view on this topic, as they are very protective over their belongings and do not want to have their laptops banned from the classroom: “more and more faculty are banning laptops from their classrooms because of perceptions that they distract students and detract from learning,” (Fried, 2008, p.1). Prohibiting the use of laptops in university classrooms is becoming a more common solution to multitasking and student distraction. Universities enforce this regulation in order to prevent distraction and multitasking from impacting a students and surrounding student’s academic
...ass. School administrators should remember not to force technology into their curriculum unless they are confident in the student 's ability to learn and correctly recall information presented. When students have no desire to learn and are given tools to distract themselves technology hurts them, or rather their test scores, more than students who learn with book or oral based teaching because the absence of distraction. Computers and iPads are very difficult to repair or replace compared to books, and because most people are not yet “technologically literate” enough to perform basic tasks for the maintenance of their computer, then it would just be easier to use books. These issues create question as to if students are ready for classes to require computer knowledge when some have difficulty learning the material as it has always been learned for thousands of years.
“BYOD [Bring Your Own Device]…potentially allows school districts to cut [there] IT budgets, possibly helping the movement make inroads there, but BYOD…represents a particularly dangerous trend for multiple reasons” (Geller, 2013).
Do you ever think about how much technology has changed the way we work, learn, play, and even think? Technology is a major beneficiary to society; especially in the classroom where we get the opportunity to learn and grow. In recent years, schools have begun implementing tablets and other devices in the classroom to better student’s education. The use of technology in the classroom provides more of a personalized learning experience and gives students a widespread availability to engage in learning. Technology is necessary in today’s modern globe, it is basically “the pen and paper of our time and the lens through which we experience much of our world” (Warlick, 2013). Technology is not just considered the “internet”, it is so much greater than that. Overall, it enhances the quality of education and engages students deeper than ever before. With all the significant gains, why would people argue that technology hinders students more than it helps? Critics may try to repute the use of technology in the classroom but I believe what really matters “is the way we use it, the context that we use it in, and the learners who we use it for” (Chong, 2012).
Does technology changes the way society functions? In the society we live in today, technology is used for everything. No matter if we are checking our e-mail or checking the weather. Computers are the most used technology. Many people use computers for work or school. Some seem to think that computers can be a huge distraction at either work or school. Like everything else there are pros and cons when it comes to using computers in class. There can be a lot of pros when using computers in class it just depends on if a teacher or student knows how to use it. Although many people believe that using computers in class is a huge distraction, there are many positive outcome of using computers in school. Using
... computers are a great invention if used with discretion. I use a computer almost every single day to aid me with homework, chat with friends, or even entertain myself by watching a movie or playing a game. I find computers to be a stress-reliever, a ‘gateway to another world’ where one can be whoever they want if they find that they’ve had a bad day at school or work. While I support this positive attitude towards computers everyday, I find, in myself even, that I’ve become slightly addicted, causing me to not get as much sleep as needed or allowing me to do my homework without distraction. Overall, however, I’ve found computers have made me more knowledgeable, even if not pertaining specifically to school and that they’ve prepared me for a future where computer use will be inevitable.