Personally, when it comes to laptop use in the classroom, I don’t necessarily see why it would be necessary. Unless the instructor says to bring it for a class activity, but even then, the majority of students have smart phones and can do it on there. Considering how most smart phones are the size of tablets, it would essentially be the same thing. Because of that, I don’t bring my laptop to class. And if I did happen to bring it (because I was using it in between classes to get school work done), it would stay in my back pack. When I take notes in class, I do it with pencil and paper. I have always preferred pencil and paper; it took me a while to adjust to writing a paper straight into word document. It is more efficient to write straight into the word document versus writing my paper down in a notebook and then typing it into a word document. When others use their laptop in class I don’t find it distracting. It’s my responsibility to pay attention to the lecture. Even if there were no laptops in class, students tend to get distracted by their own mind. Whether that be daydreaming or thinking of all the things that have to get done, etc. Even though it is a personal preference that I have, I don’t see the use of laptops in class as a negative either. It is just a tool that people have the option to use. An individual is responsible for oneself and how they use it.
The laptop, in my opinion, isn’t needed in the classroom. But when we talk about using the laptop outside the classroom, there, I am all for it. Considering that the majority of classes have online support and post most of the power point lectures and assignments online. Then, there are also the classes that are completely online as well. I use my laptop outside of classes frequently, and it’s more efficient. You don’t have to worry about bringing in assignments, you just turn them in online before the due date. Simple.
Life in Technology 