Technology Policy

Background

Numerous research studies over the past several years have found generally adverse learning impacts of having laptops in classrooms (see the links below).

Some of this literature is mainly an argument about how using laptops causes students to harm their own learning. However, not all students are alike, and some may feel they’re excellent multitaskers or that using a laptop actually helps them (presumably almost everyone in those studies felt that way...). Anyway, they may feel that they should be allowed to take responsibility for their own education.

The research, however, also shows a much more pernicious problem. Student learning is also negatively impacted by someone else’s laptop use. This isn’t surprising: screens have flashing content, keyboards make noise, and distractors are, in general, distracting. This is where an individual’s exercise of rights become problematic: you have the right to squander your educational opportunities, but not to take away those of others.

At the same time, laptops are sometimes useful in coursework. For example, you might be asked to try out a program, especially for a concept you haven't seen before (and hence can’t imagine in your head).

Course Policy

• You have been given permission to use laptops for some task by the instructor in lecture. (If you think some task is laptop-suitable, but permission hasn't been given yet, please ask!) When the task ends, you have to close your device. More broadly, the device should be inert, neither producing discernible output nor being given input.
• You have some documentable reason that requires laptop use. If so, please discuss it with the instructor or email the list serv and permission will be given. In light of the rest of this document, it would be appreciated if you position ourself in class in a way that your laptop’s screen will not distract others. Note that this does not mean you have to relegate yourself to the back; perhaps that isn’t where you would like to sit! But closer to the ends of rows would help.
• Emergencies

Popular Press

The following articles are not scientific literature but summarize the research in easily-accessible terms.