Why does everyone have thier laptops out during lecture?

[Syne]

Do you know what taking notes during lecture does? It makes you miss part of the lecture. Instead of focusing on the material, you're furiously scribbling down stuff down that you'll be unable to interpret later. The great thing is, somebody has already done all the work for you. It's the people who wrote the textbook, and the teacher who made the slides. You don't need to write anything.

So I'm about to save everyone a lot of time, raise your grade and maybe prevent a few cases of carpel tunnel.

The powerpoint slides are right in front of your face. Just look at them.. Stare straight ahead. I see you on your Macbooks. Most of you are not taking notes. Sure, you have a copy of the slides open in the background, but you're either chatting on Facebook, playing Flash games or browsing websites.

So here it goes.

Don't take notes. Don't even open your bag. Just arrive, take your coat off (especially if you're wearing a $600 CG, please take the damn thing off), sit down and listen. No pen. No paper. No laptop. Just listen.

The only thing that should be on your desk, and this is completely optional, is a voice recorder.

Taking notes during lecture is probably the stupidest waste of time, and I swear 95% of students pretend to do it. I had a teacher in 1st year who wouldn't allow laptops in his lectures. This guy totally had the right idea. This is especially true in big lecture halls where you're trying to absorb a core message, and the slides are HUGE.

Just sit there.. Sit there and listen, and think. Then go home and read the chapter, and then study before the test.

You're welcome.

[kear7856]

lol idk if you were taking notes I don't see why you can't use a pen and paper. I have a short attention span so I don't bother I just sit and listen or don't bother going. I would say 90% of the people on their laptops are just on facebook anyways

[dankup]

Do you know what taking notes during lecture does? It makes you miss part of the lecture. Instead of focusing on the material, you're furiously scribbling down stuff down that you'll be unable to interpret later. The great thing is, somebody has already done all the work for you. It's the people who wrote the textbook, and the teacher who made the slides. You don't need to write anything.

So I'm about to save everyone a lot of time, raise your grade and maybe prevent a few cases of carpel tunnel.

The powerpoint slides are right in front of your face. Just look at them.. Stare straight ahead. I see you on your Macbooks. Most of you are not taking notes. Sure, you have a copy of the slides open in the background, but you're either chatting on Facebook, playing Flash games or browsing websites.

So here it goes.

Don't take notes. Don't even open your bag. Just arrive, take your coat off (especially if you're wearing a $600 CG, please take the damn thing off), sit down and listen. No pen. No paper. No laptop. Just listen.

The only thing that should be on your desk, and this is completely optional, is a voice recorder.

Taking notes during lecture is probably the stupidest waste of time, and I swear 95% of students pretend to do it. I had a teacher in 1st year who wouldn't allow laptops in his lectures. This guy totally had the right idea. This is especially true in big lecture halls where you're trying to absorb a core message, and the slides are HUGE.

Just sit there.. Sit there and listen, and think. Then go home and read the chapter, and then study before the test.

You're welcome.

+1. I do this everyday and it only helps.

[shannn]

Dude, they need to update their Facebook status, cmon now :twisted:

[kear7856]

Dude, they need to update their Facebook status, cmon now :twisted:

Status-"just sitting in class prof is boring me :("

[nx6288]

but they spent $1500+ on their shiny new macbooks just for university, it'd surely be a waste to not open it up and use it. ;)

[medalgo]

Most of my courses do not have a specifically assigned textbook and it's entirely based on mostly guest lecturers with varying ability to make good powerpoint slides that summarize what they're trying to say. Some read directly off their slides while some digress majorly. Also, some classes are case based where there is an active discussion and none of the "answers" are given in the end.

It depends on what courses you're taking, can't generalize and say you don't need to take notes.

Also, it's a heck of a lot easier from your standpoint being an overage part time undergrad student living off OSAP and a side job. Some take school more seriously, though some don't and waste their time away on Facebook.

If I had a 3.1 GPA I wouldn't necessarily publicly promote my study habits, just saying.

[tng11]

It's stupid to generalize that taking notes is useless. It depends on the prof and whether they have PowerPoint slides or not. I've had profs that never used the textbook and tested on material not in the book or slides. But sometimes, I just skip class altogether if the prof is just regurgitating slides and participation doesn't count.

It's useless to just type out what the prof says word for word, but it's useful to just note a few key points and use that to supplement the textbook. It makes cramming for finals a lot easier.

Students who just surf the net shouldn't bother showing up at all. Good thing that these students end up lower on the curve I guess.

[Mykester]

That may be true for whatever basket weaving program you're in, but in most of my courses the prof adds extra information not found in the textbook. I find it easier to take notes from the book before the lecture, and jot down during the lecture any new info. The powerpoints also have very brief and general information. Plus it's easier to explain a difficult concept in your own words. Lastly, you retain information better by writing it down rather than just blankly staring, and forces you to listen to the lecture.

Also, I'm using a netbook with the slowest processor ever, so it's way too ****** to have Word and another program running at the same time.

[RenoV6]

In a lot of math related courses, you really need to write down example problems the prof is going through. Oftentimes in these classes the prof doesn't even bother with slides and goes oldschool with chalk/blackboard or marker/whiteboard.

College Life (http://www.iundergrad.com): iUndergrad

[biee]

I take notes of what the prof is saying usually and jot it down below the corresponding powerpoint slides.

[xlc_88]

I take notes of what the prof is saying usually and jot it down below the corresponding powerpoint slides.

+1. That's what I do too.

People have differing study methods. It shouldn't even matter to you if they use their laptop. Your study methods works for YOU but may not work for OTHERS.

[hobgoblins]

I type very quickly and without looking at the screen very often during a lecture. There's always pertinent information in my lectures that isn't in the text and if there are slides, they do need to be embellished on. I personally don't understand using a paper and pen unless it's a math related course or has other diagrams because you focus all of your time writing and not properly absorbing the material. My econ class was terrible for this, the prof wrote all of the notes on an overhead as we went and only tested from the notes.

[Tyop]

I don't understand the purpose of this thread because everyone learns and comprehends information in a different manner: such as taking notes on paper, typing notes, or merely just listening. It seems that recently there has been an influx of meaningless threads..:facepalm:

[AndrewShev]

i agree on the laptop part. If using it during lecture, there is too much distraction and less learning. But i disagree on pen-paper part. Psychological research shows that we learn quicker by listening and then writing it down. We can interpret the information and put it in our own words. The prof in class is not only for "standing talking doll". They are there to answer your questions.

[Syne]

Most of my courses do not have a specifically assigned textbook and it's entirely based on mostly guest lecturers with varying ability to make good powerpoint slides that summarize what they're trying to say. Some read directly off their slides while some digress majorly. Also, some classes are case based where there is an active discussion and none of the "answers" are given in the end.

It depends on what courses you're taking, can't generalize and say you don't need to take notes.

Also, it's a heck of a lot easier from your standpoint being an overage part time undergrad student living off OSAP and a side job. Some take school more seriously, though some don't and waste their time away on Facebook.

If I had a 3.1 GPA I wouldn't necessarily publicly promote my study habits, just saying.

You, sir, have me at a disadvantage. lol. :razz::D

[qwerty123z]

i agree on the laptop part. If using it during lecture, there is too much distraction and less learning. But i disagree on pen-paper part. Psychological research shows that we learn quicker by listening and then writing it down. We can interpret the information and put it in our own words. The prof in class is not only for "standing talking doll". They are there to answer your questions.

I disagree with the laptop parts I think it depends on the students ability to be disciplined or not to use a laptop. There are some people who'll just play games or look at other things on their laptops while I've seen others who wanted to save money and bought the ebook or/and take notes using an laptop. The notes were nice and easy to edit and you can add special pictures to help show what you were trying to say at that point of a lecture.

[Syne]

Even if people aren't playing games or Facebooking, I still see a lot of people just following along the lecture with their Macbooks open, not taking any notes. I can't help but wonder what the point is.

[hystat]

I recommend my students who want to use their laptop during lecture sit in the back row, so the screen does not distract others.
Notes are important in some lectures. Some learn through the process, even if they never review the notes.
Different people learn different ways.

[fuzzy_avocado]

Do you know what taking notes during lecture does? It makes you miss part of the lecture. Instead of focusing on the material, you're furiously scribbling down stuff down that you'll be unable to interpret later. The great thing is, somebody has already done all the work for you. It's the people who wrote the textbook, and the teacher who made the slides. You don't need to write anything.

So I'm about to save everyone a lot of time, raise your grade and maybe prevent a few cases of carpel tunnel.

The powerpoint slides are right in front of your face. Just look at them.. Stare straight ahead. I see you on your Macbooks. Most of you are not taking notes. Sure, you have a copy of the slides open in the background, but you're either chatting on Facebook, playing Flash games or browsing websites.

So here it goes.

Don't take notes. Don't even open your bag. Just arrive, take your coat off (especially if you're wearing a $600 CG, please take the damn thing off), sit down and listen. No pen. No paper. No laptop. Just listen.

The only thing that should be on your desk, and this is completely optional, is a voice recorder.

Taking notes during lecture is probably the stupidest waste of time, and I swear 95% of students pretend to do it. I had a teacher in 1st year who wouldn't allow laptops in his lectures. This guy totally had the right idea. This is especially true in big lecture halls where you're trying to absorb a core message, and the slides are HUGE.

Just sit there.. Sit there and listen, and think. Then go home and read the chapter, and then study before the test.

You're welcome.

uhh, some lectures don't have slides. some lectures are just only that, lectures. An even better addition to your suggestion would be to have a voice recorder. I always take notes though, I'm a fast typer, I often type verbatim what the prof says. I do study my notes. Not everyone falls into this generalization that you're making.

[fuzzy_avocado]

Even if people aren't playing games or Facebooking, I still see a lot of people just following along the lecture with their Macbooks open, not taking any notes. I can't help but wonder what the point is.

maybe they're recording the lecture?

[fuzzy_avocado]

I recommend my students who want to use their laptop during lecture sit in the back row, so the screen does not distract others.
Notes are important in some lectures. Some learn through the process, even if they never review the notes.
Different people learn different ways.

If you were my teacher and recommended that I sit in the back row then I'd recommend you to mind your own business. Some people need to sit closer up front with their laptops if they need to hear more clearly over their typing or if they have a mild learning disability (you can't see those types of things!).

[gman]

maybe they're recording the lecture?

+1.

In addition, writing notes does not mean the person has to write down what the prof said. The prof might have brought up one's idea at that moment such as "hmmm! May be I should take a closer look at topic X" (which was not mentioned in the lecture). One may write down the questions that one can ask later ...

One may do a google search for a term the prof used but he did not know what it is. "Oh! 'XYZ' means xyz. Hmm! Now, it makes sense."

Or, he thinks he knew but it contradicts to what the Prof said. Hence, he uses the laptop to verify what the Prof said. "Gee! He is wrong. That is not what 'XYZ' means. What a dumb ....!"

[kodiaktfc]

Syne, you've taken a pet peeve of yours and construed it into really awful advice. Hear me out and this is coming from someone whose done an undergrad in History/Poli Sci with a 3.7 GPA and is now in a fully funded MA program.

TAKE NOTES! I personally suggest writing them down on pen and paper but I also can't speak to the laptop method because I've owned one. Taking notes is important because..

A. The textbook is often for context only
B. The points made in lectures will be the basis of tests/essays
C. The points made in the lectures are obviously what the prof wants you to know, therefore these should be your primary interest
D. When writing what your hearing, the point still go through your head and focus on them because your writing them down. This is a fantastic way of remembering what was said even if you never plan to go back and read these notes.
E. Come time to study for your finals or prepare points for your essays, its far easier to go over a few pages of class notes than a 200 page textbook where vast quantities may be essentially useless.

So many more points to make. Obviously a laptop can distract a person but human beings generally can only just listen to someone speak in a lecture for about 15 minutes before their mind wanders. In conclusion, take notes.

[Nettles]

Sorry but stupid idea in this thread to not take notes (althought he part of not using your laptop to timewaste during lecture on facebook or whatever other garbage is good).

I've had very few classes where all the info is on slides/textbooks. Some slides are just diagrams which you wouldn't understand without taking notes. Did you ever consider that some people like to learn from different sources? So when you're studying, it's helpful to go through slides/notes/the book? Not everyone takes after your listen and learn style OP.

Never took my laptop to school but if I had the money for a decent light weight one then I would do it for sure but pen/paper is important and works for me.

[fuzzy_avocado]

Syne, you've taken a pet peeve of yours and construed it into really awful advice. Hear me out and this is coming from someone whose done an undergrad in History/Poli Sci with a 3.7 GPA and is now in a fully funded MA program.

TAKE NOTES! I personally suggest writing them down on pen and paper but I also can't speak to the laptop method because I've owned one. Taking notes is important because..

A. The textbook is often for context only
B. The points made in lectures will be the basis of tests/essays
C. The points made in the lectures are obviously what the prof wants you to know, therefore these should be your primary interest
D. When writing what your hearing, the point still go through your head and focus on them because your writing them down. This is a fantastic way of remembering what was said even if you never plan to go back and read these notes.
E. Come time to study for your finals or prepare points for your essays, its far easier to go over a few pages of class notes than a 200 page textbook where vast quantities may be essentially useless.

So many more points to make. Obviously a laptop can distract a person but human beings generally can only just listen to someone speak in a lecture for about 15 minutes before their mind wanders. In conclusion, take notes.

That's awesome, congrats!

[tng11]

I have a feeling that we're being trolled- the OP wants to subtly turn it into a MacBook/CG hate thread but failed.

Forgive me for not giving any weight to study tips from someone with average grades.

[hystat]

If you were my teacher and recommended that I sit in the back row then I'd recommend you to mind your own business. Some people need to sit closer up front with their laptops if they need to hear more clearly over their typing or if they have a mild learning disability (you can't see those types of things!).
Do you have a disability?
If so, you can go to Learning Support Services and request all sorts of special considerations, and I have no issue with that. There may be a solution for you that is much better than distracting other students.
But with no green form or communication from LSS to me, you would be asked to sit at the back or leave the class.
The people around you didn't pay to look at your laptop screen, nor is your disability their concern until the school says it is. They paid to get the information I am providing and I have a responsibility to make sure they are not distracted.

[medalgo]

I have a feeling that we're being trolled- the OP wants to subtly turn it into a MacBook/CG hate thread but failed.

Forgive me for not giving any weight to study tips from someone with average grades.

I believe somebody says this in all his threads anyway, either way, fun for everyone I guess

[medalgo]

Do you have a disability?
If so, you can go to Learning Support Services and request all sorts of special considerations, and I have no issue with that. There may be a solution for you that is much better than distracting other students.
But with no green form or communication from LSS to me, you would be asked to sit at the back or leave the class.
The people around you didn't pay to look at your laptop screen, nor is your disability their concern until the school says it is. They paid to get the information I am providing and I have a responsibility to make sure they are not distracted.

Isn't that a little extreme? The student, a serious one or not, did not pay to attend your class to follow your orders. If bossing kids around fulfills your thirst for authority, you've got issues of your own, regardless of your consideration for those who are distracted by the laptops.

I'm not sure what subject area you teach in, which jurassic period you were born in, or what sizes of classrooms your lectures are held, but you're paid to teach and that's really it. I'd thank you more for shutting up kids that're talking in lecture rather than being anal over laptops, would anyone disagree?

[Kanucklhead]

I take all my notes on the laptop. Super easy to reference back to and I am a fast typer so I could dictate the whole lecture if I wanted to, but I don't, because obviously that would be a waste of time.

The bottom line is honestly don't worry about what others are doing, ignore them and concentrate on what you are doing. If others are THAT distracting that you can't hear the professor tell them to shut up or move to the other side of the room. Usually people pipe down once they have been asked or get the gist when they see you move away from them.

You can also talk to the professor and ask him to watch out for people being a distraction, usually they will be more sensitive to people talking if they get complaints about it, but if it's just people surfing facebook and being quiet, then who cares....let them waste their parents money, doesn't affect you one bit.

As for taking notes, that's just low IQ arrogance. Powerpoint slides are not a substitute for notes and mostly all classes I have been to will have questions not on the powerpoint but was discussed in class. Also when you take your own notes it is in a way you can interpret and understand that you can expand on. Out of the lectures courses I have done, the students taking notes were the 85 + students that really understood the material, and those just sitting there hoping to absorb info and expecting to just "magically" remember the key points and cramming at the last second were the B - C and below students.

[hystat]

Isn't that a little extreme? The student, a serious one or not, did not pay to attend your class to follow your orders.
It has nothing to do with me or the student with the laptop.
It has EVERYTHING to do with the 40 or 60 OTHER students. They each paid thousands of dollars. I need to protect the investment of the majority.

If the majority wants that student to sit at the front and Facebook, or read lecture notes on their laptop, that's fine with me.... but they do not. My classroom is democratic.

I take the Faculty and Course Evaluations seriously. There are several questions around how the teacher handles classroom disruptions, and I have had several complaints about distractions from electronic media. This may vary from school to school or course to course, but the majority of my students want that electronic nonsense shut down.

You need to realize you aren't the center of the universe.

Everyone is quick to say they need their laptop and they need their freedom to do whatever they want in class. Well, maybe the person beside you has an issue with your laptop screen distracting them .That trumps your interests. If you can't be part of the team and have some common courtesy, then you are gone.

[Kanucklhead]

Everyone is quick to say they need their laptop and they need their freedom to do whatever they want in class. Well, maybe the person beside you has an issue with your laptop screen distracting them .

I am with you up to a certain point. If simply a laptop screen distracts them, then don't look at it....problem solved. Someone quietly surfing facebook is NOT a distraction to anyone and they are only hurting themselves. If someone finds that a distraction then they should concentrate on what they are doing and stop trying to cause trouble.

When these people get into the real world and start working in an office, they will have A LOT more distraction then a laptop screen they can simply not look at. There is a point where the annoyed become the more annoying.

[hystat]

I am with you up to a certain point. If simply a laptop screen distracts them, then don't look at it....problem solved. Someone quietly surfing facebook is NOT a distraction to anyone and they are only hurting themselves. If someone finds that a distraction then they should concentrate on what they are doing and stop trying to cause trouble.

When these people get into the real world and start working in an office, they will have A LOT more distraction then a laptop screen they can simply not look at. There is a point where the annoyed become the more annoying.

your points are valid, but how do you know it's Facebook and not videos of "Destroyed in Seconds" with bright explosions, or Pornographic videos viewed in fullscreen HD.

Who is going to run around the classroom and verify the content on everyone's laptop?

BTW, I have never had any backlash after asking a student to either sit in the back row or turn the device off. None. My students seem quite ok with that deal.
Most just say they simply never considered it might distract others.

[Syne]

Teachers should not be testing on things that aren't backed up by the slides or the textbook. People miss class for valid reasons.

[kodiaktfc]

I recommend my students who want to use their laptop during lecture sit in the back row, so the screen does not distract others.
Notes are important in some lectures. Some learn through the process, even if they never review the notes.
Different people learn different ways.

I agree. I tell the students in my tutorial no laptops at all.

[kodiaktfc]

Teachers should not be testing on things that aren't backed up by the slides or the textbook. People miss class for valid reasons.

This isn't a valid excuse. Profs can't make exceptions for students who miss class. Syne I'm assuming you've never been in grad school because if you were you'd really realize how little profs care about textbooks. Its filler.

[hystat]

When these people get into the real world and start working in an office, they will have A LOT more distraction then a laptop screen they can simply not look at. There is a point where the annoyed become the more annoying.
no one is paying their employer thousands of dollars per year to sit in an office.
they are getting paid to be there, and distractions are a lot more tolerable when you are being paid as opposed to paying for the seat.

[Syne]

This isn't a valid excuse. Profs can't make exceptions for students who miss class. Syne I'm assuming you've never been in grad school because if you were you'd really realize how little profs care about textbooks. Its filler.

I can honestly say that every class in university that I've done well in, has had an interesting textbook that I enjoyed (or at least didn't mind) reading.

As boring as it sounds, I am a textbook learner. I lay down on my couch with a drink, put on some ambient music in the background, crack the book and read. That is my learning style of choice. Now, I'm not saying that's a substitute for lectures. I think that lectures greatly augment the material in the text and good slides help too - but I do not benefit in the slightest by taking notes.

The classes I've done the best in, I sat down and listened, then went home and read the textbook.

[kodiaktfc]

I can honestly say that every class in university that I've done well in, has had an interesting textbook that I enjoyed (or at least didn't mind) reading.

As boring as it sounds, I am a textbook learner. I lay down on my couch with a drink, put on some ambient music in the background, crack the book and read. That is my learning style of choice. Now, I'm not saying that's a substitute for lectures. I think that lectures greatly augment the material in the text and good slides help too - but I do not benefit in the slightest by taking notes.

The classes I've done the best in, I sat down and listened, then went home and read the textbook.

Well my response to that is that your very lucky to have that attitude and its the first true sign of an academic to have such an interest. BUT, I highly suggest you reading the textbook prior to the lecture and then go into the lecture and take hand written notes. Also, I hope you realize I am not suggest writing the profs words word-for-word. Taking notes is like writing a scholarly article, you have to be able to pick out whats important. Doing this well bring you into the lecture with the context and then you use the lecture for the finer points.

Whats your program?

[tng11]

Teachers should not be testing on things that aren't backed up by the slides or the textbook. People miss class for valid reasons.

You have a choice to ask your classmates for notes. I think it's fair that profs sometimes reward students who attend class and make an effort. If your secondary education came entirely from textbooks which you could have read by yourself I'd say that's a piss poor value for your money. The discussions, synthesis and connections with the real world/current events are a key part of the learning process.

[dankup]

I can honestly say that every class in university that I've done well in, has had an interesting textbook that I enjoyed (or at least didn't mind) reading.

As boring as it sounds, I am a textbook learner. I lay down on my couch with a drink, put on some ambient music in the background, crack the book and read. That is my learning style of choice. Now, I'm not saying that's a substitute for lectures. I think that lectures greatly augment the material in the text and good slides help too - but I do not benefit in the slightest by taking notes.

The classes I've done the best in, I sat down and listened, then went home and read the textbook.

Rofl.. we have too much in common.

[medalgo]

It has nothing to do with me or the student with the laptop.
It has EVERYTHING to do with the 40 or 60 OTHER students. They each paid thousands of dollars. I need to protect the investment of the majority.

most of my classes have more than half the students using laptops, what do you do then if they're the majority? do you protect the minority then?


If the majority wants that student to sit at the front and Facebook, or read lecture notes on their laptop, that's fine with me.... but they do not. My classroom is democratic.

I take the Faculty and Course Evaluations seriously. There are several questions around how the teacher handles classroom disruptions, and I have had several complaints about distractions from electronic media. This may vary from school to school or course to course, but the majority of my students want that electronic nonsense shut down.

instilling an idea to a neutral group of students and having them vote on your idea vs status quo is not democratic

and i am sure the number of complaints about distractions from electronic media is a minority out of all the students who cared to complete the survey over the years, your transformation from "several complaints" into the "majority of students" is just an example of how your head is filled with enforcing your way of doing things

you read what you want to read, that's what most people, including myself, are like. I bet you do nothing from complaints about your teaching style/quality


You need to realize you aren't the center of the universe.

Everyone is quick to say they need their laptop and they need their freedom to do whatever they want in class. Well, maybe the person beside you has an issue with your laptop screen distracting them .That trumps your interests. If you can't be part of the team and have some common courtesy, then you are gone.

with your hatred towards technology, you sound like you're living on your own planet more than I am, stop over-using suppositories and get over the fact that the world is changing

[blahraptors]

Allow me to list a few reasons why you absolutely need to take notes in class:

1) some profs give you skeleton notes which you need to fill out during the lecture
2) profs will emphasize important points, or specific things that will appear on the test
3) some diagrams mean nothing without writing an interpretation for it
4) your brain can only remember so much
5) some people learn better when writing notes

Obviously if you're focused on FB on your laptop, you're not gonna absorb anything. But if you just turn the wifi off, typing is much faster than writing. In my grad program, where the average incoming GPA was 3.82, I haven't noticed one person who doesn't take notes.

[hystat]

most of my classes have more than half the students using laptops, what do you do then if they're the majority? do you protect the minority then?
Hurray for you. This semester I actually only see one laptop in the room, and the student is sitting in the back row without being asked. I suspect because there is a power outlet on the wall there.
I teach corporate sessions where 100% of the students have laptops in front of them, and I built the course around that format. All information comes electronically and no one is distracted.
You have missed the point.


with your hatred towards technology, you sound like you're living on your own planet more than I am, stop over-using suppositories and get over the fact that the world is changing

you have absolutely no idea what you're rambling on about. zero.

[windforcexx28]

I use my laptop because it's just more convenient for me. I can go around to all my classes with just my laptop and it allows me to take notes quicker. When I need to refer to notes or slides, everything is there for me to refer back to. If there are things I don't get, I can simply look it up. The only disadvantage is that it's VERY distracting at times, but that's where self-discipline comes in. I also find that when I'm using my laptop, I don't pay as much attention to other people's laptops :)

[fr33style]

I basically just showed up for 80% of my classes in undergrad because I felt I had to. 10% of the classes I just skipped and 10% of the classes I actually loved and made awesome notes. When I was actually taking notes, the laptop made it very easy. Otherwise I just played games.

[potassiumchlorate]

Saw some dude looking at comics online the whole damn class :facepalm:

[fuzzy_avocado]

Do you have a disability?
If so, you can go to Learning Support Services and request all sorts of special considerations, and I have no issue with that. There may be a solution for you that is much better than distracting other students.
But with no green form or communication from LSS to me, you would be asked to sit at the back or leave the class.
The people around you didn't pay to look at your laptop screen, nor is your disability their concern until the school says it is. They paid to get the information I am providing and I have a responsibility to make sure they are not distracted.

I'm sorry, do you teach kindergarten?

[fuzzy_avocado]

It has nothing to do with me or the student with the laptop.
It has EVERYTHING to do with the 40 or 60 OTHER students. They each paid thousands of dollars. I need to protect the investment of the majority.

If the majority wants that student to sit at the front and Facebook, or read lecture notes on their laptop, that's fine with me.... but they do not. My classroom is democratic.

I take the Faculty and Course Evaluations seriously. There are several questions around how the teacher handles classroom disruptions, and I have had several complaints about distractions from electronic media. This may vary from school to school or course to course, but the majority of my students want that electronic nonsense shut down.

You need to realize you aren't the center of the universe.

Everyone is quick to say they need their laptop and they need their freedom to do whatever they want in class. Well, maybe the person beside you has an issue with your laptop screen distracting them .That trumps your interests. If you can't be part of the team and have some common courtesy, then you are gone.

Should I go sit at the back of the classroom too if my shirt has polka dots on them? It might distract others.

[kodiaktfc]

Should I go sit at the back of the classroom too if my shirt has polka dots on them? It might distract others.

I don't even let my students bring their laptops to my tutorial. Its the teachers choice in my mind.

[medalgo]

I don't even let my students bring their laptops to my tutorial. Its the teachers choice in my mind.

no it is not, it's either school policy or it isn't. you can request your classes to do that but in the end you have no authority over these things even if you're doing it for all the right reasons :facepalm:

[imflying12]

Some actually use to for note taking since its faster.. and not all profs post their slides or notes on course websites - so it would be ideal to take notes in class. Classes like accounting, stats, math , or whatever requires calculations will require you to take notes.
Then there are some who use laptops for self enjoyment.... those people either dont care about school or they just have the ability to multitask (fbking, gaming, w/e and listening to lecture simultaneously)

[imflying12]

I use my laptop because it's just more convenient for me. I can go around to all my classes with just my laptop and it allows me to take notes quicker. When I need to refer to notes or slides, everything is there for me to refer back to. If there are things I don't get, I can simply look it up. The only disadvantage is that it's VERY distracting at times, but that's where self-discipline comes in. I also find that when I'm using my laptop, I don't pay as much attention to other people's laptops :)

or you can just turn off your wifi for less distraction

[RenoV6]

I use my laptop so I can actually get some work done and pay off OSAP during class while the prof is struggling to teach concepts I can better understand from the textbook.

[RealEst8]

LOL at whoever takes OP's advice. Everyone has their own learning style. To come on here and b***h about notetakers is a joke. You must've been so annoyed to create a thread about notetakers.

[Nazey]

Well because all my proffs have slides online and its easier for me to take notes on the slides while going along ...ALSO i pay my tuition so its really nobodys bussiness whether i bring my laptop or not.

[Merc with a Mouth]

1. Never had a class where majority of the students were using laptops (courses that require laptops are not included).

2. I have had profs who do not use PP at all.

3. Some profs include lecture material (not in textbook and slides) on midterms/finals.

4. Nothing wrong with writing down point form notes on slides, notebook, laptop.

5. Many people retain information better buy doing rather than just listening.

6. Many people are not even taking notes on their laptop. Facebook, YouTube, just browsing.


I personally do not use a laptop in class but for those who do find it beneficial more power to them.

[jillaryit]

I use my laptop because it's just more convenient for me. I can go around to all my classes with just my laptop and it allows me to take notes quicker. When I need to refer to notes or slides, everything is there for me to refer back to. If there are things I don't get, I can simply look it up. The only disadvantage is that it's VERY distracting at times, but that's where self-discipline comes in. I also find that when I'm using my laptop, I don't pay as much attention to other people's laptops :)

What he said. I started bringing my laptops in my 3rd and 4th year because I became involved in more than just classes and needed constant access to email. It was just more convenient. When the prof started going on about useless stuff or if my group finished early in seminar's exercises, I could do something more entertaining or useful for the time being. I was taking notes on my computer by then and a lot of stuff each class were based on pdfs. So instead of printing, I just bought my laptop. For powerpoints, if the prof went fast or if I suddenly drifted off daydream, I could just go at my own pace and catch up whereas someone with no slides printed out would suddenly get lost.

[arclite]

I personally have never had a use to have my laptop open during lecture. To be honest it is really distracting. I tend to check Facebook, RFD, etc.

I typically take/took courses in math, statistics, computer science, french, and random courses in classics, linguistics, anthropology, management, etc.
I found a laptop to be useless. I can't type up math/stats notes fast enough due to formulas. No use trying to compile code in computer science courses.

For french I only recently started using my laptop so I can view the textbook. I didn't buy a physical copy and I have the ebook. It is the only course where I am required to bring a textbook to each class.

For the other random courses that I took, I just printed lecture slides and wrote on them, I tend to do this since I can't take notes well enough on a laptop.

Different professors and different courses have different styles of teaching/presentation. For mathematics courses, professors tend to write everything on the board. Imagine trying to learn math by having the professor showing you PowerPoint slides! Some profs use powerpoint slides + graphics tablet so they can write down formulas and work their way through a problem, but most of my classes are done oldschool.

[hystat]

another option - take notes with pen and the unit digitizes them
http://www.irislink.com/documents/Image/aa-products/irisnotes/screengd4.jpg
video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7as-sOG3KM

[Kanucklhead]

another option - take notes with pen and the unit digitizes them
http://www.irislink.com/documents/Image/aa-products/irisnotes/screengd4.jpg
video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7as-sOG3KM

Out of experience those pens are useless. A keyboard is much more efficient.

[`Aesop]

This is a troll thread right?
3/10 for the responses you got.

[LostInTruth]

I can't lie, I did the same thing. Just studied the lectures via powerpoint & still had a good GPA. The only class where I REALLY focused were mathematics & the ones where I could not grasp alone.

However, everyone's study habits are different & taking notes do help stimulate the mind, so I always encourage take notes (easy memorization)!

[dankup]

Today I was sitting in class and these 2 ****** take out their laptops and open up 3 tabs: angry birds, facebook, and NFL. They stay for an hr, and then leave. If you really don't care that much, why are you wasting your time coming down here/wasting your parents money on tuition/transit/possibly residence. smh.

[fuzzy_avocado]

most of my classes have more than half the students using laptops, what do you do then if they're the majority? do you protect the minority then?



instilling an idea to a neutral group of students and having them vote on your idea vs status quo is not democratic

and i am sure the number of complaints about distractions from electronic media is a minority out of all the students who cared to complete the survey over the years, your transformation from "several complaints" into the "majority of students" is just an example of how your head is filled with enforcing your way of doing things

you read what you want to read, that's what most people, including myself, are like. I bet you do nothing from complaints about your teaching style/quality



with your hatred towards technology, you sound like you're living on your own planet more than I am, stop over-using suppositories and get over the fact that the world is changing

+5 million. Thanks for wording this so well, I've been too busy trying to find a baby to punch to unleash my frustration over this so-called 'instructor's' lack of logic and narrow-mindedness.