Laptops in the Classroom
Ever since the Spring 2006 semester, with the news that Univ. of Memphis Law School Prof. June Entman had banned laptops in her classroom, this has been a hot topic of discussion among law school teachers and students over the summer months. At the CALI Conference for Law School Computing one of the panel discussions was Laptops in the Classroom -- Pros and Cons. There were numerous points on both sides of the debate, and I'm convinced that this topic will continue to develop in the coming months. The compilation below of articles, blog entries, and web pages -- all on the topic of banning laptops in law school -- is strong evidence of the growing movement.
There are basically two arguments that proponents of banning laptops cite. Some feel that the problem is wireless Internet access -- that this ubiquitous medium has accelerated the distractive power of the laptop in the classroom. Others feel that the laptop itself encourages note takers to type verbatim transcripts of the classroom discussion, which they believe is counterproductive to the active learning process. There are arguments on the other side. Some faculty feel that students today need a multi-tasking environment to be engaged in the classroom. Others think that guidelines for laptop use should be made clear at the outset of the semester, and discuss the issue with students.
I am soliciting comments on both sides of this debate to post here on the Hastings TWT web site. If you have any comments, please send me an email: noblee@uchastings.edu.
Listing of articles, blogs and web pages on the the issue of laptops in the classroom
August 14, 2006. Hastings' Assoc. Academic Dean William Dodge offered Remarks Concerning the (Mis)use of Laptop Computers at the new student orientation.
August 14, 2006. Prof. Richard Marcus offered comments on the use of laptops in class to the incoming class of 2009 at Hastings College of the Law's First-Year Orientation.
July 27, 2006. PrawfsBlawg posted an interesting experiment that a law school teacher carried out this past semester. The teacher banned laptops for the first two weeks of the semester and then took an anonymous vote. The students voted to continue the policy.
June 15, 2006. At the CALI Conference for Law School Computing, a session took place on Laptops in the Classroom -- Pros and Cons. Very solid arguments on both sides of the question, presented by law teachers who have seen a tremendous increase in the use of laptops in their classes. The consensus was that the debate was a draw. View the video or listen to the audio recording of the discussion.
June 14, 2006. The Wall Street Journal's Law Blog joins in the growing discussion of laptops in law classrooms, with many comments from students and law school alumni.
June 12, 2006. Tax Prof Blog editor Prof. Paul Caron shares his views on the laptop-in-the-classroom question. Prof. Caron wrote an article in 2004, "Taking Back the Law School Classroom: using technology to foster active student learning." [Article can be downloaded here from the Social Science Research Network.] The author is a proponent, not of banning technology in the classroom, but exploring its full potential.
May 3, 2006. Prof. Ann Althouse opened up her blog for law students to discuss the ban-the-laptop movement. Responses were wide-ranging and numerous.
May 3, 2006. Univ. of Penn. Law School Prof. Charles Mooney shares his reasons for banning laptops two years ago after a discussion with a court reporter brought to his attention the perils of mindless stenography in the classroom.
March 23, 2006. Prof. Gordon Smith explains his "no laptop" policy on his Conglomerate blog, with comments pro and con.
March 21, 2006. USA Today article about Univ. of Memphis Law School Prof. June Entman's announcement on March 6 that she was banning laptops in her courses. Her reasoning: "My main concern was they were focusing on trying to transcribe every word that was I saying, rather than thinking and analyzing," Entman said Monday. "The computers interfere with making eye contact. You've got this picket fence between you and the students."