Hi John,
As a biologist who teaches metagenomic analysis, which simply cannot be done without computers...no...I do not ban them. I also strongly support the cost and sustainability benefits of using electronic textbooks...Again, that dictates that I allow them in the classroom.
I do ban their use during quizzes and exams, and have very specific circumstances under which they may be used during lectures. Penalties for violating these rules are clearly stipulated in my syllabus.
Ultimately, and you hit the nail on the head in your comments below, if keep my students engaged with TBL activities, then their computer use tends to be on point. As soon as students feel that their time in the classroom is wasted, then texting begins. When I see that, it is a learning moment for me, and tells me that I still have some course design work to do.
Best,
Tammy Tobin
Professor of Biology
Susquehanna University
On Oct 1, 2014, at 2:32 PM, John Fritz <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
Hi Folks,
In recent weeks, there have been some high profile essays by profs banning student laptops, tablets or phones from the classroom:
* Why a leading professor of new media just banned technology use in class<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/09/25/why-a-leading-professor-of-new-media-just-banned-technology-use-in-class/?tid=pm_local_pop> (Washington Post)
* Why I'm Asking You Not to Use Laptops<http://chronicle.com/blogs/linguafranca/2014/08/25/why-im-asking-you-not-to-use-laptops/> (Chronicle of Higher Education)
Admittedly, I'm in the technology biz, so feel free to "consider the source," but I'm curious: do you have this problem with student computers in your TBL classrooms? Have you considered banning these devices in your courses? Do you now? Do your TBL colleagues?
I'm just wondering how much of the growing "ban laptops" movement is correlated to courses that are primarily lecture-based. Or is this also a problem with active learning course designs like TBL, Peer Instruction, Problem Based Learning, etc.? To me, it feels like there are two competing pedagogical research threads -- faculty lecture effectiveness vs. student multitasking effectiveness -- vying for the attention of profs in how they they design and run their classrooms.
If the issue is competing with technology for the attention of students, I get it. The capability and capacity of media technology is too overwhelming. But given the research that has been compiled on lecture effectiveness, isn't the concern with banning laptops sorta beside the point? I always thought the underlying assumption of active learning is that students learn by doing, particularly with and from each other. But if we see learning as primarily listening to or watching someone else "doing" (i.e., the prof thinking or talking), then I could see how student computers could be distracting.
I realize re-designing a course so students do more may feel like a daunting "all in" decision for faculty. But am I missing something about the impact of student computers in successfully re-designed TBL or other active learning courses? If so, please educate me.
Thx,
John
--
John Fritz
Asst. VP, Instructional Technology<http://doit.umbc.edu/itnm>
UMBC Division of Information Technology<http://doit.umbc.edu>
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