Thanks Brian. I don't disagree, no need to force technology if there's no compelling reason for using it. However, can I just follow up: Do you ban student technology because it's been a proven distraction in your TBL course (and among student teams), or is this a carry-over policy from previous courses that were primarily lecture based? Not trying to force an artificial binary, just testing an assumption. Best, John On Wed, Oct 1, 2014 at 5:18 PM, Brian R <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > I ban ALL cell phones and laptops. I believe we get too caught up into > thinking that we have to incorporate technology into everything we do. I > believe that computers and cell phones are very distracting to students; > some of them can not help but to check their Facebook page or a quick text. > Overall, I believe that the teams work more effectively when there re "no" > computers or cell phones..... > > ------------------------------ > Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2014 14:30:48 -0400 > From: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Is Banning Student Laptops Common in Active Learning Courses? > To: [log in to unmask] > > 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> > 410.455.6596 | [log in to unmask] | FYI: Tech Support Tips > <http://doit.umbc.edu/support/tips> > -- John Fritz Asst. VP, Instructional Technology <http://doit.umbc.edu/itnm> UMBC Division of Information Technology <http://doit.umbc.edu> 410.455.6596 | [log in to unmask] | FYI: Tech Support Tips <http://doit.umbc.edu/support/tips>