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>