Spring Break
DANIEL ORTNER: Lack of laptop policy reveals mistrust
by Daniel Ortner
Columnists | 3/13/07
Posted online at 11:57 PM EST on 3/12/07
/ Last updated at 3:36 AM EST on 3/12/07
Technological breakthroughs have brought convenience and comfort into students' lives, yet students are often barred from using laptops to take notes in classes, and the only mention of computers in Rights and Responsibilities protects from privacy infringements due to technology-completely irrelevant in this regard. While some professors allow laptops into the classroom, others do not. This inconsistant standard denies students of an essential right.
Students with documented disabilities receive permission to use laptops without question; it is unfair, however, that laptop privileges for other students should be revoked at the professor's discretion.
There must be a positive affirmation of a student's right to take notes in whatever fashion he or she please.
It is clear that the current policy is based on mistrust of students. This seems to be a fundamentally poor position for a relationship between professors and their students. While students are expected to diligently copy down the professor's words, and often learn them verbatim, they are denied their most efficient way of doing this.
Admittedly, fears of students using laptops for purposes other then taking notes are well-founded. I admit that I have used my laptop to surf the web, check my e-mail and even chat with friends during class; however, even with a pen and paper students can doodle, write poems or short stories and pass notes. Students may also just block out the lecture completely and daze off; students will always find a way to escape a particularly boring lecture. Draconian preventive measures cannot stop them from doing this.
Several other points of criticism came up when I spoke to Junior and Senior Class Advisor Wendy Russman-Halperin. One reason she mentioned that no policy exists is that there are classes where note-taking is an anathema: P.E. courses or some acting courses, for instance. It is quite obvious, however, that students will not be bringing laptops into the weight room and this is a rather poor excuse.
Students with documented disabilities receive permission to use laptops without question; it is unfair, however, that laptop privileges for other students should be revoked at the professor's discretion.
There must be a positive affirmation of a student's right to take notes in whatever fashion he or she please.
It is clear that the current policy is based on mistrust of students. This seems to be a fundamentally poor position for a relationship between professors and their students. While students are expected to diligently copy down the professor's words, and often learn them verbatim, they are denied their most efficient way of doing this.
Admittedly, fears of students using laptops for purposes other then taking notes are well-founded. I admit that I have used my laptop to surf the web, check my e-mail and even chat with friends during class; however, even with a pen and paper students can doodle, write poems or short stories and pass notes. Students may also just block out the lecture completely and daze off; students will always find a way to escape a particularly boring lecture. Draconian preventive measures cannot stop them from doing this.
Several other points of criticism came up when I spoke to Junior and Senior Class Advisor Wendy Russman-Halperin. One reason she mentioned that no policy exists is that there are classes where note-taking is an anathema: P.E. courses or some acting courses, for instance. It is quite obvious, however, that students will not be bringing laptops into the weight room and this is a rather poor excuse.
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