We’ve seen it all—students taking notes, playing solitaire, watching the Red Wings highlights and streaming episodes of “The Walking Dead”, all while sitting in class.
Technology is a loophole to a world of possibilities. But to some professors, it has become a barrier to learning. For students living in the digital age, professors should recognize this fact and be aware of it, rather than completely restricting the use of technology.
A string of emails was recently passed between professors, discussing the issues laptops and cellphones present as distractions.
One of the articles shared among professors in these emails discusses “digital dementia.”
Recent Korean studies have shown technology users are having increasing difficulties with memorization at early ages.
Other articles discussed the problems professors have when students are using computers and cellphones, as they cause distractions for other students.
It is important that professors are taking measures to make their classrooms a venue for learning in an atmosphere students are able to concentrate. However, restricting technology isn’t their job. Rather, it’s a job for the students themselves.
Students need to learn how to multi-task because it’s vitally important.
We live in a fast-pace world where company meetings consist of a board of employees working together to complete a team project while individually handling their own emails and phone calls.
Classroom multitasking is an opportunity for students to learn how to navigate technology while paying full attention to the task at hand, when they’ll need it in the real world.
Furthermore, students need to be responsible enough to know when the time is right to put the technology down and focus on the lesson.
Students must recognize they (or their parents) are paying for class. They need to use their time wisely, paying attention in class, not goofing off online or texting.
We’re in college.
If students can’t wait to reset their fantasy lineups until after class, they might as well not even show up.
