[Air-l] laptops and Internet access in class

[Dr. Steve Eskow]

A hunch, not yet a hypothesis.

The "classroom" is a an ICT: perhaps 600-square feet of enclosed space, 30 
chairs, a lectern or desk for a "teacher" who faces the "students" in the 
chairs, a "chalk board," and various recent enhancements.

This older communication technology and the new one are yet compatible, and 
may never be.

Thus: there is now evidence that when an instructor puts lectures, syllabus, 
resources, opportunities for access to faculty and other students. . .all 
online, the students choose not to come to "class."

Do most faculty members here require class attendance?

Steve Eskow
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Suzana Sukovic" <suzana.sukovic at uts.edu.au>
To: <air-l at listserv.aoir.org>
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2007 11:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Air-l] laptops and Internet access in class


>
>>
>>The experience also highlighted how difficult it was to sit BEHIND
>>someone who has graphical content on their laptop. I consider myself a
>>fairly animated speaker, but I apparently resemble an animated
>>character popular with undergrads these days, and it was distracting
>>for students to see that animation on screens several rows ahead. That
>>is, I have a feeling laptops are far more distracting to others in the
>>room then they are to the users.
>
> I've heard students repeatedly saying that they like full f2f engagement
> and technology used for particular purposes, but it may depend on a 
> course.
> There are different levels of engagement while listening and taking notes
> or listening and multitasking, but lecturers can't control that. I agree
> that laptops can affect students who don't use them. Recently, I was
> sitting in a dimly lit room waiting for a public lecture when someone with
> a laptop sat in front of me. A glare of a small screen was quite
> unpleasant, especially that there was a large screen switched on to be
> viewed during the lecture. I had to move to another seat. I imagine that
> interesting things happening on someone's screen can be distracting to
> students.
>
> This is not to say that laptops and mobile phones can't be used
> successfully in the classroom. Sam's example shows a successful use of
> technology integrated in class activities and used by everyone. Has anyone
> tried to use mobile phones in the classroom? A couple of years ago mobile
> phones were successfully used at UTS to boost popularity of some very
> unpopular but compulsory 1st year finance courses. Students were asked to
> send answers to questions, which were diligently reviewed during a break
> and presented to the class. It turned to be a really good way to engage 
> the
> students.
> Suzana
>
> Suzana Sukovic
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