[Air-l] laptops and Internet access in class

[Amy S. Bruckman]

I actually use this topic as an in-class discussion.  The class is CS
4001 Computers, Society an Professionalism, our required ethics (and
argumentation) class.  Our text (Writing Arguments by Ramage et al)
has a nice chapter on evidence.  We talk this through as a way of
exploring what would be proper evidence for the pros and cons on both
sides.  And how best to present that evidence.

When I announce what today's discussion topic will be, the expressions
on the faces of the students with laptops open is absolutely priceless!

What I think is important (and this is the top-level point of the class as
a whole) is not giving the students a particular answer, but making
sure they *ask the question*, and find the answer that works for them.
(Is this helping me?  Is this distracting me?  Am I here because I have
to be, or because there's something I want to get out of it?  Etc.)

-- Amy

Amy Bruckman
Associate Professor
College of Computing
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA  30332-0760

Tel: 	404-894-9222
Fax: 	404-894-3146
Email: 	asb at cc.gatech.edu
Web:	http://www.cc.gatech.edu/~asb/