Abstract
How often do students use laptop computers in class and do we care? For three semesters, a Business School course was taught in a computer lab with a computer on every desk. The computers were not needed in the course but students could use them any time for any reason (note taking, internet, etc.) or could ignore them. For the next three semesters, the same course was taught in a classroom with no computers. Most variables were held constant during the six semesters including the professor, syllabus, textbook, and assessment tools. When computers were available, 58% of the students in a typical class accessed the internet for a median 19 minutes each. A comparison of the student learning outcomes is made for the periods both with and without individual classroom computers. The audience will use “clickers” to answer questions related to their policy concerning laptop computer usage during class.
Location
Room 2904
Recommended Citation
Furick, Michael, "Do Students Naturally Use Classroom Technology as a Tool or Distraction?" (2010). SoTL Commons Conference. 30.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/sotlcommons/SoTL/2010/30
Do Students Naturally Use Classroom Technology as a Tool or Distraction?
Room 2904
How often do students use laptop computers in class and do we care? For three semesters, a Business School course was taught in a computer lab with a computer on every desk. The computers were not needed in the course but students could use them any time for any reason (note taking, internet, etc.) or could ignore them. For the next three semesters, the same course was taught in a classroom with no computers. Most variables were held constant during the six semesters including the professor, syllabus, textbook, and assessment tools. When computers were available, 58% of the students in a typical class accessed the internet for a median 19 minutes each. A comparison of the student learning outcomes is made for the periods both with and without individual classroom computers. The audience will use “clickers” to answer questions related to their policy concerning laptop computer usage during class.
