I am not opposed to students using laptops during class, if it is for my class. This is a provisional policy and will be revoked, quickly without second chances, for a class if a student does not abide by the below request.
I define "for my class" very strictly:
You may use laptops to: a) type notes for my class and b) view reading and other support material provided either from our main home page or bSpace.
You do not need to look up anything on the web, for example, during class and should never email me during class.
Turn off chats and such so you will not be receiving pop up windows during class.
Sometimes I might ask a student to check something for me. This is an exception. It doesn't mean that the laptop policy has been eased or loosened in any way.
Students who wish to use laptops at anytime, even if briefly, need to paste the below into an email and send it to me before using a laptop.
Use this subject line "coursenumber_LASTNAME_firstname_laptop". (These are some common course numbers for my classes: J7A, J7B, J130, J155, J159, EA105, EA109.)
I (your name) understand that Wallace limits the use of laptops to for his class only. I accept these conditions for laptop use. I understand that not doing so will be considered a serious breech in trust between Wallace and me, and, further, might affect my grade. I also understand that breaking this promise might eliminate the right for all in the classroom to use laptops. I also understand that it may affect Wallace's policy towards future classes, that, in other words, breaking this promise may deny future students access to laptops.
Why I have this policy:
I am strongly opposed to multitasking because:
Multitasking does work for some types of activities but my class asks for your full attention, turning over concepts as we put them on the table, reacting to the ideas of others and so on. I strong believe multi-tasking is incompatible with what I hope you will be doing when in one of my classes.
In addition, multi-tasking does slow productivity and usually reduces retention of information, effects that students in general should be well-informed about.
Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences: Cognitive Control in Media Multitaskers
Abstract: Chronic media multitasking is quickly becoming ubiquitous, although processing multiple incoming streams of information is considered a challenge for human cognition. A series of experiments addressed whether there are systematic differences in information processing styles between chronically heavy and light media multitaskers. A trait media multitasking index was developed to identify groups of heavy and light media multitaskers. These two groups were then compared along established cognitive control dimensions. Results showed that heavy media multitaskers are more susceptible to interference from irrelevant environmental stimuli and from irrelevant representations in memory. This led to the surprising result that heavy media multitaskers performed worse on a test of task-switching ability, likely due to reduced ability to filter out interference from the irrelevant task set. These results demonstrate that media multitasking, a rapidly growing societal trend, is associated with a distinct approach to fundamental information processing.
elearnspace: Why Studies About Multitasking Are Missing The Point
Wired (reporting on 2009 Stanford study): Multitasking Muddles Brains, Even When the Computer Is Off
ars technica (2007): Study says: leave the multitasking to your computer
American Psychological Association Online (2001): IS MULTITASKING MORE EFFICIENT? SHIFTING MENTAL GEARS COSTS TIME, ESPECIALLY WHEN SHIFTING TO LESS FAMILIAR TASKS
I feel that literature and cultural issues demand your full attention to gain more than a superficial understanding and to help subvert prejudiced capture of information ("Oh, that is just like ..." without noticing how it is subtly different; or tracking data rather than discursive descriptions of things. In my classes the descriptions, the conversations, the dialogue tend to be the main content, with the data provided via handouts, in order to intentionally remove some of that from the classroom, to make space for discussion.)
I also feel it is important to listen to others with your full attention.
Laptops (or any other electronic devices) are not allowed during closed book exams. Laptops are allowed for open book exams but in a limited way. Expect me to look over your shoulder frequently. This is obviously because in exams a laptop can give a student an advantage over someone not using a laptop. Fairness to all students is very important to me.