OK, since this is my blog...it seems only appropriate that I use it for the purpose for which it was intended...to RANT! Today, I read a very disturbing article that was printed in the Washington Post. The article, "Wide Web of Diversions gets Laptop Evicted from Lecture Halls," discusses Georgetown Law Professor David Cole's crusade against technology.
Here is my favorite quote from the article: "This is like putting on every student's desk, when you walk into class, five different magazines, several television shows, some shopping opportunities and a phone, and saying, 'Look, if your mind wanders, feel free to pick any of these up and go with it."
1. Mr. Cole, you are ridiculous!
2. Mr. Cole, if your class was interesting enough, maybe their minds wouldn't wander!
3. These are adult learners we are talking about here, I'm pretty sure they are responsible enough to learn the material that they need to...and if they don't they probably shouldn't be at Georgetown Law. Yes, I do understand that there are some issues with younger learners with respect to being responsible digital citizens in the classroom, but these are adults! Stop treating them like children!
4. Wake up and get with the 21st century! Your students are more comfortable using laptops to take notes, looking up information they don't understand, seeking supplemental materials during your lecture. THIS IS THE WAY THEY LEARN AND COMMUNICATE! If you force them to learn the way you prefer to learn you are doing them a huge injustice, not to mention making the material more difficult for them to learn. Why don't you take some time and read some learning theory--don't worry you can find this information in books!
5. Understand that your class is NOT about you, it is about your students. Yes, I am sure you worked hard to get to where you are, but at the end of the day, you are an EDUCATOR...so start doing your job! If your students aren't paying attention, get their attention! Don't just expect them to ride on your every word and drool while staring at your pretty face for 3 hours. If they aren't learning...TEACH THEM!!!
6. As for your love of pens and paper, I am sure you can find another use for them :)
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Wow, what a very intelligent and impressive rant! Did you post a comment on the Post's website? Personally, I have become so dependent on my laptop to provide everything from supplemental materials to definitions, and in some cases, pronounciations, to the point it's become a necessity to have around. I wonder if he had the sense to look at what his students were working on or looking at to know if he was losing their interest or peaking their interests to learn more about the topic he presented. Hum...
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