Evan reports that the Great Laptop Debate continues. Apparently some professors are banning laptops in class because, for one reason or another, they feel computers detract from class.
I tend to disagree with that assessment, but I also think law professors can do pretty much what they want to in their classrooms.
I'll be the first to admit that there are times in class when I am doing something else with my computer. I might be reading or writing an email, or, yes, even reading a weblog. More commonly, though, I have an IM session going with a classmate, and we often have a discusssion going in class about the topic. I definitely feel that is an enriching experience, because it allows us to be engaged in the topic even when not being called on. I've also used my connection to look up cases or facts online when they came up. I don't play games in class. Not even solitaire. I did a couple times last year, but I didn't like it--games are for game time.
On the other hand, I tend to think professors can do pretty much what they want for their classes. In ConLaw terms, I tend to apply the rational basis test. This means (for the non-law types out there) that if their actions are rationally connected to the result they are trying to accomplish, they're fine. It's a pretty easy test to meet, and it would be in this case.
If they banned laptops in my school? Well, I'd be disappointed, but I certainly wouldn't organize the Million Law Student March or anything. Although in my school, I suppose it would be the Two Hundred Twenty-Five Law Student March (the number in all three classes). I would shrug and go about my business, although I would be irritated at the school for taking such an action after spending all the money to have ethernet connections for each seat.
Frankly, I have bigger things to worry about. Like three more final exams.
I think what professors are getting all worked up over is nothing. There have always been stories about the ways that students chose not to pay attention. Have I done these things, YES. Have I looked at things online while in class, YES. Someone is going to be distracted whenever you have a captive audience who may or may not want to be there. Giving us laptops did not change this, taking them away certainly will not eaither. I think what freaks the professors out is that they cannot see when we are not paying attention. Although that begs the question of how well they could tell before.
I wonder if Plato had the same problem when his students went from simply listning to scrying notes on papyrus?