Kassie Hauser is fully clothed in winter gear, from warm boots to a scarf wound tightly around her neck. She is practically breaking a sweat, bundled up, while standing inside of the Social Science building.
Yet, the UW-Madison freshman feels naked... and uncomfortable.
\I don't have my laptop with me,"" Hauser says, clearly frustrated. ""I just got out of work and I didn't have the time to go back to my dorm room to get it. It just doesn't feel right.""
As Hauser walks into her 300-seat lecture hall, about eight computer screens glare brightly at her, standing out from the traditional pen and paper. Most of the students still follow the unwritten rule of physically writing notes in class.
However, one must wonder: Is the future one in which Hauser will walk into a class and feel uncomfortable not only because she feels incomplete without her computer but also because she is the only person without one?
Is the 1999 film ""Legally Blonde,"" which showed an oblivious law student without a laptop naively walking into a classroom full of computers-as well as an unknown world of technology-the new norm?
The forthcoming Core Data Service 2003 Summary Report, conducted by the not-for-profit EDUCAUSE, states approximately 3.2 percent of colleges require students to own or lease PCs, according to the Christian Science Monitor.
Though undergraduate students on the UW campus who bring laptops to class are still a significant minority as shown by the small number of students who do carry a computer to class, it is clear the times are changing.
The UW-Madison College of Engineering now encourages students to purchase their own wireless laptop computer. According to the Computer-Aided Engineering Center Web site, wireless laptops provide many advantages, such as ""mobility, in-class use and collaboration."" The UW Law School requires students to have a computer and it is highly recommended students buy a laptop.
""This is a sheer guess, but I would say that over half the students in my classes bring laptops to class to take notes,"" UW Law School Dean Kenneth Davis said. ""The use of laptops in class has increased dramatically in the past two years. I just think students purchase laptops now as their primary computer. It's cheaper now too.""
For law school, a laptop is a practical addition because law students centralize their life in the law building, Davis said.
Students can take advantage of the wireless environment by taking notes in class, organizing their notes in the library and writing papers without leaving a central location.
For undergraduate students, the convenience is also a key factor in carrying a computer to class. It is true a computer can be a hassle because of its weight and space, but the benefits outweigh the pain.
Hauser, who says she is the only one of her friends to take notes on her laptop, thinks it is an advantage for several reasons.
""I'm a messy writer and I type faster than I write. Most professors have outlines online so it is easy to just type along with it. This way I'm not wasting paper which also saves a lot of money. I also don't have to look through piles of notes all the time,"" Hauser says. ""Some people think it's weird when I bring it to class, but when I show them what my desktop looks like or email them the in-depth notes I take in class, then they can easily see my point.""
It is necessary to point out that it all depends on the students' preference. While some prefer furiously writing down notes with a pen, others conform to the computer. Even at Ivy League institutions, laptop note-taking in class has not taken over college campuses.
""I don't even have a laptop. I don't think most kids bring laptops to class,"" Shannon Gavin, a Brown University sophomore, said. Gavin's classes range from 10 to 60 students, and she added she thinks the small learning environment might have an impact. ""I have mostly small classes and I have never seen people bring computers to class.""
Professors at UW-Madison also acknowledge the size of classes may determine whether or not students lug their laptops to class. UW-Madison Professor of Sociology Erik Olin Wright's classes are primarily 20 to 30 students though he has one class of 300 students. In his smaller classes, a couple of students use laptops for note taking, which he said he approved of for several reasons.
""I think the students who take notes on a computer are more likely to create a file of their notes. They are more likely to archive their notes so they will have easy access when they are seniors in three years, and keep them for future reference,"" Wright said ""Overall, it's a good thing. I think the typing can be distracting to some people, but people tune it out.""
There are negatives, however.
""Sometimes students may take too many notes. They aren't thinking, just transcribing. They may not listen, just type and not pay attention. They may play games, but students can also fall asleep in class and not pay attention, too,"" Wright continued.
The allure of archiving and games does not appeal to everybody and because of this fact, UW-Madison senior Deanna Kelly does not think the trend of laptop note-taking in classes will speed up.
""I don't really think that people bring laptops to class more than they did when I first came here,"" she says. ""It may be because I am in the business school and the notes come mainly from power point slides so it is not really that necessary. I don't think it is going to increase because of a 'trend.'""
Hauser concurs, saying people will bring computers to class if they want, not because of what other people do. If it is easier for a particular person, then they will do whatever is best to enhance their education. But, there is at least one drawback:
""Sometimes it's not logical to bring it to every class, but that's not my biggest worry. If you write down notes, it's OK to drop your notebook. Sometimes I worry about dropping my laptop because I am a klutz.""
