Is it really second semester already? Even with a couple weeks under our belts, I’m not alone in still having a slight winter break fever. The start of classes came quickly, however I’ll admit, it was exciting to get back in the swing of things. With that said, I arrived to my first lecture a few minutes early in order to find a decent seat, scan the room for familiar faces and get all note-taking materials situated. To my surprise, minutes after I pulled out my laptop and opened a new notepad template, the professor announced, “There will not be screens allowed in my class.” Confused and embarrassed, I closed my computer and shoved it back in my backpack. Had I missed something? Never before had I been disallowed from taking notes on my computer, and I immediately questioned why.
After conducting research, listening to professor recommendations, and staying attentive to colleague’s comments, it made perfect sense. Laptops are a huge distraction in a lecture hall. During class, students are constantly tempted to triple check Facebook, shop online, pre-order lunch from Buffalo Wild Wings or conduct other miscellaneous tasks. Not only are the users themselves preoccupied with their screens but little do they realize their colleagues sitting rows behind them are becoming just as sidetracked with activities other than note taking. Lastly, put yourself in the professor’s shoes. Could you imagine being a lecturer with the lack of eye contact and constant clicking and clacking of fingers on a keyboard as students mindlessly type every word you spoke?
There are an infinite number of distractions during a lecture or classroom discussion as a result from the use of laptops, tablets and cell phones. I won’t deny that. I will question the logistics behind banning the one thing our generation knows better than anyone else: screens. We were raised and trained to find a class syllabus online, turn assignments in through Learn@UW, conduct research using online databases and so on. Nearly all materials necessary for college classes are found online, which has proven quite useful while saving seven cents a page. As we are in the midst of the 21st Century, almost all interactions ranging from professional to social are online, and it is shocking that our esteemed university is reluctant to make the forward leap in improving classroom environments. Having the ability to ‘control F’ a key word in an article, find all class materials consolidated in one place, or e-mail notes to an ill friend who missed the lecture are a few of the admired qualities of virtual note taking.
College students deserve a choice regarding their methods of annotation. Whether note taking occurs with a pen or pencil, the newest Apple computer, or heck, even written in cursive, UW Madison students have worked hard enough to have a seat in a lecture hall at such a prestigious university. It is important to aid in a compromise regarding a professor and a student’s needs and desires. It is a scholar’s position to stay attentive in class and shy away from diversions. And much to your surprise I’m sure, there is an App for that! Ever in need of virtual self-control? Numerous applications exist limiting the hours or frequency in which certain sites are visited. Could you imagine being forbidden to visit all guilty pleasure websites by setting restrictions during lectures and discussions? With that, the best way to create a comfortable and productive learning environment needs to incorporate all preferences regarding note taking and increase the reliability of our students and their attentive nature. Though once again, this issue does not only concern the note taker. It is important to take into account their peers and the professor as well.
Lecturing styles differ greatly. Certainly, lectures can be guided by PowerPoints and others are facilitated with the use of chalk and blackboards. Some professors post lecture summaries online and others rely on attendance of students to obtain their own records. Even pace of speech can differ greatly within an oration, and frankly, many times it is nearly impossible to record a continuous flow of new and important material as quickly as it is spoken. More importantly, professor’s teaching styles are anything but homogenous, as are their student’s learning styles. As we were continuously reminded by authority figures throughout multiple years of school, not everyone learns best in the same way and in time, one comes to find which learning and studying techniques work best individually. Why now are instructors limiting student’s potential for success by restricting usage of note-taking materials?
Several classrooms have already implemented a “no screen” requirement, and some professors have even begun to section off and devote specific areas their lecture hall to those who prefer laptop/screen note taking. By limiting distractions and allowing each individual a choice regarding their academic success, a more relaxed and constructive learning environment is developed and maintained. Simply, UW-Madison students deserve a choice concerning their academic success.
Maddie is a sophomore majoring in strategic communication with a certificate in business. Do you agree with her assesment on electronic note taking? We’d like to hear from you. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
