Spring Break
Laptops can lower grades
Computers might distract
SHELBY JONES
Issue date: 2/19/07 Section: News
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Students who use laptops in class have lower GPAs, according to a study by Cornell University.
In the study, students were given laptops monitored for Internet use and it was noted that taking notes was their last priority. Instead, students browsed the Internet.
"Longer browsing sessions during class tend to lead to lower grades," said the report in the Journal of Educational Technology and Society.
Katie Fite, a freshman from Snellville, found her grades lowered significantly after bringing her laptop to class.
"When I look around at the people using laptops, 99 percent of the time, people are on Facebook or playing games," said Fite.
She said she has noticed her grades have been lower since she began bringing her laptop to class.
Kathryn Milam, a sophomore from Carrollton, said she's distracted by the laptops other students bring.
"They're extraordinarily distracting. I once watched someone play a snowboarding game for about twenty minutes."
Professors have taken action to stop irresponsible use of laptops, such as walking around the classroom to monitor use or banning them altogether.
"Some people think that if a student wishes to spend my class chatting with friends or family, it is their business," said Ruth Ann Lariscy, an advertising professor in the Grady College. "I happen to disagree."
Lariscy instituted a no-laptop policy in her classes last semester. Although two students protested, most students told her "they appreciate the atmosphere that is created when they are not allowed," Lariscy said.
Other professors are distracted more by newspapers.
"Laptops don't distract me," said Brian Binder, associate professor of marine biology. "Taking notes on laptops make sense, but newspapers are incredibly rude."
Audrey Haynes, associate professor of political science, said laptops are more prevalent in large lecture courses. In her 300 student lecture, about eight students use a laptop, but no students do in her upper division classes.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 8
Dan
posted 2/19/07 @ 10:02 AM EST
Definition of irony: I am reading this article on my laptop while I not paying attention in my abnormal psychology lecture (300+ people)
Unimpressed Dawg
posted 2/19/07 @ 11:33 AM EST
Wow, Dan, you're just blowing my mind. That's really wild stuff.
People who pay attenion in class may actually know the "definition of irony." Dan apparently does not. (Continued…)
Sol
posted 2/19/07 @ 1:32 PM EST
Laptop's can be powerful tools for learning in the classroom. Just because some students misuse the tools is no good reason to ban them. Students should come to the classroom with the intent to learn. (Continued…)
Joel
posted 2/19/07 @ 6:17 PM EST
English majors that have no lives and try to pick fights with someone on a red and black message board over irony suck.
Student
posted 2/19/07 @ 8:52 PM EST
Actually, what sucks is a person who so completely relishes his own lack of education that he actually brags about it on the Red & Black. I mean, seriously - all I can say is WOW. (Continued…)
jonathan
posted 2/20/07 @ 7:21 PM EST
This article states "new research suggests", but in reality all the research in the report mentioned was done pre-2000. If you look in the sources cited in the journal, which came out in 2001, all the research was from sources pre-2000, ranging from 1988-1999. (Continued…)
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