Laptops in class?

[Payne]

I'm getting stuff together to bring to campus, and I'm not sure if I should take class notes with my laptop or the traditional pen & paper. What's your experience with this been like? I've heard that laptop bans by professors is becoming a national trend. What about at Iowa State?

[VikesFan28]

Plenty of people use laptops, but I never have. I use a pencil and notebook. I know all laptop users don't get on other websites during class, but a lot of people do and it can be distracting. I find myself checking out their screen instead of taking notes.

Welcome to Iowa State.

[ISUtamu]

I always use pen and paper, because I know I'll just get distracted, going on CF, FB or whatever. I can see that from the perspective of the professor, if students are using a laptop they could not be listening, and just wasting the profs time.

[CycloneErik]

Pen and paper makes you think about what you're writing when you take notes more, and it takes away the distraction factor for people around you from keystrokes or whatever else you might have on the screen.

It also reduces that distraction for you. I like computers for work, pen and paper for notes.

[IcSyU]

Use a pen and paper and you'll retain more. If you really want to be on top of things, type out your notes into something like OneNote after class but don't take a laptop for classtime usage.

The vast majority of laptop usage has nothing to do with class.

[3TrueFans]

I preferred a laptop, my handwriting is poor and much slower than typing.

[BuffettClone]

I used pen and paper, but there were always a few laptops in every class. A little advice if you use pen and paper...write so you can read your notes at a later date. I had trouble with that and made studying harder to do

[alarson]

I preferred a laptop, my handwriting is poor and much slower than typing.

I was the same.

[wxman1]

most professors don't ban them but will make you put it away if they suspect you aren't taking notes. more are straight out banning them though.

[CycloneErik]

Most everyone writes more slowly than they type. That's part of the pen and paper benefit, in that it requires you to think through what you're hearing while you take notes.

It's handy to come up with good abbreviations to shorten up the process, too.

[RayShimley]

Most professors are ok with it as long as you are not caught browsing on websites, but some will definitely not allow them. If they are not allowed, it will usually say on the syllabus and be specified at the first day of class.

[Senolcyc]

I can see that from the perspective of the professor, if students are using a laptop they could not be listening, and just wasting the profs time.

The professors get paid either way, by the students. None of their concern who is paying attention and who isn't. That is the students' prerogative.

[3TrueFans]

Most everyone writes more slowly than they type. That's part of the pen and paper benefit, in that it requires you to think through what you're hearing while you take notes.

It's handy to come up with good abbreviations to shorten up the process, too.

Taking notes isn't about thinking, you fool!

[gocubs2118]

I usually printed the power point slides if the professor uploaded them before the class and took additional notes on those.

[RING4CY]

I preferred a laptop, my handwriting is poor and much slower than typing.

For the same reasons, I started bringing a laptop to class, but I have since gone back to pen and paper.