SITTING in my science lecture the other day, I happened to glance at the notebook of the girl sitting in front of me who, halfway through class, began to write something. I proceeded to watch as she scribbled something along the lines of "oh my god this class makes no sense, view slides on collab." Reading this, I could not help but feel annoyed. Throughout the first half of class, I watched her continuously text while our professor was lecturing only a few feet away about a topic that the student likely would not have had a problem understanding had she not been distracted by texting.\nShe was not the only person I noticed enthralled with a phone, however. Unfortunately, technology use in class has become a norm, something that I feel not only distracts and prevents us from understanding and learning class material, but also disrespects professors and other speakers in the academic setting of the University.
When in class we are expected to put away our phones and focus on our professor giving the day's lecture, and yet I find myself constantly glancing around the room and seeing numerous students with their phones out - often on their desks - and engaged in texting. This is a constant distraction students submit themselves to each day as they attend class.
This offense is minor, however, compared to another problem that pops up in certain lectures where students are permitted to bring laptops for "note-taking" purposes.
When students bring laptops to class, the implicit premise is that they will be using them solely for note-taking. The idea is that some individuals can type faster and more accurately than they write, and they will be able to keep their notes more organized and legible. While this might be the case, a potential issue does arise. If you sit near the back of any lecture hall in which students are using laptops, one look around the room reveals that many individuals are on Facebook, checking their email, shopping for new shoes - basically not using laptops for the reason they are allowed in class. Students take advantage of the professor's trust in allowing them the opportunity to use such technology in the classroom setting. It is funny, actually, when you consider the device we use to help us take better notes actually allows us to do everything but.
Now, that is not to say everyone falls into this category. Many individuals actually do pay attention in class while taking notes on computers, and many individuals, myself included, do not text during lecture. But let us be honest: Using technology in the classroom is becoming more of a hindrance than an aid. I will be the first to say that, yes, I am guilty of using my laptop to check Facebook and other sites when I should be paying attention to my professors.
In my media studies class, I talked to my classmate Ally Singer, a third-year College student. I asked her if she had ever texted or used Facebook on her laptop in class, to which she replied an honest yes, saying, "If you have your computer with you, it's almost impossible not to stray, and if you look around, you see everyone else on Facebook, so you think 'Hey, I'll check mine too.'"
By bringing our technology to class, we are so much more likely to be distracted. It is so easy to think, "Oh, I'll just check that one notification" or "Checking to see who texted me couldn't hurt that much." It is this impulse we must fight, however. If you do not think you can get through class without falling to this temptation, it may be in your best interest to try another method of note-taking such as returning to the olden days of pen and paper. You might still get distracted by daydreaming, but it is much easier to snap out of a daydream than it is to pull yourself away from the Internet.\nLately, I have been converting to this old way of taking notes, preventing myself from getting distracted and allowing me to actually engage and listen in class. No longer do I feel the temptation to check Facebook in class, because I no longer have any temptation to face. The same goes for texting. Because I put my phone away as soon as I get to class, I do not see it. Therefore, I do not feel the need to check it every five minutes.
I recommend putting your phone away in your book bag or purse as soon as you get to class. It will still be there at the end of lecture, and chances are there is not a life-or-death text from your mother awaiting your reply. Putting your technology away for a bit will not kill you, and it might actually benefit your understanding of class material in the long run. If nothing else, you will at least benefit from knowing you are respecting your professors a little bit more.
Bradlee Palmquist is a Viewpoint writer for The Cavalier Daily.
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