The Use of Laptops in My Classes

I strongly discourage the use of laptops for notetaking in my classes. After many years of trying differing approaches, and based on considerable research and my experiences, I remain convinced that an electronics-free environment is most conducive to learning and teaching.  I have several reasons for my decision, which I am happy to share with you.  Some of the reasons why I encourage an electronics-free classroom include my desire to:

• create and maintain a “safe" classroom environment;
• minimize distractions as much as possible;
• encourage meaningful discussions during class time involving all students;
• maximize student learning in the classroom;
• eliminate the temptation of students to take stenography rather than engage in thoughtful note-taking; and
• produce more significant learning and therefore higher quality student performance on exams.

If you are interested in reading further on this subject, the following articles may be of interest to you:

• "Why a Leading Professor of New Media Just Banned Technology Use in Class.”  
• “Why You Should Take Notes By Hand — Not On a Laptop.”
• Cindy May, A Learning Secret:  Don’t Take Notes with a Laptop, Scientific American (June 3, 2014), http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-learning-secret-don-t-take-notes-with-a-laptop/
• Karen Sloan, Laptops Found More Likely to Distract 2Ls and 3Ls in Class,  The National Law Journal (Sept. 5, 2013).
• Jeff Sovern, Law Student Laptop Use During Class for Non-Class Purposes:  Temptation v. Incentives, 51 U. Louisville L. Rev. 483 (2013).

See also Dan Rockmore, The Case for Banning Laptops in the Classroom, The New Yorker (June 6, 2014).  But see Robert Talbert, Three Issues With the Case for Banning Laptops, Chronicle of Higher Education (June 13, 2014).