“Laptop multitasking hinders classroom learning for both users and nearby peers” ~ Sana, Weston & Cepeda
Is it even possible to run a spoiler alert before the title of an academic paper? Laptop multitasking hinders classroom learning for both users and nearby peers. Talk about ruining the ending.
In any case, I’m not planning to rehash the paper – I trust you can read that for yourself, and I hope you do. What I am going to talk about is something far more basic.
So, first, a question: how many times have you yourself watched another student “multitasking” during class? I’m not talking about watching someone type lecture notes, I mean watching somebody respond to their email, update their Facebook status, check out 21 Adorable Child Stars Who Grew Up Sooo Ugly?
Okay, now how many times has that been you?
Yeah, I know. But don’t worry. It’ll be our secret. Not that you and I keeping our mouths shut about these multitasking indiscretions matters, because someone else knows, too. Do you know who that is?
That’s right, your professor. More than likely, your TA as well. Don’t think for one minute that the person tasked with operating the front of the house is somehow clueless about what’s going on out there in the rest of the room. They see. They know. Some of them even keep tabs.
But even that’s not the bigger issue here. Sure, it is bad if you don’t get the full 10% for class participation. That piece of the final grade might make the difference between a B+ or an A-, and I always advise students to never leave points on the table. The bigger issue here is that “multitasking” during class is, quite simply, rude. Your actions tell your teacher that what’s going on in the front of the room is far less interesting and of far less import than what’s going on in social media. So don’t do it. It’s not nice to passively insult these people.
Staff Writer: Pete Kimchuk, Senior Learning Instructor
Resources:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360131512002254