All electronics banned?

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I was curious if any other programs have a "no electronic devices allowed" rule for lectures or clinicals. No computers, netbooks, voice recorders, or pdas/cell-phones with apps.

I'm very disappointed in that policy, since I take usually take notes on my Macbook twice as fast as I can write. I feel like they are fighting technology instead of embracing it.

thanks,

Kurt

I'm against cellphones, don't have one and never will so I'm all for it! It's very distracting when a cellphone goes off, even when it's on vibrate. I started class today and I'm so glad my prof. has ordered everyone to turn their cellphone OFF while in class, no vibrate either. As for voice recorders....I think most prof. allow them, never heard of any banning them. I don't know....maybe speak with your prof. about what's allowed or find another way to take notes. :/

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Cellphones are supposed to be turned off during class, otherwise if it goes off, the student has to bring breakfast for a whole class of 60+ students. Last semester, the instructor's phone rang, and she brought in muffins and juice. At least she wasn't a hypocrite about it. We are allowed to use our PDA software that has the drug book, diseases book and Tabers. Some bring laptops and the instructor has no problem with it.

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Cellphones are supposed to be turned off during class, otherwise if it goes off, the student has to bring breakfast for a whole class of 60+ students. Last semester, the instructor's phone rang, and she brought in muffins and juice. At least she wasn't a hypocrite about it. We are allowed to use our PDA software that has the drug book, diseases book and Tabers. Some bring laptops and the instructor has no problem with it.

That is awesome!!! :yeah:

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

If my school bans electronics, then why do they make us take a computer class to apply?

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I understand cell phone policies...but not the laptop restrictions. For my first degree I majored in journalism and advertising, which is a very pro-technology crowd and I guess I've just been brainwashed to go with the flow. For me, taking notes on my laptop is simply more efficient than hand writing them. It allows me to write less and listen more.

I don't fool around on the Internet while in class, and I don't care if others do. If someone spends the entire class on Facebook, then that should show up in their grade when they don't know the answer to a question. It's the same as someone without a laptop just zoning out and not paying attention.

As far as it being a distraction to other students, I don't really buy it. I've been in crowded lecture halls where many students are using laptops and on the Internet, and sure, I notice it, but it doesn't bother me because I'm looking at the instructor, not at them. You can adjust to the glow of the screens and the keyboard sounds. And again, if someone else is too enthralled with what another person is doing on their laptop to pay attention, that's their problem.

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Ha, I just saw this posting after I made my post in regards to those who use laptops in the classroom setting... I guess I'm lucky my institution has not gone to that degree yet. of course, there aren't a bunch of folks using laptops at this particular place and the folks that do use them use them for the appropriate reasons... accessing class materials online and what not. I really don't see what this craze is about facebook. haven't done it yet, and likely never will. I must have just skipped by the 'social networking' era.

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I really don't see what this craze is about facebook. haven't done it yet, and likely never will. I must have just skipped by the 'social networking' era.

Good for you! It's mostly just a time waster. I've pondered deleting my account altogether, but being able to see what my long distance relatives and friends are up to is kind of nice...I'm just another slave to technology. :/

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I took off my Facebook account for some time, but brought it back. As long as it's used in moderation, it's fine.

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I took off my Facebook account for some time, but brought it back. As long as it's used in moderation, it's fine.

My thing is I just simply don't have or see a use for it, for myself. My wife has one and loves it. It's just not my cup of tea. It was hard enough for me to start texting people.. I'd still rather call and have some form of personal contact. Electronics have taken a lot of that away for today's youth.

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

Call me a traditionalist, but I went to undergrad during a time when laptops and cell phones were not commonplace items as they are today (and really, that was not that long ago). I'll take a notebook and pen with me any day. I won't ever have to worry about malfunctions, except for a pen that runs out of ink, but alas, I can always carry another one. As for cell phones, I am as connected as the next guy with my own smartphone, but I am the first to shut it off before lecture begins. The outside world can wait an hour or 90 minutes until my lecture is over, that's what voicemail is for!

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Call me a traditionalist, but I went to undergrad during a time when laptops and cell phones were not commonplace items as they are today (and really, that was not that long ago). I'll take a notebook and pen with me any day. I won't ever have to worry about malfunctions, except for a pen that runs out of ink, but alas, I can always carry another one. As for cell phones, I am as connected as the next guy with my own smartphone, but I am the first to shut it off before lecture begins. The outside world can wait an hour or 90 minutes until my lecture is over, that's what voicemail is for!

Voicemail.. what? You mean you don't have that bluetooth piece surgically placed inside your auditory canal? Sheesh, get with the times! ;)

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

I used my laptop extensively for note taking in several classes, including statistics (during which I became quite proficient with the MS Word equation editor). Not only does it permit more thorough note-taking due to the higher rate of data entry, when using well-designed templates and AutoCorrect entries, the notes are much cleaner and easier to read.

Having typed notes also provides the benefit of being able to search your notes for words or phrases.

I think teachers who ban laptops are simply demonstrating their own lack of classroom management skills as well as their technological backwardness.

Seriously... in 2010 we're not allowed to use a computer to take notes? Simply amazing.

Let the Facebookers reap what they've sown, I say.

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