Leaving Technology Behind
Whether or not technology should be used in the classroom has been debated frequently through the years. There are multiple ideas about how often, or how little, technology should be used when teaching. Many teachers enjoy using technology in their lesson plans; however, Professor Darren Rosenblum does not support laptops in his classroom. Rosenblum expresses his thoughts in his article “Leave Your Laptops at the Door to My Classroom.” Rosenblum talks about laptops being a distraction for classroom interaction; he also believes that the students would learn the material better if they did not take notes on laptops. Rosenblum does not effectively portray the negative effects of having laptops in the classroom; however, Rosenblum accurately explains the differences in typing notes and writing notes by hand.
In the article, Rosenblum expresses that when the students use his or her laptops during class, the connection between the students and the teacher is lost. According to Rosenblum, “Screens block us from connecting, whether at dinner or in a classroom” (Rosenblum par. 5). He claims that the students use laptops for activities other than the schoolwork while in the classroom. Rosenblum points out that the students shop online and check Facebook when there is a break in class, instead of connecting with the other students around them. Rosenblum also believes, although laptops do help the students to take notes faster during a lecture, laptops also give students easy access to distractions. He decided that he would ban laptops from his classroom. When Rosenblum banned laptops in his classroom, he noticed the interaction between classmates increased.
Rosenblum believes that laptops are not the best resource to have in the classroom, and he believes that laptops give students easy access to distractions. Rosenblum says, “Laptops at best reduce education to the clackety-clack of transcribing lectures on shiny screens and, at worst, provide students with a constant escape from whatever is hard, challenging or uncomfortable about learning” (Rosenblum par. 2). I disagree with Rosenblum's belief. I believe that laptops could be used to an advantage in the classroom. If the distractions on the internet are banned in the classroom, then the internet could be used to benefit the class. For example, my school encourages the use of laptops and other technology in classroom: the distractions are blocked on the school’s Internet, and the laptops are utilized to expand our knowledge. Although laptops can benefit learning in the classroom, one negative way the laptops are used is to take notes during class.
Rosenblum explains that when students use laptops in class to take notes, they just type the notes instead of trying to actually understand the material. Rosenblum states, “Students process information better when they take notes — they don’t just transcribe, as they do with laptops, but they think and record those thoughts” (Rosenblum par. 6). I agree with Rosenblum’s opinion about students taking notes on laptops. I personally prefer to write out notes because I understand and remember more when I write out the notes instead of typing them. When I am typing the notes, I can take them faster, but that also means I don’t always focus on what is being typed when I finish quickly. If I am actually writing out what needs to be remembered, then I tend to think more about why I am writing the notes.
In conclusion, Darren Rosenblum’s article “Leave Your Laptops at the Door to My Classroom” effectively explains the differences in the styles of taking notes, but it does not portray the effects of having laptops in the classroom properly. The argument determining the amount of technology in the classroom has been a debate for years. In the debate about allowing laptops in the classroom, Rosenblum sides against technology. Overall, I agree and disagree with Rosenblum’s opinions in his article.
Works Cited
Rosenblum, Darren. “Leave Your Laptops at the Door to My Classroom.” The New York TImes, 2 Jan. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/01/02/opinion/leave-your-laptops-at-the-door-to-my-classroom.html?_r=0.
In the article, Rosenblum expresses that when the students use his or her laptops during class, the connection between the students and the teacher is lost. According to Rosenblum, “Screens block us from connecting, whether at dinner or in a classroom” (Rosenblum par. 5). He claims that the students use laptops for activities other than the schoolwork while in the classroom. Rosenblum points out that the students shop online and check Facebook when there is a break in class, instead of connecting with the other students around them. Rosenblum also believes, although laptops do help the students to take notes faster during a lecture, laptops also give students easy access to distractions. He decided that he would ban laptops from his classroom. When Rosenblum banned laptops in his classroom, he noticed the interaction between classmates increased.
Rosenblum believes that laptops are not the best resource to have in the classroom, and he believes that laptops give students easy access to distractions. Rosenblum says, “Laptops at best reduce education to the clackety-clack of transcribing lectures on shiny screens and, at worst, provide students with a constant escape from whatever is hard, challenging or uncomfortable about learning” (Rosenblum par. 2). I disagree with Rosenblum's belief. I believe that laptops could be used to an advantage in the classroom. If the distractions on the internet are banned in the classroom, then the internet could be used to benefit the class. For example, my school encourages the use of laptops and other technology in classroom: the distractions are blocked on the school’s Internet, and the laptops are utilized to expand our knowledge. Although laptops can benefit learning in the classroom, one negative way the laptops are used is to take notes during class.
Rosenblum explains that when students use laptops in class to take notes, they just type the notes instead of trying to actually understand the material. Rosenblum states, “Students process information better when they take notes — they don’t just transcribe, as they do with laptops, but they think and record those thoughts” (Rosenblum par. 6). I agree with Rosenblum’s opinion about students taking notes on laptops. I personally prefer to write out notes because I understand and remember more when I write out the notes instead of typing them. When I am typing the notes, I can take them faster, but that also means I don’t always focus on what is being typed when I finish quickly. If I am actually writing out what needs to be remembered, then I tend to think more about why I am writing the notes.
In conclusion, Darren Rosenblum’s article “Leave Your Laptops at the Door to My Classroom” effectively explains the differences in the styles of taking notes, but it does not portray the effects of having laptops in the classroom properly. The argument determining the amount of technology in the classroom has been a debate for years. In the debate about allowing laptops in the classroom, Rosenblum sides against technology. Overall, I agree and disagree with Rosenblum’s opinions in his article.
Works Cited
Rosenblum, Darren. “Leave Your Laptops at the Door to My Classroom.” The New York TImes, 2 Jan. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/01/02/opinion/leave-your-laptops-at-the-door-to-my-classroom.html?_r=0.