That’s how I think of the classroom I’m teaching in: “a pro-technology no-technology zone.” It is a place where we deliberately put aside social media and personal electronic devices and concentrate on learning economics. (I wouldn’t even bring my own phone, but it’s required to log in to the classroom computer.) Then, when we go back on the grid, we’re empowered to think analytically rather than dashing from tweet to tweet.
If you don’t believe that staying continuously “on” with electronic devices reduces learning, just check the following references:
- Computer science professor (!) makes the case for banning laptops in his classroom
- Study shows students not allowed to use laptops do better
- Study shows advantages of taking notes by hand
. . . and check your intuition on a couple of points. When you’re in a learning environment, do you stay focused on the subject at hand if you have a laptop or smartphone continuously on and in view? And, if the person next to you is checking Facebook or Twitter, how does that affect your concentration?