OPINION: Technology is an asset, not a crutch

Many professors in faculty permit their college students to make use of computer systems to take notes throughout class. Nevertheless, everyone knows that one class the place the professor declares their classroom a “tech-free” house and insists all college students take notes by hand.  

I’ve even had lecturers go so far as counting college students absent for utilizing a pc.  

At this level in our training, we as college students are paying to be at school. If a scholar goes to sit down on their pc and play video games or store or use it to distract themselves in any method, that’s their very own loss.  

For the remainder of us which might be paying consideration, know-how shouldn’t be seen as an impediment to studying. In actual fact, know-how within the classroom has a variety of advantages.  

To begin, each scholar learns otherwise. This isn’t a brand new scientific breakthrough, and it isn’t the primary time somebody has argued for a change in instructing kinds, however it’s nonetheless vital to debate.  

For me personally, my ADHD has all the time brought about me to wrestle with handwritten notes. Now, not each particular person with ADHD shares this expertise and all of it comes again to how we be taught. Once I try to take handwritten notes, I’m typically extra centered on what I’m writing than what the professor is saying. It’s senseless scribbling. With pc notes, I can sort with out considering as a lot, so I’m way more engaged with what’s being stated within the class.  

Many professors who demand a tech-free classroom convey up the research that proves handwritten notes are higher for studying. As soon as once more, this pushes apart college students who be taught otherwise and at totally different paces.  

In actual fact, there are only a few studies really performed on this matter and none of them have give you the identical outcomes. To sum up the research, the researchers have been way more centered on how college students be taught as an alternative of what sort of notes ought to be taken.  

Quite a lot of college students take notes otherwise for various topics, too. Chemistry or biology may be rather a lot simpler with handwritten notes that permit diagrams and equations to be written with ease, whereas historical past and English courses may be simpler to sort.  

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The largest difficulty I’ve with technology-free lecture rooms is the blatant disregard for an ever-changing world. Know-how is our future and can almost certainly play a serious half in our future careers. As a journalism main, I take advantage of my pc for every little thing: analysis, writing articles, taking interview notes and extra.  

I’ve by no means gone into an interview with a possible story topic and never had my pc or at the very least my cellphone with me. I take advantage of it for voice recordings or to change contact data. I take in depth notes in a doc that’s then clear and arranged after I return to write down the story. Know-how is an enormous a part of the journalism office.  

But I’ve had a number of journalism programs which have banned computer systems from the classroom.  

Know-how is new to our on a regular basis world and it’s almost certainly a tough adjustment for older generations that weren’t born with a cellphone of their palms like we have been. So sure, adjusting to the concept of computer systems and telephones in a studying setting is tough and I give them credit score for that. However it’s the future.  

Know-how is simply rising and can proceed to intertwine itself into lots of the workforces we see now. It shouldn’t be checked out as a crutch, however moderately an asset we will use to our benefit.  

Taking it away utterly solely harms the scholars. Some folks be taught higher with a pc in entrance of them. Utilizing computer systems will increase know-how effectivity and builds abilities that can later assist them of their careers and life. 

By giving college students entry to those issues, know-how may be seen as a instrument, and college students need to have entry to it whether or not the professor likes it or not.  

Gentry Keener (she/her) is a junior learning journalism and political science.