Blogs:

With no particular university or class in mind, professors are finding that their students are becoming quite proficient at using their laptops during lectures. Students are using them to trade stocks, email friends and family, use facebook for chatting, and play games such as solitaire or hearts. Why is this happening?


Some professors tried to have the internet turned off in their lecture halls but to no avail. Students might also need to look up actual cases and offer answers during class. Also, it would be a transgression of some tenet of Freedom of Speech. But the best reason given by a dean to his miserable law professor was, "your students might not be so engrossed in their computers if you were more engrossed in your teaching."


In other words, if professors put more life and challenge into their talks, had guest lecturers in for a chat, or took the class out to a court room to watch the proceedings it might foster some sort of enthusiasm. Otherwise leave the students alone and trust in their multi-tasking abilities which will put them in good stead when they become lawyers.  Not a bad idea!


As long as the student attend your class, pull off passing grades and don't burn down the building why bother to complain. Today's children and young adults are used to being bombarded by multi-media and multi-sensory stuff all day long and they, for the most part, cope quite well. They are very alert and prone to giving their opinion on any topic, no holds barred. So don't worry about the students who use that time to talk to family and friends.