Avatards

The use of media devices has been linked with a higher risk of highway fatalities, lost business, dysfunctional government, ruined dates, and even pedestrian mishaps.  Is it any wonder I forbid their use in the classroom?  Defenders of such devices claim that they need them in order to retrieve discussion-relevant data, or to take notes, or to stimulate creativity.  But at the end of the day, it’s best to remember the words of Nancy Flynn, a consultant in Columbus, OH:

“People mistakenly think that tapping is not as distracting as talking,” she said. “In fact, it can be every bit as much if not more distracting. And it’s pretty insulting to the speaker.”

Do you really want to run the risk of insulting a classmate while she’s giving a presentation?  And what about (ahem) the guy who’s responsible for your final grade?

Advertisement

Tags: BlackBerry, etiquette, laptops in the classroom, netiquette, texting