A fresh and a new debate has emerged between the college and university teachers and lecturers: whether or not the use of digital devices should be allowed in the class room during the lectures.
There are two schools of thoughts for this. One schools supports while the other is against the same. Those against say that “the devices create disturbances”, and are distracting for the students. While the one is favor say that the students who access the course material on the devices be it be a laptop, tablet or a smart phone, should be allowed to do so. There have been certain instances where the Prof. asks the students to keep their mobiles in a tray when they enter the class and are allowed to take them back after the lecture is over.
One approach to this is to ask the students not to use mobiles for communication and other social media at the same time can access the information/content which is related to the lecture. This helps in discussions as well as saving paper.
Having certain laid down rules for using of the devices, these devices help in learning experience. Though one is not allowed to browse videos on you tube as well as social networking. Now days the teachers make use of the technology to illustrate. It is seen that the students are generally passive and don’t interact much. Use of devices will augment discussions since the students would have access to the related content.
Let’s discuss Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. Virtual Reality is about simulating an experience while Augmented Reality is adding of layers of information to a given object or a situation. So the careful and limited use of internet can enhance and enrich the class room experience.
There are a few reasons in favor to allowing the digital devices during the lecture:
In certain subjects it is expected from the students to come prepared for a certain topic so that the topic can be clearly understood. Many students use e-versions of the books/lectures and thus avoid carrying bulky papers with them. Use of digital devices helps in carrying the e-versions and thus avoiding carrying of bulky paper books.
Cross-Check: Use of digital devices helps in cross checking of certain terms or words which one is not familiar with or is not able understand.
Find Out More: Use of devices helps in finding out more about the topic being discussed and one can take the discussion to another level by finding out certain things which weren’t discussed at all. Students can gain fuller understanding of what is being taught.
We have been used to multitasking. We listen to music while studying, work on multiple windows. Why can’t we put this facility of using the digital devices in the classroom in practice?
Allowing the use with certain limitations will definitely help.