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.
Tags: Education
Internet
Limited Use
Classroom
