Slashdot Mirror


Professors vs. WiFi

murky.waters writes "The New York Times (free registration, profiling) has an article about the opposing views of teacher's demanding attention and students seeking distraction; the current trend toward wireless Internet access in the classroom has students surfing the web and checking their email from the backrow, while instructors are climbing up the ladder... to disconnect the Access Point." Makarand writes "University Wi-Fi networks are heavily impacting student campus life according to this article on NewsObserver.com. In addition to allowing them to keep working while not in their computer labs, the wireless networks allow them to keep in touch with their family, better organize time, complete coursework in shorter periods of time, collaborate with other students and bring computing power into classrooms not available before."

8 of 454 comments (clear)

  1. Shouldn't matter by Alizarin+Erythrosin · · Score: 4, Funny

    If the class is interesting then the students will stay on task, not check their email and etc. At the university I attend they have wireless access in a number of buildings with plans to add it to others as well as outdoors in the major gathering areas. I find it helps out with class because you can download the class notes and follow along or look up a website the prof is talking about in his lecture.

    On a funny side note one guy in one of my classes WAS looking up pr0n while in class, all the people behind him were wide-eyed looking at it... that's how he got busted.

    --
    There are only 10 kinds of people in this world... those who understand binary and those who don't
  2. What is wrong with kids today? by hayden · · Score: 5, Funny
    Why can't they just fall asleep like generations of uni students before them? It prepares you for later life when you need to look attentive and not drool in meetings.

    Sigh, the times we live in.

    --
    Nerd: Derogatory term typically directed at anybody with a lower Slashdot ID than you.
  3. Distracting by kEnder242 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Reminds me of when I nearly flunked calc II because they stuck computers in front of us in the classroom. We didn't have web browsers but ftp worked just fine.

    I remember downloading shareware quake from cdrom.com and playing a few multiplayer...

    teacher walks over "what next?"
    me "uhh derive it!" (always the best answer)

    The funnest part was using something similar to winpopup (must have been netware or something) and typing "pay attention!" to people across the room.

    --
    my associative arrays can kick your hash - TCL
  4. Sounds like an update by AndroidCat · · Score: 3, Funny

    of the running gag in Real Genius which ends with an empty classroom and the teacher's tape recorder talking to the students' tape recorders.

    --
    One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  5. Re:Social Engineering? by HanzoSan · · Score: 4, Funny



    So teachers get paid even if they suck and students get punished when teachers suck?

    What responsibility does a professor have besides showing up if this is the case?

    They show up and they get paid, you show up and you have to follow strict guidelines on how to pay attention and act interested. Oh and you have to pay them for it.

    --
    If you use Linux, please help development of Autopac
  6. Re:Life is not MTV by Powercntrl · · Score: 2, Funny

    Life is not a constant stream of entertainment. The most rewarding things in life come from blood, sweat and tears

    You work for the DMV, don't you? ;)

    --

    ---
    DRM is like antifreeze, to the MPAA/RIAA it's sweet, to the consumers it's poison.
  7. Re:Young Whippersnappers by AppyPappy · · Score: 3, Funny

    Calculators? We used to DREAM of calculators. Try figuring Pi using piles of small stones.

    The clicking is disturbing. But it is quieter than the snoring. There's nothing worse than trying to hear a lecture while the guy behind you makes a noise that sounds like a washer in spin cycle being flung down a flight of steps.

    We used to sneak beer into Real Estate Class (Thurs at 6PM) in McDonald's cups. That made class much mo betta.

    --

    If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem

  8. Once upon a time. . . by kfg · · Score: 3, Funny

    a new freshman was trying to find his way about the campus. Seeing a man who looked like he knew the general lay of the land the freshman approached him and asked, " Excuse me, but could tell me where the library's at?"

    At this the tweed jacketed elder stiffened his back, lowered his chin, looked down his nose and said, "Young man, this is an institute of higher learning.*Here* we do not end our sentences with prepositions."

    "Oh, I'm sorry," responded the freshman, " Can you please tell me where the library's at, Asshole."

    KFG