Lecture Hall Back-Channeling

emmastory writes "The New York Times is running a story on the phenomenon of lecture hall back-channeling - now that many conferences and universities have wireless access, some people discuss lectures via instant message or weblog as they happen. Although the article quotes an instructor at NYU, I haven't seen much of this in lectures I've attended there. I would guess it varies from department to department, but laptops aren't yet as common in classes as one might think. Either way, some people consider the practice rude, others consider it progress, and good arguments can be made on either side."

Comments

Re:Wow - studenst discuss what's happening in clas

[rusty0101]

Hm... attached to the wrong comment... Oh well.

Anal Sex?

[mikewren420]

Lecture Hall Back-Channeling

So, this doesn't have anything to do with sex in the back of the classroom?

OK, go ahead... waste your modpoints :)

TabletPC - amusing uses

[holygoat]

I remember seeing when Microsoft visited my University some time ago a video about the TabletPC in academia.

There was a lecture, and the lecturer had his TabletPC wirelessly connected to MSN Messenger. Students sitting maybe 20 feet away would tap in IMs to him to look at while lecturing, rather than actually speak!
I thought it was incredibly stupid, like people sitting next to each other and using Net Send rather than talking. Jesus, just stick your hand up and ask!

Later on, one of the students was sitting in his very nice room (you could tell it wasn't real just from that :)), asking the professor a question over Messenger.
Much jokey banter about "hey, it's so great how you love my lectures, but how about waiting until tomorrow!?". I'd never seen a lecturer use a smiley until then, which only added to the false feeling.

Ah, Microsoft. Dig yourself a market.