U. of Chicago Law School Blocks Internet Access

Scott Jaschik writes "While some individual professors have banned laptops from classes at various colleges, the University of Chicago law school is going further, cutting off wireless and wired access in its classrooms to confront what officials see as out-of-control Web surfing. The story was first reported in the Above The Law 'legal tabloid' late last month. Students and the university's CIO question the strategy." Things will get interesting when Sprint WiMax service lights up in Chicago later this year.

Comments

Surfing problem = Cuttoff a great resource? Stupid

[Anonymous Coward]

The whole idea of "Let's get rid of the internet in classrooms to prevent surfing" is a concept similar to "let's get rid of hands because they can steal". The internet is a growing resource that is highly useful. Want to find a definition of a word? Look up a new concept in greater detail? Too bad.

If the kids are surfing the internet in class and they are not extremely bright, they will struggle and probably fail. But why would they cut off a useful resource for the students who pay attention?

I think this is going to be useless for one reason; if people are still allowed to bring laptops to class, they will just distract themselves offline. Solitaire or whatever else, those who aren't paying attention will just find other ways to do it.