I don' think the issue here is whether or not laptops in the class room are a good idea. Personally I like taking notes on paper - but there are many people who prefer using a laptop. However, I do think that once you tell students to bring a laptop to class (which is pretty much what ISU is doing) you are just asking for distractions. As if cell phones ringing weren't enough - now you'll chat rings and stupid sounds from people's browers, etc. to deal with.
Though, by the middle of the semester, those students who wouldn't be paying attention anyway will probably have stopped coming to class, and then those left will probably be using their laptops in a productive way. Maybe it won't be that bad.
On another note - I think it's a real bad idea to force all students to buy a single brand/model of computer. Sure, it'll make support all these freshmen's computers much easier, but what every happened to freedom of choice? Give them a list of 'approved' laptops and a way to buy them. Then let the parents or students pick for themselves. Also, I'm sure that a good number of incoming students already have laptops. Seems like requiring them to buy another is a waste of money.
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I don' think the issue here is whether or not laptops in the class room are a good idea. Personally I like taking notes on paper - but there are many people who prefer using a laptop. However, I do think that once you tell students to bring a laptop to class (which is pretty much what ISU is doing) you are just asking for distractions. As if cell phones ringing weren't enough - now you'll chat rings and stupid sounds from people's browers, etc. to deal with. Though, by the middle of the semester, those students who wouldn't be paying attention anyway will probably have stopped coming to class, and then those left will probably be using their laptops in a productive way. Maybe it won't be that bad. On another note - I think it's a real bad idea to force all students to buy a single brand/model of computer. Sure, it'll make support all these freshmen's computers much easier, but what every happened to freedom of choice? Give them a list of 'approved' laptops and a way to buy them. Then let the parents or students pick for themselves. Also, I'm sure that a good number of incoming students already have laptops. Seems like requiring them to buy another is a waste of money.