My profs. policy: No Laptops

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icyroy05

Senior member
Feb 22, 2005
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taptaptaptaptaptaptap

I don't blame your professor... I was in a few classes in college where people were taking notes on their laptop and found it to be super annoying/distracting.

Then you have that person who has never cleaned out their laptop and the fan is at full blast the whole time.
 

Mike Gayner

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2007
6,175
3
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I cringe at the way so many people take notes - trying to write down word for word what the prof. is saying. Totally inefficient and ineffective.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,669
13,835
126
www.anyf.ca
Just record the douchebag on a digital recorder with a directional mic.

If you want to be really obnoxious, get one of these and one of these and point the mic directly at him. Bonus points if you sit up front and everybody can see you.

LOL that would be funny. Keep adjusting the sliders every now and then too, as if you were doing a huge professional recording.

Then take orders and make CD or tapes for people the next day, 10 bucks each. :p
 

SludgeFactory

Platinum Member
Sep 14, 2001
2,969
2
81
Squirrel minds think alike <3. I just don't understand why the teacher, who knows there is a huge amount of information coming in, and saying the tests will solely be based on what he discusses in class, will say people can't use laptops. There is no possible way someone can write done word for word what he says, but you can type it :D
Yeah, and he would contend that his past students somehow managed to survive without laptops. Which is true.

I can see where a laptop would help, I'm a slow writer and can probably type 3X as fast as I can write. But that might be part of his thinking, when you can't be an automaton and type every word that exits his mouth, you have to pay attention and think a little bit about what you're hearing, to translate the major points into something on paper to jar your memory later on. You're more engaged in the lecture.

And face it, a lot of people of undergraduate age are stupid and disrespectful, and when you glue a moron's attention to an electronic device they're even more stupid and disrespectful. In the era where everybody and their cousin goes to college, I can't imagine how low the lowest common denominator in a college classroom has gotten. The douchebag majority ruins it for everybody else.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
good, clackity clack is annoying, fan noise, windows noises etc. is a joke that you think you need a laptop in class. only in very specialized classes would you even begin to need one.
 

Cattykit

Senior member
Nov 3, 2009
521
0
0
Good.
Those laptop bringers always watch some movies, video clips, youtube stuffs which is damn annoying when I'm behind them.
 

Babbles

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2001
8,253
14
81
Sorry OP, but you are coming off as a whiny kid with whom I would never want to work.

I started graduate school this past semester after graduating with my undergrad in 2000. Back when I did college the first time around, having a notebook was relatively rare and I do not recall ever seeing somebody take one to class. It may be a shock to you, but there was a time before computers where people actually listened to their lecture and took notes on paper.

In most of my current classes I have my computer on the table, but usually closed in standby mode. I do have one professor that absolutely refuses to allow us to have laptops out, and I am perfectly fine with it. I would say that the majority of computer use during class is not school related, and the constant typing and noise of people screwing around on their computer is a distraction. I find it really bad if somebody is sitting in front of me goofing off on their computer and the constant movement on their screen catches visual attention so it is hard not to be distracted.

I wish more of my professors were adamant about not allowing laptop uses, except for when they may obviously be required.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,669
13,835
126
www.anyf.ca
lol this reminds me I remember when I was in college a bunch of guys brought their game boy advance (I think) and linked together, they were playing games the whole class lol. Seen people playing halo too :p really have to be brave to try to pull that off in class.
 

BarneyFife

Diamond Member
Aug 12, 2001
3,875
0
76
Laptops in the classroom are a disaster. I attended a college that gave out laptops to everyone for a $500 refundable deposit. Anyway, we would just surf the internet and play games during class. The smart teachers didn't allow them to be turned on in the classroom.
 

Dumac

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2005
9,391
1
0
I never use a laptop for notes, that is what a notebook is for. Although, I don't take many notes. I try to pay attention.

I sit in the back of the class, and I can see that 98&#37; of people with laptops are using them to look at facebook or play games. I don't mind though. This guy in the row infront of me was playing DotA and Civ IV. It was entertaining.

However, I do play my DS during really boring lectures.
 

BarneyFife

Diamond Member
Aug 12, 2001
3,875
0
76
I cringe at the way so many people take notes - trying to write down word for word what the prof. is saying. Totally inefficient and ineffective.

Just write the main points down. It worked for me and millions of kids. Managed to get a degree in civil engineering. Not sure why kids in 2010 can't used a pencil and a piece of paper. No way would I take notes with a laptop.
 

MarkXIX

Platinum Member
Jan 3, 2010
2,642
1
71
Training the next generation to rat out their peers, god bless America!

HAHA! Yet, your username is surfsatwerk. I wish I could give bonuses at work for people who report their co-workers that surf all day and don't produce.
 

TruePaige

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2006
9,874
2
0
HAHA! Yet, your username is surfsatwerk. I wish I could give bonuses at work for people who report their co-workers that surf all day and don't produce.

Try working at a REAL company.

Produce and you are good to do whatever the hell makes you productive.

Don't produce and you are out the damn door.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
Just write the main points down. It worked for me and millions of kids. Managed to get a degree in civil engineering. Not sure why kids in 2010 can't used a pencil and a piece of paper. No way would I take notes with a laptop.

yea transcribing what the prof is saying is poor note taking. you don't need to take down every word or even write quickly if you are paying attention. material should be in the text material anyways.
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
Try working at a REAL company.

Produce and you are good to do whatever the hell makes you productive.

Don't produce and you are out the damn door.

Shens. There are no corporations who hold people responsible for producing, only ones who hold you responsible for turning your reports in on time.
 

HybridSquirrel

Diamond Member
Nov 20, 2005
6,161
2
81
Just record the douchebag on a digital recorder with a directional mic.

If you want to be really obnoxious, get one of these and one of these and point the mic directly at him. Bonus points if you sit up front and everybody can see you.

hahaha, thats almost as good as the typewriter idea. I wonder where I could find one of those.
 

oogabooga

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2003
7,806
3
81
Right, because everyone learns the same way.

For most people taking notes that way is ineffective and inefficient. I know it takes me far too much effort to write out word for word what the professor is saying. My notes are somewhat simple to let me understand the lecture and still have a point of reference to return too later on.
 

grrl

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2001
6,204
1
0
For most people taking notes that way is ineffective and inefficient. I know it takes me far too much effort to write out word for word what the professor is saying. My notes are somewhat simple to let me understand the lecture and still have a point of reference to return too later on.

Agreed. I misread the earlier post and didn't mean to suggest good note taking equals a verbatim transcript.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
One of my professors has a good policy. No laptops unless you sit in the back row.

I like it. I always get distracted when somebody in front of me has a laptop open. Even if they are taking notes, the bright like makes it harder for me to focus.