Nick,

Maybe you should apply for a CECA grant to help integrate technology 
into your curriculum.... OOPS... CECA doesn't exist anymore. You'll just 
have to figure it out on your own...

Seriously though, I would suspect that a higher level of comfort and 
familiarity with technology would benefit students in all fields of 
study. Laptops (or mobile devices) are especially helpful for Archaelogy 
and Anthropology. One of the reasons computer technology doesn't seem to 
apply to your field is that it's been too difficult to drag a computer 
out their with you. Students coming into the university now have never 
known a world without computers and the internet. These are natural 
tools to them.

At the same time, I will be the first to point out that reliance on 
technology, especially a complicated and fragile device, like a laptop, 
can quickly become a burden. The benefits of the technology for most 
field researchers isn't much better than a good ol' bound notebook and 
pen. And if you drop the notebook or spill water on it, it still works! 
And you never need to worry about the battery going dead...

-Eric

Nick Honerkamp wrote:
> I'm all for increased access to information. What I want to know is how
> requiring laptops for all our students--and the consequent substantial costs
> to either those students or this institution--enhances their education. I
> can certainly see the value of universal laptops in the hundreds of English
> composition sections that are offered every year. Beyond that, it's hard for
> me to envision their utility in many noncomposition classes, including my
> own. I recognize that this may simply be a result of my own lack of
> imagination. So far I've heard fairly abstract concepts about information
> access and an improved learning environment, but the price tag of such a
> program is anything but abstract. Does anyone know of any data that
> indicates before vs. after overall academic improvement in laptop
> universities?
> 
> Will our part-time students be required to have them as well?
> 
> Nick Honerkamp
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: UTC Staff E-Mail List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Jason Griffey
> Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 5:48 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [UTCSTAFF] Laptop Backlash
> 
> Laptops aren't going anywhere..it is precisely the mobility of them that
> is the driving force behind their increasing adoption. To rely on
> "docks" of any sort for a fully functional computer is to take away the
> very thing that gives the laptop its advantages.
> 
> I will say that the overall "form" of a laptop may be variable over the
> next 5-10 years, the issue of mobile computing is here to stay. Tablet
> PC's and handhelds both suffer from the lack of keyboard, currently the
> most efficient way of capturing textual information that we have.
> 
> Both of those points said, it won't surprise anyone to know that I am
> hugely pro laptop on campus. Having been a part of the University of
> North Carolina during their rollout of a mandatory laptop program, I saw
> so many positives from the point of view of information access that the
> negatives of "inappropriate" student usage fell by the wayside. The
> future is always on, ubiquitous information creation and access, and I
> feel that we do our students a disadvantage if we don't move forward
> with this program.
> 
> Jason Griffey
> Assistant Professor
> Reference and Instruction Librarian
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: UTC Staff E-Mail List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Tom Bissonette
> Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 2:16 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [UTCSTAFF] Laptop Backlash
> 
> My concern would be that by the time we implement this laptops may be
> obsolete. Why not explore tablet PC's or handhelds that could be docked
> in the classroom to stations that have keyboards and monitors?
> 
> Tom Bissonette
> UTC - Counseling and Career Planning
> 338 University Center
> University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
> 
> (423)425-4438
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: UTC Staff E-Mail List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Eric Wolf
> Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 1:07 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [UTCSTAFF] Laptop Backlash
> 
> A couple notes from a slightly different perspective. First, I am just
> finishing up my MS through an online program at Northwest Missouri State
> University. Second, I maintain computer teaching labs for GIS.
> 
> My take is that students should be given enough rope to hang themselves.
> You shouldn't detract from the experience of enthusiastic students in
> order "reign in" the students who could care less. Having come from the
> public school system as well, I hate it when I get a dumbed-down version
> of a course or am denied access to things to further my education
> because of the abuse of a few. Although I'm not certain how to manage
> this in the framework of a school that's constantly fighting a battle
> between maintaining quality of education and maintaining enrollment
> levels to pay the bills. I've advocated in the labs I manage to keep
> things as open as possible. If a student doesn't want to pay attention
> in class and wants to browse the web instead, it's their loss. Don't
> take it personally. But make that student responsible for knowing the
> material.
> 
> On students working: one of the biggest advantages I've found to online
> education is that classes are much easier to balance with work and life.
> I can go to class anytime, anywhere. I'm at a coffee shop right now,
> with my laptop, working on coursework and preparing for my comp exams.
> 
> But as far as requiring laptops for students, I'm not certain what the
> benefit would be. I think it might limit more than it gives. Within the
> context of a 50 minute lecture, I'm not sure how effective it could be
> to have people break out laptops, find power outlets, get networked, and
> finally get info. Posting the content on the course BlackBoard or just a
> website or even a handout would be more effective.
> 
> But that's my 2 cents worth...
> 
> -Eric Wolf
> UTC GIS Evangelist
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Richard Rice <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 08:01:22 -0400
> Subject: [UTCSTAFF] Laptop Backlash
> 
> 
>>As UTC considers the costs and benefits of requiring laptops for all 
>>students, other campuses apparently are having some second thoughts
> 
> about 
> 
>>this "learning" tool. In a timely article, the Wall Street Journal on 
>>Friday, October 14, BI published "The Laptop Backlash" by Gary
> 
> McWilliams.
> 
>>It shows that schools have even explored ways to block internet access
> 
> in 
> 
>>the classroom to prevent students from messaging, surfing, watching 
>>videos, shopping online, and even working during class. One student at
> 
> the 
> 
>>University of Houston who worked two jobs while attending school -- not
> 
> 
>>unknown here at UTC -- said he needed to attend to outside tasks in
> 
> class: 
> 
>>"Sometimes, that is the only time you have." Other students complain
> 
> about 
> 
>>how distracting it is for those who want to learn.
>>
>>One blog on the article says this:
>>
>>Bringing laptops and wireless Internet access into classrooms was
>>supposed to enrich classroom discussions by, for example, allowing
>>students to import information from the Internet and share it with the
>>rest of the class. But instead some students are using their laptops to
>>message friends, shop online, peruse Web sites and pursue part-time
>>jobs. The result: There is a rising backlash against classroom computer
>>use from professors and schools. (Hmmm. Young people are not using
>>technology in the way authority figures intended them to... who coulda
>>guessed?)
>>
>>Perhaps someone who subscribes to WSJ newspaper will download and share
> 
> 
>>the article for us to consider. I am a big user and advocate of 
>>appropriate classroom technology such as Blackboard, smart classrooms 
>>(filled with smart students of course), but perhaps this university
> 
> should 
> 
>>proceed carefully with this $10 million (estimate) program.
>>
>>Richard
> 
> 
> 
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> Eric Wolf               
> GIS Application Support  
> ims.utc.edu
> [log in to unmask]