This document outlines an electronic devices policy for a course. It discusses research showing that laptop and phone use negatively impacts student learning and grades. Students who use laptops in class spend time on non-class activities and have worse understanding. Nearby students are also affected. Phone use is even more distracting, with students reporting frequent use in class. Exceptions are made for students with disabilities. Violations of the strict policy result in warnings then removal from class. While boring classes may tempt device use, students are encouraged to daydream or look out the window instead.

1. Electronic Devices Policy …
Nash Mahmoud
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Louisiana State University.

2. A growing body of evidence shows that over all, college students
learn less when they use computers or tablets during lectures.
They also tend to earn worse grades.
Susan Dynarski
University of Michigan
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/22/business/laptops-not-during-lecture-or-meeting.html

3. Students who used laptops had substantially worse understanding of the
lecture, as measured by a standardized test, than those who did not.
Its bad for you …
[1] Mueller, P. A., & Oppenheimer, D. M. (2014). The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard: Advantages of Longhand
Over Laptop Note Taking. Psychological Science, 25(6), 1159–1168.
[2] Susan Payne Carter, Kyle Greenberg, Michael S. Walker, The impact of computer usage on academic performance:
Evidence from a randomized trial at the United States Military Academy, Economics of Education Review, Volume 56,
2017, Pages 118-132,

4. [1] Carrie B. Fried, In-class laptop use and its effects on student learning, Computers & Education, Volume 50, Issue 3, 2008, Pages 906-914,
Most students using a computer in class spend considerable time
on activities not related to taking notes
You will be distracted most of the time

5. Since most students can type very quickly, laptops encourage them to
copy down nearly everything said in the classroom. But when students
stare at the screen of their laptops, something is lost. The students
shift from being intellectuals, listening to one another, to being
customer-service representatives, taking down orders.
Columbia University
https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/12/30/this-year-im-
resolving-to-ban-laptops-from-my-classroom/?utm_term=.2a1763a19bd7
Tal Gross

7. The brain cannot do two things at once and do them equally well.

8. The learning of students seated near the laptop users
was also negatively affected1.
Its bad for others too …
[1] Faria Sana, Tina Weston, Nicholas J. Cepeda, Laptop multitasking hinders classroom learning for
both users and nearby peers, Computers & Education, Volume 62, 2013, Pages 24-31

9. In one survey1 at six different universities, college students reported
using their phones an average of 11 times per day in
class. In another study2, 92% of college students reported using
their phones to send text messages during class.
Phones are even worse
1. Bernard R. McCoy, “Digital Distractions in the Classroom: Student Classroom Use of Digital Devices for Non-Class
Related Purposes,” Journal of Media Education 4, no. 4 (2013).
2. Deborah R. Tindell & Robert W. Bohlander (2012) The Use and Abuse of Cell Phones and Text Messaging in the
Classroom: A Survey of College Students, College Teaching, 60:1, 1-9

10. Its bad for me too .. Distracting and disrespectful
If you’re lecturing, your odds going up against Facebook, the
Victoria’s Secret catalogue or an online game are slim.

12. A different, TOTALLY INVALID, view point …

13. One valid concern though …
Students with disability
• An exemption from the policy
OR
• A designated note-taker
• I will post the material on Moodle after class
• I will personally work with you to make sure
you have access to the material

14. In summary
This course has a strict ban on all personal technology

15. It Works!
Trevon D Logan
Distinguished Professor of Economics
Ohio State University.

16. Violating the policy
• 1st violation: verbal warning in class
• 2nd violation: a formal email acknowledging the violation
• 3rd violation: removal from classroom and a referral to the
Student Advocacy and Accountability services

17. How to deal with a boring class …

18. You could daydream …

19. You could look out of the window …

20. Or even better …

21. Or … Simply drop the class and take it with another faculty

23. https://www.thrivetalk.com/maladaptive-daydreaming/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jetsetculture/3094770568
https://sites.psu.edu/siowfa16/2016/10/17/are-laptops-in-class-detrimental-to-learning/
https://parliamentum.org/2017/09/27/being-a-bad-apple-in-the-middle-class/
https://www.panopto.com/blog/ban-technology-in-the-classroom-except-one/
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/classes-boring-stay-focused
https://www.businessinsider.com/silicon-valley-parents-raising-their-kids-tech-free-red-flag-2018-2
https://healthfully.com/1006143-poor-classroom-management-affect-childs-behavior.html
Pictures and articles links
http://worldartsme.com/no-electronic-devices-clipart.html#gal_post_76185_no-electronic-devices-clipart-1.jpg
https://www.braingroom.com/class/knitting-class-teens-&-adults-r.t.-nagar-bengaluru/MTM3NzA=
https://bokcenter.harvard.edu/technology-and-student-distraction