Law Prof Bans Laptops

A law professor is under fire for banning laptop computers from the classroom.

I'm of two minds on this. On one hand, the professor should be interesting enough to capture the attention of the students. On the other hand, it does create a barrier between students and instructor and the professor can justifiably wonder if the student is reviewing class notes or answering e-mail.

Put yourself in the shoes of the professor. You are talking and a large portion of your audience is making more eye contact with their computer screens than with you. It would be the same if a chunk of the audience tended to look down at their paperwork and not at the speaker. The students may have a good reason for doing so but it is not conducive to communication.

I haven't banned laptops from my management workshops but it is a close enough call that I can understand a professor who does. In short, I think she's getting a bum rap.

[Hat tip: www.instapundit ]