National Jurist - February 2009 - (Page 16) Laptops in the classroom A new report links laptop use to student engagement, though some professors stand by their ban of its use in their classrooms. he debate over laptop use in law school goes far beyond the merits of a Dell versus Apple. And the conversation seems far from over. Law professors who limit the use of this classroom technology say the past semester has tested their policies. Yet they universally agree By Karen Dybis they are pleased with the outcome of their decisions and have no plans of changing them in the future. But a new report from the Law School Survey of Student Engagement finds that using laptop computers for certain activities during law school classes is linked to higher levels of student engagement and other positive outcomes. But one professor feels so strongly about non-laptop use that she put a formal policy in place this academic year. And she says her students are better for it. Robin Boyle is a professor of legal writing and coordinator of the academic support program at St. John’s University School of Law in Jamaica, N.Y. She formalized her laptop restrictions both through classroom announcements and on her class syllabuses. Boyle allows students to use laptops to take notes, but they cannot use email or surf the World Wide Web while in class. So far, most people are respectful, she noted. But there have been some exceptions. “I had to single out individuals here and there that violated the policy,” Boyle said. “It was obvious they were online — they were typing when no one else was and giggling. … I think it sets a disrespectful tone for the professor and the class, so it needs to be nipped in the bud.” Boyle said she feels free to comment when she notices a student abusing the policy — her responses vary from polite to humorous. She has even threatened to throw one student’s laptop out of the window to emphasize the ban. Such disruptive behavior would not be tolerated in a courtroom or other legal setting, she said. And it disrupts the learning process on a number of levels. 16 THE NATIONAL JURIST February 2009
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of National Jurist - February 2009 National Jurist - February 2009 Contents Entertainment: Get Organized! The Firm Report: The Part-Time Lawyer News: Keeping Ethics Intact, New Law Deans, Latest Survey Findings Seattle Law Students Secure Asylum for East African Women Laptops in the Classroom Attorneys Dissect Health Law Law Students Contribute to 2008 Election Process Remembering Professors Obama and Biden Bar Exam Diaries How Well Balanced are Law Students? How to Choose a Summer Program Career Hotline Linguistic Gymnastics Disturbing the Peace National Jurist - February 2009 National Jurist - February 2009 - National Jurist - February 2009 (Page Cover1) National Jurist - February 2009 - National Jurist - February 2009 (Page Cover2) National Jurist - February 2009 - National Jurist - February 2009 (Page 3) National Jurist - February 2009 - Contents (Page 4) National Jurist - February 2009 - Contents (Page 5) National Jurist - February 2009 - Entertainment: Get Organized! (Page 6) National Jurist - February 2009 - Entertainment: Get Organized! (Page 7) National Jurist - February 2009 - The Firm Report: The Part-Time Lawyer (Page 8) National Jurist - February 2009 - The Firm Report: The Part-Time Lawyer (Page 9) National Jurist - February 2009 - News: Keeping Ethics Intact, New Law Deans, Latest Survey Findings (Page 10) National Jurist - February 2009 - News: Keeping Ethics Intact, New Law Deans, Latest Survey Findings (Page 11) National Jurist - February 2009 - Seattle Law Students Secure Asylum for East African Women (Page 12) National Jurist - February 2009 - Seattle Law Students Secure Asylum for East African Women (Page 13) National Jurist - February 2009 - Seattle Law Students Secure Asylum for East African Women (Page 14) National Jurist - February 2009 - Seattle Law Students Secure Asylum for East African Women (Page 15) National Jurist - February 2009 - Laptops in the Classroom (Page 16) National Jurist - February 2009 - Laptops in the Classroom (Page 17) National Jurist - February 2009 - Attorneys Dissect Health Law (Page 18) National Jurist - February 2009 - Attorneys Dissect Health Law (Page 19) National Jurist - February 2009 - Law Students Contribute to 2008 Election Process (Page 20) National Jurist - February 2009 - Law Students Contribute to 2008 Election Process (Page 21) National Jurist - February 2009 - Remembering Professors Obama and Biden (Page 22) National Jurist - February 2009 - Remembering Professors Obama and Biden (Page 23) National Jurist - February 2009 - Remembering Professors Obama and Biden (Page 24) National Jurist - February 2009 - Remembering Professors Obama and Biden (Page 25) National Jurist - February 2009 - Bar Exam Diaries (Page 26) National Jurist - February 2009 - Bar Exam Diaries (Page 27) National Jurist - February 2009 - Bar Exam Diaries (Page 28) National Jurist - February 2009 - Bar Exam Diaries (Page 29) National Jurist - February 2009 - Bar Exam Diaries (Page 30) National Jurist - February 2009 - Bar Exam Diaries (Page 31) National Jurist - February 2009 - How Well Balanced are Law Students? (Page 32) National Jurist - February 2009 - How Well Balanced are Law Students? (Page 33) National Jurist - February 2009 - How Well Balanced are Law Students? (Page 34) National Jurist - February 2009 - How Well Balanced are Law Students? (Page 35) National Jurist - February 2009 - How to Choose a Summer Program (Page 36) National Jurist - February 2009 - How to Choose a Summer Program (Page 37) National Jurist - February 2009 - How to Choose a Summer Program (Page 38) National Jurist - February 2009 - How to Choose a Summer Program (Page 39) National Jurist - February 2009 - How to Choose a Summer Program (Page 40) National Jurist - February 2009 - How to Choose a Summer Program (Page 41) National Jurist - February 2009 - How to Choose a Summer Program (Page 42) National Jurist - February 2009 - How to Choose a Summer Program (Page 43) National Jurist - February 2009 - How to Choose a Summer Program (Page 44) National Jurist - February 2009 - Career Hotline (Page 45) National Jurist - February 2009 - Disturbing the Peace (Page 46) National Jurist - February 2009 - Disturbing the Peace (Page Cover3) National Jurist - February 2009 - Disturbing the Peace (Page Cover4)
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