Laptop Use in the Classroom
A Preparation for the Real World
or
A Distraction from the Real World?
Laptops…
 Real World Lesson
 Real World
Distraction
 Science is technology
 Science is the natural
world
 Increase Motivation
and Engagement
 Constant
communication
between students
 Multitasking
 Isolation
Laptops teach lessons
about real world science
-Technology is part of science in the
modern day (Bell and Bull, 2012)
-Laptops provide real world
workplace training (Rafool, 2012)
Some Technologies

Excel
GIS
(Becklin, 2013)
Laptops distract from the
natural science
-Time with laptops takes away from…
-Time outside (exploring trees, animals,
nature, rocks, astronomy, and the
natural world).
-Time with hands on labs
-Field research
Laptops and technology increase
students’ motivation and
engagement.
 Research has proven that technology helps engage
and motivate students in the classroom. (Rafool, et.
al, 2012), (Jackson, 2012)
(One to One Institute, 2013)
Continued…
-Promotes student centered, inquiry based
learning (Bull and Bell), (Wright, 2011), (Rafool,
et. al, 2012)
-Helps students learn skills and concepts in a
different method (Bull and Bell) (Wright, 2011)
(One to One Institude, 2013)
Laptops distract students
from the lessons.
 “Most importantly, the level of laptop use was
negatively related to several measures of student
learning, including self-reported understanding of
course material and overall course performance.
The practical implications of these findings are
discussed.” (Fried, 2008)
 Short term memory limited and students are
multitasking. (Thagard, 2010)
Laptops promote constant
communication (just like the real
world).
 Facebook
 Blogs
 Email
 Skype, iChat, and videochat
 The cloud
Laptops distract students from
personal communication.
 Active Learning needs full communication
 Discussions.
 Computer can isolate
(Stone, 2011)
A Review…Laptops
 Real World Lesson
 Real World
Distraction
 Science is technology
 Science is the natural
world
 Increase Motivation
and Engagement
 Constant
communication
between students
 Multitasking
 Isolation
What does this mean for
the classroom?
 Teachers must use laptops as tools not lessons
(Hammonds, Matherson, Wilson, Wright, 2013)
 Close the gap between the real world and the
classroom (Rafool, et al., 2012).
 Balance time with and without laptops.
 We, as teachers, need to catch up to students in our
understanding of technology.
Resources
 Becklin, E. (2013). Analysis to Support Conservation Research and
consulting. Retrieved from pdfdownload.aws.af.com.
 Bull, G., & Bell, R. (2012). Educational Technology in the Science
Classroom. In Technology in the Secondary Classroom (Chapter
One). Retrieved from http://learningcenter.nsta.org/files/
PB217X-1.pdf.
 Coffin, J. (2013, April). The New Digital Citizens. Maine, 66-72.
 Fried, C.B. (2013). In Class Laptop use and its effect on student
learning . Computers and Education, 50 (3), 206-914.
 Hammoonds, L., Matherson, L., Wilson, E., & Wright, V. (2013).
Gateway Tools: Five
Tools to Allow Teachers to
Overcome Barriers to Technology Integration. The Delta
Kappa Gamma Bulletin, 80 (1), 36-40.
Resources ctd.

Jackson, L. D. (2012). Is Mobile Technology in the Classroom a Helpful Tool or a
Distraction. International Journal of Technology, Knowledge, and Society, 8 (5), 129-140.

One to One Institute. (2013). Why one to one (Images). Retrieved from http://
www.one-to-oneinstitute.org/index.php?/becoming-a-one-to-one/why-one-toone/

Rafool, B., Sullivan, E., & Al-Bataineh, A. (2012). Integrating Technology into the
Classroom. International Journal of Technology, Knowledge, and Society, 8 (1), 57-71.

Stone, M. (2011, June 1). 1,100 plus celebrate MLTI at Umaine. Retrieved from http://
mainedoenews.net/2011/06/01/celebrate-mlti/

Thagard, P. (2010). Banning Laptops in Classrooms. Retrieved from http://
www.psychologytoday.com /blog/hot-thought/201007/banning-laptops-inclassrooms-0.

Wright, S. (2011). Life in Inquiry Driven, Technology-Embedded, Connected Classroom:
Science. Retrieved from: http://plpnetwork.com/2011/11/04/life-in-atechnology-embedded-classroom-science2/.