I've got the Laptop Blues

I've reached a tipping point. For the first time in my classes, more students are using laptops to "take notes" in class than not. Except they're not. Taking notes, that is. At least half are surfing, shopping, socializing or fantasy footballing. I can tell by the blank stares and obvious disengaged demeanors. So what to do? If it was purely a personal choice that only affected the user, I wouldn't care. But its not. It distracts other students who can't help but see the screens. It also distracts me, and seems like a breach of the social contract that we all sign on to when we enter a classroom to become part of a learning community. And I firmly believe it harms the user in my class, where it is necessary to synthesize concepts as we discuss them.

In the past I was able to subtly pressure the few students who had their laptops open by calling on them regularly, or having them sit in the front row, but those options disappear when a majority of students are using. So I'm not sure what the solution is. I don't want to ban them, because there some students who are helped, and I don't believe swimming against the cultural tides is a fruitful endeavor. Stay tuned . . .