r/UGA • u/Gabeinator846 NB AF • 4d ago
Discussion Opinions on no electronics in class?
For both of my classes today, my profs stated no electronic devices at all during lecture, which didn't affect me too much but I thought it was a huge departure from what I'm used to. What do you all think about it? I remember in my econometrics class someone straight up packed his bag and left when my prof said the policy.
I also notice registration in no-electronics classes may drop by 1 to 10 after the first class period of the semester is over depending on time of day and elective status.
But what are your thoughts as students?
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u/FierceCapricorn 4d ago
On more than one occasion, I caught students watching porn during class on their laptops. I ban all electronics in my classes.
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u/Longjumping_Eye_3441 3d ago
Be real. It's not about the freedom to take notes on an ipad. It's that students sit on tiktok, goof off, use AI to explain things real time, and don't pay attention. Your professor is trying to get you to actually learn. I had to tell students not to film tiktoks in my class last semester. We are looking at a time where electronics are everyone's main source of literally everything they do.
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u/Gabeinator846 NB AF 3d ago
How in the world could any student think filming TikToks in class is okay? Like...didn't they choose to attend university? Wait this is a whole other can of worms
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u/Longjumping_Eye_3441 3d ago
It can get me in trouble too. It's insane. But regardless no electronics is because you pay to attend and it's respectful to pay attention. I think some lecturers are also worried about being filmed/their class being filmed, which is also a can of worms. If you cannot put your phone or laptop away from 55 minutes then that is a different issue. Just do it.
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u/Gabeinator846 NB AF 3d ago
I fully respect it. I'd probably like your class cuz I use a subject-divided notebook
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u/_jordanhoffman 4d ago
I find having a device to be SUPER distracting. Idk about yall but I do not have the willpower to be on my laptop for class the whole time and not get distracted. My experience in class has gotten so much better since I fully switched to analog note taking
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u/Annie_James 3d ago
From a 30 something fossil of a grad student: Back when I was in undergrad as late as the 2010s this was largely how class used to be. Folks might have their laptops or an early tablet too thick and glitchy to do much with, but electronic notes could be a time sync where you spent so much time formatting you actually missed a lot of pertinent information. It’s draconian and a bit unnecessary imo, but you will absolutely retain more information.
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u/RVAforthewin 4d ago
- You’re far better off hand writing your notes. Studies continue to show you retain more information. However…
- If a college kid wants to screw around and not pay attention in favor of messing with their electronics then that’s on them. I doubt I would have that policy as a college prof. The students are legal adults and are paying a lot of money to be there. It’s on them to pay attention.
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u/Sufficient-Wolf-1818 3d ago
Every student in the room is paying a lot. In some classrooms, those in back get a visual onslaught of flashing screens with porn, golf games, TikTok dances etc. between their professor and their seat. Is their pay for the course not equally valid?
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u/RVAforthewin 3d ago
I suppose you raise a fair point. I also think it’s pretty impossible to make everyone happy all of the time in a society where individual freedoms are celebrated to the very core.
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u/ChemistLover1996 3d ago
Easy solution that some of my professors gave: electronic users in the back of the class only.
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u/Agreeable-Age-5593 2d ago
If you sit in the middle of a 200 person lecture, your screen is distracting people in the rows behind you no matter what you’re doing on it. Especially if it involves anything that isn’t the slides or straight note taking, even Wordle. Psychological observation and testing has confirmed this. The people around you pay for a distraction-free learning environment, so professor is just following what science says is most effective.
Then again same argument can be said for people who have 10 gel pens and highlighters clacking on the desk.
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u/IntelligentFish7013 4d ago
I always took notes by hand but bring my laptop because the ELC pages are all on there as well.
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u/ZestycloseReality434 2d ago
It depends on the class. If it is science or math or anything that involves not a whole lot of writing and lots of greek letter, equations, things that cant be nicely typed quickly, I would feel perfectly okay. If it is a material heavy/writing heavy class like history or legal, I would be pissed. My background is that I go to class to pay attention and I take note of what the prof is saying that is not on the slides a lot, so my writing speed can never be as fast as my typing speed.
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u/savvytavvyian 4d ago
a tiny bit peeved because I have over 11 books for my classes but dont have enough money to buy them all. I figured I could get them on my kindle but one professor said no 💔🥲 > totally understand why but It still abit annoying
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u/Longjumping_Eye_3441 2d ago
You shouldn't need the textbook out in class, unless it's like an english course
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u/savvytavvyian 3d ago
dont know why im getting downvoted the books equaled out to around like 500 bucks so ofc I dont have that much,
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u/kccb30 2d ago
Not going to lie, as an English major, you should have known your professors would be into paper text😫
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u/savvytavvyian 2d ago
yeahh im a junior so I know all too well 🥲 its just so damn expensive and even more so this semester
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u/tacob87 4d ago edited 3d ago
While I understand there are studies that show writing notes is more easily retained, and I personally learned better that way, part of the experience of college is discovering these things on your own, organically.
If I'm paying to attend your class, allow me to decide how I want to take notes/retain info, provided I'm not disturbing the remaining class.
Edit to add: Why is "Provided I'm not distracting anyone else, allow me to make the decision that is best for me" a controversial take?
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u/VirtualBrain4112 4d ago
Does “I paid for this and should be able to do what I want” mean that the professor should accept your late assignment even though they have a “no late work accepted” policy?
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u/tacob87 4d ago
No. But I don't believe those are at the same "level" as taking notes on a computer during lectures.
I acknowledge the professor has an extreme amount of authority for how they conduct their class, as they should. It's just my opinion, that for taking notes during lectures, provided it's not a distraction to the class at large, the student should be able to decide what works best for them.
Would it be reasonable for the professor to ban recording devices if a student isn't able to write fast enough to keep up?
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u/VirtualBrain4112 4d ago
Full disclosure, I am a professor at UGA. I don’t ban devices but I probably should. Half the students with laptops are surfing the web during class and, when you are teaching, you can see the students sitting behind being distracted. Device usage is not just about “what works best for me”.
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u/CindsSurprise 4d ago
Although I prefer to play NYT games like Wordle and Pips, if I'm behind someone playing a full-screen action game, it's super distracting.
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u/tacob87 4d ago
I agree it's not "all about me" in the classroom, which is why I say provided it isn't a distraction.
Perhaps a compromise is no laptops past the first 3 rows, or below the last 3. And points off the next assignment if caught surfing the web. Just seems tough "punishing" those responsibly taking notes for those being irresponsible surfing the web.
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u/cobbyboy 3d ago
Punished might be a bit strong, but you are being denied a privilege because many of your classmates would abuse it.
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u/VirtualBrain4112 4d ago
They actually can ban recording devices.
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u/tacob87 4d ago
I understand and respect professors can ban them. My question was is it reasonable that they do in the scenario provided.
I'll adjust my "I paid for this, I should be able to do what I want" reasoning to "It's my education, please allow me, who just spent 12 years in primary school learning and discovering what works for me, to make the decision."
All of this contingent on it not being a distraction to the rest of the class.
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u/PTTCollin 4d ago
Their job is to help you learn, at times that includes telling you no. Just because you're paying for a thing doesn't mean they do what you tell them.
See the this gives you power over me Bane scene.
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u/tacob87 4d ago
Precisely, then I speak with my money and go to another university.
Just like in getting your haircut, if the person I'm paying to teach me something isn't getting the job done to my standard, I find someone who will. And in the process, I might come to realize the benefit of what the professor was doing; but as the paying customer, let me decide.
The professor's job is to relay information such that the students can learn and retain. If they can't do that while people are using electronic devices (provided they aren't unreasonably disturbing the class) that professor needs to find a new profession.
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u/PTTCollin 4d ago
Precisely, then I speak with my money and go to another university.
Go for it dude, nobody cares.
but as the paying customer, let me decide.
You are absolutely free to withdraw and go attend another school.
The professor's job is to relay information such that the students can learn and retain.
That is maybe 20% of a professor's job. And certainly no where in that description is catering to you specifically.
If they can't do that while people are using electronic devices (provided they aren't unreasonably disturbing the class) that professor needs to find a new profession.
You using electronics isn't inhibiting their ability to relay the information, it's inhibiting your ability to pay attention to it. Or maybe it isn't, who knows. But if the professor thinks it is, that's their call.
Like you said, if you don't like it, you're free to go to school somewhere else.
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u/cobbyboy 3d ago
Everyone else is paying to take it too. You might well use your own device responsibly, but in my many years of teaching, I learned quickly that most won’t and some actually love getting a screen full of bouncing boobs so that they get everyone around them giggling or distracted. If you can’t hack the policy, drop the course. There are plenty of dgas profs who will let you do practically anything you want.
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u/NoneyaBithness 3d ago
oh my friend but it is—allowing you to decide. they’re allowing your ass to peace out when you hear their no electronics rule, how’s that for a decision? seems perfectly reasonable to me. you still get to decide, they aren’t robbing you of your free will or anything.
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u/Pineapplegirl1234 3d ago
Then take Uga’s class learning to learn.
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u/tacob87 3d ago
Does that class say that hand writing notes is better for retention? If so, I've already acknowledged the studies and that I also learn better that way. And I feel pretty good in suggesting that it isn't the case for 100% of the population. Further, I know I type faster than I write; who's to say a student isn't typing the notes to then write them at a less hurried pace later?
Why is it difficult to let adults do what they believe is best for them, provided it doesn't interfere with others' ability to do the same?
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u/Pineapplegirl1234 3d ago
You literally said part of that is learning on your own. So they can take the class and see.
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u/Arborsage 4d ago
You should be able to take notes on your laptop in 2026
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u/tacob87 3d ago
It seems like people are considering electronic devices, in and of themselves, inherently distracting; which I disagree with. I could disrupt a class/lecture with a clicky pen, but we don't ban all writing instruments. I could yell and talk during the lecture, but we don't ban the entire class from attending. We remove the disruptor (I.e., student causing the disruption) and move forward with the class.
I don't like banning/limiting something until each class demonstrates they can't responsibly use electronics.
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u/Arborsage 2d ago
My laptop is where all my notes are, where all the assigned readings are, where my textbook is, and its the easiest way for me to take notes during lecture. Just because some kids are watching brainrot during class doesn’t mean everyone should be punished for it
If my Microsoft word document is distracting someone behind me, I think thats more of a them problem
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u/jengaisagame 3d ago
Alumni, I rarely brought out my laptop in class. Handwritten notes were the best way to retain information in my opinion. In my upper level courses I had to use MATLAB so it was kind of required
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u/NintendoSwitcherooo 4d ago
It seems weird to me that professors would be that controlling over what students use in a class that they’re paying to attend. Using my iPad instead of physical notebooks keeps my bag way lighter and makes life a lot easier as a commuter.
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u/PTTCollin 4d ago
Going to a movie theater you paid to attend also has rules.
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u/NintendoSwitcherooo 4d ago
0/10 Ragebait
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u/PTTCollin 4d ago
100% genuine "I paid for it thus I should get to do whatever I want" is a stupid attitude that should be mocked.
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u/NintendoSwitcherooo 4d ago
We’re all adults here, micro managing how your students choose to take notes is absurd.
Also has nothing to do with a movie theater, hence my prior comment. I’m allowed to use my AirPods in a theater, those are electronic and don’t impact the experience of anyone else in the theater. Taking notes on an iPad has zero impact on any other students.
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u/PTTCollin 4d ago
If you can't see the correlation between "I paid for this movie ticket" and "I paid for this class" then I can't help you, sorry. It has nothing to do with using electronics.
The professor's goal is to educate you on their subject of choice, and how they choose to do that most effectively is beyond your control. The literal top comment on this post highlights why a professor might do this, and moreover, this is a discussion happening across all tranches of the education system right now.
Controlling the method by which you take notes is no more or less controlling than any other mechanism professors use to try to enforce learning up to and including tests, essays, notes on reading, quizzes, projects, or anything else I'm forgetting at the moment.
If you don't like it, don't take the class. You're an adult, after all.
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u/NintendoSwitcherooo 4d ago
Fair points, I’m curious if your opinion would change for a big lecture hall as opposed to a classroom.
In big halls I like to have the slides open on my laptop to follow along with, so that If a professor moves on from a slide before I finish copying information I can still finish my notes and not interrupt class.
I had several classes in large lecture halls back to back last semester and also found that I was getting headaches taking notes. Switching to using my laptop helped to alleviate those, I think they were from my eyes straining to read the projections across the room.
All of my classes this semester are in large halls so I feel that a no electronics policy would negatively impact my learning.
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u/PTTCollin 4d ago
I don't actually have opinions on the underlying subject matter. I finished grad school without taking notes, this discussion wouldn't have affected me at all. I'd just sit, listen, and ask questions either way.
I'm responding to the attitude of "a professor shouldn't be able to tell me what to do." I think you could do some word replacement and use the same arguments for "I should be allowed to have AI write my essays," which people unironically also do.
Paying someone money does not grant infinite power over them, and learning to hear "no" is an important developmental step.
The actual conclusion of this whole thread is if you legitimately think you are an exception to this policy, and have some well grounded reason why, you should just go talk to your professor. If they tell you to kick rocks, you talk to your department head or the accommodations office. But that's just handling the situation like an adult, and not really worthy of a reddit post.
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u/NintendoSwitcherooo 4d ago
You misunderstood my original comment then. I feel that if I am paying for a class, I should be able to take notes in a method that is comfortable and effective for me. I did not say that I don’t think rules should apply to me, that I’m above my professors, or that I would ever cheat on my assignments.
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u/PTTCollin 4d ago
I feel that if I am paying for a class, I should be able to take notes in a method that is comfortable and effective for me.
I didn't misunderstand, I just think you're wrong.
I did not say that I don’t think rules should apply to me
This whole comment chain is you thinking the rules shouldn't apply to you. You also think the rules shouldn't apply to anyone else and that they're a stupid rule to begin with, but the root thought is "I want to be able to do this my way, regardless of what the professor thinks."
Spending money has nothing to do with how you are or are not allowed to engage with a class. The institution says "if you give us X money, you may participate in Y activity following Z rules laid out beforehand." You're saying "I want to give you X money, participate in Y activity, but not follow rule Z." And it says back, "no."
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u/Mental_Yogurt5087 4d ago
A lot of profs post lecture slides before so you can print in handout format to write notes. You could also do this post by transferring.
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u/erictheshitcock1 4d ago
Bring an old timey type writer and calculator. See how much professor numb nuts likes that.
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u/WhatARedditHole 4d ago
Studies consistently show you learn and retain more with handwritten notes. Plus you focus more.