
5
February 20, 2025
Laptops Down, How Does Seattle U Feel About
Tech In Class?
T
he use of technology in classrooms
has been on the rise since the early
2000s. However, there is still a push
to reduce the use of electronics in the
classroom at the university level, due to the
distractions it may cause.
University professors are changing class
policies to evolve the use of technology. Some
professors at Seattle University have been
leaning toward the use of older conventional
means, such as notebooks.
Wai-Shun Hung, associate professor in
the philosophy department, believes that
using technology in his lectures is more
of a distraction than a tool for success in
notetaking. In the past, he’s attempted to
implement technology in lectures; however,
he has been met with less student engagement.
Hung has tried multiple techniques to allow
the use of technology in the class outside of
certain circumstances, such as disability
services. However, he still had two major
concerns. The rst was the use of online
materials; he found that students engage less
with online materials, unlike physical copies,
such as highlighting or writing notes on paper.
The second issue he noticed is that students
retain information better using physical
copies and notes instead of online material.
“Based on my experience of exams and
papers, they [students] typically perform
better when taking notes by hand. I've looked
up some research, and I've shared those
results with students to explain my policy,
and it seems that student people can take
more notes with keyboards. Because they type
faster than they write, and the result is that
they pay less attention. The typing process
seems to require less attention than writing so
it aects attention and retention,” Hung said.
Other professors agree with this reasoning.
However, they approach it dierently.
Thomas Mann, a visiting assistant
teaching professor in the political science
department at Seattle U, allows the use of
technology in his class. He trusts that
students who use their devices in lectures use
them for educational procedures and that
they gently benet from it.
Mann believes students should be
conscious of their decision to use technology
in the classroom. He believes students have to
make judgments for themselves
when determining if using
technology does help.
He talked about how
students should learn to be
more aware of their resources
and how they impact their
learning. Mann gives room for
his students to make their own
decisions and decide what is
best for themselves.
“You are an adult, and much
like this is why I don't really
have pop quizzes and things
like that. Because I'm like if
you don't do the reading, ne.
But you're spending a lot of
money to be in this classroom,” Mann said.
On top of the conscious use of technology
in class, Mann talks about how we can use
tech to be better workers; but not to think
critically. Mann has talked about how articial
intelligence has proven to be more detrimental
to higher education than benecial.
A study Mann shared made by Microso
and Carnegie Mellon University shows using
articial intelligence at work lowers workers’
cognitive eort. Workers felt more condent
in their ability to use generative AI for tasks
that require low critical thinking. He is against
artificial intelligence as he believes that
higher education is the place for students
to learn and use active thinking.
Liesl Marshall, a fourth-year nursing
major, talked about how she agrees with
the studies released on how handwriting
notes are better for retaining information.
However, she prefers the use of her
tablet as it contains OneNote, which is
convenient for her note-taking.
Marshall would, however, face an issue
with some professors who would have strict
class policies for electronics.
“I have had one or two professors,
particularly UCOR professors, who
have been very against technology,
like don't take out your laptops kind
of thing. You have to bring a notebook
and take notes with a pen and pencil.
Usually, when I approach them like, ‘Hey, is it
ok if I handwrite it on an iPad?’ Sometimes
they're like, ‘Ok, but you have to sit in the
front row, and I have to be able to see you
when you're using it,’” Marshall said.
Marshall also shared how the use of AI
has helped her with her education in a more
productive way. She uses AI more as a tool
rather than a replacement for her work.
The use of technology in classrooms,
whether with note-taking or AI, seems to rely
on student etiquette and established personal
norms. These etiquettes depend on the ways
the user uses their tools, either beneting
their education or deterring it.
Abdullah El-Sherbeeny
Staff Reporter
annabelle deguzman
NEWS
I think people are
using AI incorrectly.
So, how I use AI
personally in my nursing
is, I will study the topic. I
will take notes, and then I'll
put my study guide, and all
my lectures into the AI, and
then I will have it generate
questions, practice exams,
and kind of help me work
through it that way. Like,
give me case studies and
stu like that which I think
Liesl Marshall