Is it worth it? The costs and benefits of bringing a laptop to a university class

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 16; no. 5; p. e0251792
• Main Authors: Day, Alison J, Fenn, Kimberly M, Ravizza, Susan M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco Public Library of Science 24.05.2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Biology and Life Sciences; Classrooms; College students; Colleges & universities; Computer and Information Sciences; Computer industry; Computers; Cost benefit analysis; Costs; Education; Educational aspects; Educational technology; Evaluation; Laptop computers; Learning; Methods; Notebook computers; People and Places; Portable computers; Research and Analysis Methods; Social Sciences; Teaching methods; United States; United States > US; East Lansing Michigan; Michigan
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251792

Students often bring laptops to university classes, however, they do not limit their laptop use to class-related activity. Off-task laptop use occurs frequently in university classrooms and this use negatively impacts learning. The present study addresses whether potential benefits of class-related laptop use might mitigate the costs of off-task laptop activity. We used tracking software to monitor both class-related and off-task laptop use by undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory psychology course, and we observed how types of laptop use related to course performance. We found a positive correlation between class-related use and exam scores that was driven by viewing lecture slides during class. We also found a negative correlation between off-task laptop use and exam scores, but class-related activities did not predict an increase in off-task use. Thus, for students who constrain their laptop use to class-related activity, the benefits outweigh the costs. While a laptop may be beneficial for some, it is unclear which students are able to constrain themselves to class-related activities and whether the benefits of class-related laptop use obtained by slide viewing could be achieved by other means. Thus, students and educators should carefully consider the costs and benefits of laptop use in the classroom.