With the recent surge of interest in Facebook, Twitter and other social media, various profile pages can be seen popping up all over students’ laptops in any given classroom. USC faculty have discussed this issue, and the prospect of blocking Internet access to classrooms on campus has been raised. What if you could no longer log in to distracting pages while in class? The quality of learning is questioned while other interactive opportunities are accessible. After all, you don’t need Internet access to take notes.
But the first question is whether this is even feasible. Would it be sequestered to one specific area, or would it be the whole USC server?
Some suggest the university block social networking sites from classrooms with university computers. Others feel a campuswide ban will fix the issue. Others think it should be up to the discretion of the professor and the student.
Students have voiced that sometimes assignments are on Facebook pages. If those pages are blocked on school computers or the school server, how could they complete projects? Communication is also a factor. Students use Twitter or Facebook to talk about or advertise campus events and create platforms to discuss student issues. To cut out the ability to do so would hinder the unity of the student body.
But with this freedom to surf and chat comes a responsibility of the student. Students should not participate in activities online that would distract others. While you may be able to multitask, think about the person behind you or beside you.
Some say students who play with networks online during class learn less. But just like skipping or sleeping in class, this is the student’s choice. The student is paying the university for education, so what the student does with his or her class time is not up to the university to dictate.