Ashton Chowning
Summary/Response Essay
College Prep
Tuesday 17, 2017
The Connection that is Disconnecting
Are electronics and social media reducing learning, connection, and focus? In the essay “Leave Your Laptops at the Door to my Classroom”, Darren Rosenblum answers this question. Rosenblum talks about laptops have become a distraction to learning in his classroom and decrease connection; he also mentions that laptops are an escape from hard work. Rosenblum effectively discusses how laptops and social media are reducing education, focus, and connection.
In the article, Rosenblum describes how, due to the fact that laptops reduce learning, connection, and focus, he will not allow them in his classroom. He says of distractions in the class, “One study found that laptops or tablets consistently undermine exam performance by 1.7 percent” (qtd, in Rosenblum par. 6). Rosenblum elaborates by suggesting that laptops are distracting his students, causing them to not be able to learn to the best of their ability. He also claims that the screens made him feel as if his students were disconnected from the lecture or that they were not focused on the lecture in its entirety. When Rosenblum puts a ban on laptops in his classroom, he professed that the ban improved the students’ class engagement, as in eye contact, energy, and connection. In short, many students rely on their electronics to help them succeed, but Rosenblum proved that closing the screens are helping students.
Rosenblum points out that a student must be able to focus, but a student cannot do that with social media at their fingertips. Rosenblum states, “We must listen with care, which requires patience, focus, eye contact and managing moments of ennui productively — perhaps by double-checking one’s notes instead of a friend’s latest Instagram” (Rosenblum par. 3). What Rosenblum is saying to be a virtuous student and to receive the most out of a class, students need to listen to what is going on instead of zoning off on social media. I agree with this because all of my life throughout school, I have been told to look at the board or book, or whatever the teacher was talking about. For the longest time I would get mad when a teacher would say this because I was listening, just not looking. Now, I know that if I was even doodling or looking for a paper in my bag and a teacher is talking I do not comprehend what they are saying. Therefore, I agree with this quote because if I have a distraction as in the Internet at my fingertips I may not pay attention. Rosenblum also brings to action that electronics are not only decreasing student interaction in the classroom, but also in their day-to-day lives.
Another opinion that Rosenblum writes about is that electronics are disconnecting students from not only the classroom but also their friends and family. He says, “Screens block us from connecting, whether at dinner or in a classroom” (Rosenblum par. 6). Electronics are connecting people over social media while disconnecting people from real life. I also agree with this statement because although electronics connects us many ways, they are disconnecting us from real life. The use of electronics has become such a problem that most people would rather send a text than simply call a person. Many apps like Snapchat, Facebook, and Twitter connect people in many ways, but not to the people in front of them.
Darren Rosenblum’s article “Leave Your Laptops at the Door to my Classroom” leaves little desire to use a laptop in a classroom again. The essay is clear that Rosenblum believes that laptops interfere with the classroom. In the end, it is proven that education, focus, and connection are reduced by laptops and social media.
Works Cited
Rosenblum, Darren. "Leave Your Laptops at the Door to My Classroom." The New York Times. On Campus, 2 Jan. 2017. Web. 5 Jan. 2017.
Summary/Response Essay
College Prep
Tuesday 17, 2017
The Connection that is Disconnecting
Are electronics and social media reducing learning, connection, and focus? In the essay “Leave Your Laptops at the Door to my Classroom”, Darren Rosenblum answers this question. Rosenblum talks about laptops have become a distraction to learning in his classroom and decrease connection; he also mentions that laptops are an escape from hard work. Rosenblum effectively discusses how laptops and social media are reducing education, focus, and connection.
In the article, Rosenblum describes how, due to the fact that laptops reduce learning, connection, and focus, he will not allow them in his classroom. He says of distractions in the class, “One study found that laptops or tablets consistently undermine exam performance by 1.7 percent” (qtd, in Rosenblum par. 6). Rosenblum elaborates by suggesting that laptops are distracting his students, causing them to not be able to learn to the best of their ability. He also claims that the screens made him feel as if his students were disconnected from the lecture or that they were not focused on the lecture in its entirety. When Rosenblum puts a ban on laptops in his classroom, he professed that the ban improved the students’ class engagement, as in eye contact, energy, and connection. In short, many students rely on their electronics to help them succeed, but Rosenblum proved that closing the screens are helping students.
Rosenblum points out that a student must be able to focus, but a student cannot do that with social media at their fingertips. Rosenblum states, “We must listen with care, which requires patience, focus, eye contact and managing moments of ennui productively — perhaps by double-checking one’s notes instead of a friend’s latest Instagram” (Rosenblum par. 3). What Rosenblum is saying to be a virtuous student and to receive the most out of a class, students need to listen to what is going on instead of zoning off on social media. I agree with this because all of my life throughout school, I have been told to look at the board or book, or whatever the teacher was talking about. For the longest time I would get mad when a teacher would say this because I was listening, just not looking. Now, I know that if I was even doodling or looking for a paper in my bag and a teacher is talking I do not comprehend what they are saying. Therefore, I agree with this quote because if I have a distraction as in the Internet at my fingertips I may not pay attention. Rosenblum also brings to action that electronics are not only decreasing student interaction in the classroom, but also in their day-to-day lives.
Another opinion that Rosenblum writes about is that electronics are disconnecting students from not only the classroom but also their friends and family. He says, “Screens block us from connecting, whether at dinner or in a classroom” (Rosenblum par. 6). Electronics are connecting people over social media while disconnecting people from real life. I also agree with this statement because although electronics connects us many ways, they are disconnecting us from real life. The use of electronics has become such a problem that most people would rather send a text than simply call a person. Many apps like Snapchat, Facebook, and Twitter connect people in many ways, but not to the people in front of them.
Darren Rosenblum’s article “Leave Your Laptops at the Door to my Classroom” leaves little desire to use a laptop in a classroom again. The essay is clear that Rosenblum believes that laptops interfere with the classroom. In the end, it is proven that education, focus, and connection are reduced by laptops and social media.
Works Cited
Rosenblum, Darren. "Leave Your Laptops at the Door to My Classroom." The New York Times. On Campus, 2 Jan. 2017. Web. 5 Jan. 2017.