It isn’t the technology, it’s how it’s used: Laptops in meetings and classes

Boy this debate never seems to die out!  I’ve written about laptops in class in 2007 and 2006, both times (interestingly it seems I write about it around this time every year) I’ve said the same thing–it isn’t using laptops in meeting or classes that is the problem, it’s how they’re used.

One loose wire, the commentary continues and stresses the same points…

Laptops have been around long enough for us to have figured out a better way of absorbing them into our workflow. Campuses now have power outlets and lots of tables where students can work on their laptops. This is great to see (and I find it a tad strange that some lecture rooms don’t have the same deal.) These students are used to doing stuff on their laptops, and they’ll enter the workforce with the same mentality. We should be encouraging this. We need to figure out ways to work with this, not against it. Source: loose wire blog: Laptops Aren’t the Problem: The Meetings Are

Yes, it can be disconcerting when most of a class or audience is starting into a screen instead of you (if you’re looking at me in the audience, I’m listening just capturing what you’re saying for the larger world), but remember we have the technology now to allow people to capture information (which is the foundation of knowledge) how it works best for them.  For meetings, I mindmap like crazy … that or use OneNote.  For conferences, it’s blogging.  Yep, I’m typing to beat the band (the more coffee I drink, the faster I type–not more accurately, just faster), but I’m absorbing the information for later.

That said, I have started to listen more and write less during conference sessions.  Yep, I found I was missing key points and therefore not being able to get the larger point of the talk.  Now I try to focus, listen, then write.

Give up my laptop at a conference?  Not likely.  If I go back to school (sometimes the call of the MBA is pretty strong) I’ll certainly be toting my machine to class.  If the prof doesn’t like that?  I guess I’ll have to point to my articles on this subject that have been published in Japan.