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« on: September 27, 2008, 03:58:07 PM »
Clearly, among people who use laptops in class, most basically transcribe everything that the professor says rather than short concise notes of the synthesis of the material required. Hand writing discourages transcribing because you write slower than someone can speak, so you take more in before writing something. However, I don't transcribe courses and I do use my laptop in all classes except those they are prohibited in and have no issue with active participation. One professor was explicit in saying that transcribing everything will lead to total failure in the course and I profs should advise that as opposed to banning laptops. There must be a balance between the "active participation" the profs want and the ease of students to organize their notes in the best way they can.