Students take technology back to school with them
| • | Getting into gear |
By James Bickers
Gannett News Service
When 17-year-old Kyle Amettis moves into the dormitory for his first semester at the University of Louis-ville this fall, he'll be taking with him the usual array of paper, pens and pencils. But he'll also be bringing something that students a generation ago would not have dreamed of: a new computer.
"Even though there are computer labs on campus, it seems that many students prefer to have a computer in their dorm room," said Kyle's father, Barry Amettis, a printing salesman from Chicago. "It really is a matter of convenience."
Convenience, indeed. At another college in Louisville, Spalding University, dorm room computer use is also on the rise. Dr. Scott Bagley, Spalding's chief information officer, said there are 110 computers in the laboratories on campus — about one computer for every 13 students.
"We have a small computer lab located in the dorm and the primary lab is located literally across the parking lot from the dorm," Bagley said. Even so, he estimates that 30 percent to 50 percent of the students living there have a computer in their room.
It begs the question: Do students really need computers in their dorm rooms?
" 'Need' is such a buzzword," said Andy Smallman, founder and director of Puget Sound Community School in Seattle. "But I will say that I think asking if college students should have computers in their dorm rooms is similar to asking if they should have electricity in their dorm rooms. Both are tools that make life easier than not having them."
Smallman said having a computer in the dorm room is more than simply a matter of convenience.
"For some students, the privacy of this technology in their rooms will allow them greater access to it and they will likely challenge themselves more because of it," he said. "For an inspirational idea that hits at 3 a.m., having to trek down to the computer lab is not practical."
Amettis said he is willing to spend between $700 and $900 for a computer for Kyle's room. He's still shopping brands and prices, but the university is offering a strong incentive: Thanks to a school contract, students get a 5 percent discount on purchases they make from Dell.
"I would say a student could find the perfect computer for them with all the hardware and software for something like $800 to $1,000," Kyle Amettis said. "I think I speak for myself and all my friends in saying I would spend no more than $1,200, and that is high."
Computers in the lab or the dorm room are fine, but what about that beautiful fall day when a shady spot under a tree is calling?
For many students, laptop computers are becoming the technology of choice on campus. Most laptops sold today have built-in Ethernet ports, allowing them to easily interface with the school's network.
Also, many campuses now support wireless networking under the 802.11b "WiFi" protocol — meaning that students with wireless-capable laptops can use the network from anywhere on the campus. This means students can check e-mail, surf the Web, and access the school's computer network in class, in the library or anywhere in between (for instance, underneath that shady tree).
But laptop use seems to be a regional trend, common in some places, unheard of in others.
"Laptops seem to be pretty rare here," said Virginia Lile Boaz, assistant professor of music at East Texas Baptist University. "Some of my students went to other schools before where everybody carried a laptop. So it seems to be a regional thing."
Bagley said that laptops are not very common at Spalding, either. "Some universities have taken to requiring the students get a laptop, although in one instance I'm aware of, that experiment was repealed," he said.
"Kyle at first was interested in purchasing a laptop, but after talking to several current students he thought that he would be better off with a desktop," Amettis said, mentioning that fear of theft and damage are major concerns when it comes to expensive portable gear.
PDAs, or personal digital assistants, are also on the rise among some students but don't seem to be as popular as laptops. Most PDAs weigh just a few ounces, fit easily in a pocket or a backpack, and can maintain a phone directory, address book and calendar. Bagley said that he sees PDA use on the rise, while Boaz said PDAs are common only among business majors.
"I have not seen very many students using PDAs," said Dr. Mark Shapiro, physics professor at California State University-Fullerton. "I think our students, on their limited budgets, probably would put their money into an advanced calculator or laptop before a PDA."
One particular wireless technology, though, is no favorite among educators.
"There are two electronic devices that I would cheerfully ban from the classroom," Shapiro said, "namely, cell phones and pagers. These can be a major annoyance."
For most students, buying back-to-school supplies and equipment is one of the most exciting parts of the school year — after all, who doesn't remember the thrill of new pens, binders and the like? When back-to-school shopping includes cool technology, it can be even more exciting.
But teachers are quick to point out that having access to technology and using that technology to get a good education can be two different things.
"It's important to understand that these devices are only tools," Shapiro said. "They can allow students to explore areas that they might not otherwise investigate, but they don't offer insight or understanding."
