The Public Thinks Laptops Shouldn't Be Allowed in Class Until High School

by SodaHead Infographics Posted 2012/08/20 14:00:00

Related Topics: Technology, School, Laptops, Infographic, Public Opinion

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Technology has become an integral part of life in most parts of America, but some people are still concerned about how we introduce it to young people. As kids prepare to head back to school, we were curious to find out how long the public thinks schools should wait before allowing laptops or tablets in the classroom, whether or not cell phones should be allowed in class, and whether textbooks should go digital. We also asked people to name their favorite and least favorite subjects in school, and to weight in on the college question -- does college still better your career? Let's dive.

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Professor Wizard 2012/08/20 20:31:51

+6
I"m old.

When I went to school, we are NOT allowed to have a calculator in math class, because the teacher wanted us to learn the math, not learn to use a calculator.

Now that I am in the real world, I see what he was talking about, because I encounter people every day that can't perform the most basic of math functions without one.

I believe all technology should be avoided until High School, except when it specifically is a tool for the teacher to use teach a skill.
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Daniel Secrist 2012/08/22 23:41:29

+3
By the time the kids in elementary school get to high school, laptops will be as obsolete as 8-tracks.

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JeffDeWitt to Daniel ... 2012/09/16 22:54:52

Nope, laptops aren't going away any more than desktops are. It's tough to do real work, especially typing, on a tablet, you need a real keyboard for that.

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Yo'Adri... to Daniel ... 2012/09/18 15:45:15

You are probably correct Dan.......................

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Russian 2012/08/21 11:11:18

It should be allowed in all grades. They should not use them during math or spelling for obvious reasons.

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bryguy 2012/08/21 09:17:17

+2
THANK GOD you finally replaced that obnoxious, annoying Call Me Maybe infographic.

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PandahSixx 2012/08/21 06:39:01

And at the least-don't ban phones

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PandahSixx 2012/08/21 06:37:54

+2
I think technology is rather making people vunerable: If let's say there's a worldwide blackout for an undefined period of days, you can't be able to charge you iPad, iPhone, and Tablet, which is basically your lifelines. Computers aree a drag at school. You have to back up your work, and it makes things difficult, because if you don't, it'll disappear forever, and plus, people would becaome stupider I suppose, since they can google up the answers to EVERYTHINg

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Michelle 2012/08/21 04:44:51

+2
For a mature student, a laptop could be useful. They are exceptionally good tools to take notes with. They could also be a huge distraction, too, which is why I said "for the mature student". Let us bring our own laptops and restrict internet access (my school doesn't even give the network password to students who don't have a school laptop because of an IEP).

However, tablets have no places in classrooms as a piece of equipment which the school provides to anybody. What would they be useful for in a classroom? "Interactive learning tools" are nothing compared to an interactive learning lesson!

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Simeon~thegaymafia 2012/08/21 03:15:08

Technology is the future and you can't fight it.

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Me 2012/08/21 03:14:33

agree

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johndhutcheson 2012/08/21 01:08:12 (edited)

+4
From a country that is #1 in belief in angels, gun crime, and "defence" spending this is no surprise.

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bob h. to johndhu... 2012/09/15 00:08:43

+1
So true. Our academics are a joke, and people here are talking pencils. Show me someone here that can construct a sentence properly, and there's a good chance he's from Europe.

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johndhu... to bob h. 2012/12/16 12:06:16

+1
The academics are not the problem AFAICT, there is a disturbing anti intellectualism in America especially in red states.

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ChocolateThunder 2012/08/21 00:20:03

+1
I think the use of technology can be a great way for kids to learn but schools aren't properly utilizing it.

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zeldamaster17 2012/08/20 23:52:14

+1
I work better with my phone out and my debate teacher can attest to that. I know I'm in the minority here, though, so meh.

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freakoutnow... cuz mom's here 2012/08/20 22:06:47

+1
I have no problem in introducing the computer in Kindergarten and maybe have the kid play a math game or something in order to get kids comfortable and accustom to using the technology but in Kindergarten-2nd grade computers and technology should be a novelty that is a reward and not a neccessity. I have no problem with requiring the occassional computer typed report or a computer/typing class offered between the 3rd-7th grade however the technology shouldn't be integrated into the classroom or heavily encouraged at that age in school. If a kid wants to use a laptop in high school let em. Technology in high school should be incorporated into the learning experience but not abused. It's important to teach the fundamentals of education the three ''R''s strongly in the pre-college levels of education without relying too heavily on technology because the kids need to know how to do basic math without a calculator and spell moderately well without a spell check on a word processor in case the computer is down.

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Professor Wizard 2012/08/20 20:31:51

+6
I"m old.

When I went to school, we are NOT allowed to have a calculator in math class, because the teacher wanted us to learn the math, not learn to use a calculator.

Now that I am in the real world, I see what he was talking about, because I encounter people every day that can't perform the most basic of math functions without one.

I believe all technology should be avoided until High School, except when it specifically is a tool for the teacher to use teach a skill.

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freakou... to Profess... 2012/08/20 21:42:38

+4
Calculators shouldn't be allowed in math class until you start getting into difficult algebra, general geometry, or basic trigonometry. Which would mean no calculators until about the 8th/9th grade at the earliest.

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TheEbon... to freakou... 2012/08/22 23:45:10

+2
Yes, we were not allowed to use calculators until 8th grade.

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Red Branch to TheEbon... 2012/09/11 16:39:01

+3
We never had calculators. It was slide rules all the way.

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Eoghan to Profess... 2012/08/25 11:49:02

+1
If you remove calculators then half the maths we do would be near impossible! I would love to see you work out the squar root of decimals....

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JeffDeWitt to Eoghan 2012/09/16 23:00:27

+1
So don't ask for the square root of decimals, just ask for the square root of whole numbers. That way the students will lean such things can be found without calculators and how to do it.

http://www.homeschoolmath.net...

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Eoghan to JeffDeWitt 2012/11/04 23:38:08

I can equate the square root of whole numbers but I feel that it's important that we are thought how to work with more complicated numbers in school. It's primary function is to prepare everyone to carry on their education into any field. I know plenty of people who can no longer manage maths because it has become to complex but they were fine before in primary school. It needs to be the way it is.

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JeffDeWitt to Eoghan 2012/11/05 03:13:18

I agree that students should be taught how to calculate these things, they have to know that those numbers don't appear by magic.

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Profess... to Eoghan 2012/10/16 15:44:45

+1
So, you are saying, that those of us nearing or older then 60, were able to perform the impossible on a daily basis!

Those of us born before 1955, didn't use calculators. Although we did use Slide Rules. and I still have my slide-rule in my toolbox in my garage, and I still use it.

Does that say, that we are smarter then the current generation? Or just not as lazy!

I was in a Bob Evans the other day... and the power went off... The girl at the register could not use the register, and the calculator they had, ran off of 110, so it wasn't working either... Watching her try to calculate peoples change was sad... really sad! A couple of us old timers gave her a quick math lesson on counting out change without counting on technology.

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Eoghan to Profess... 2012/11/04 23:40:59

+1
yes there is the issue that some people overuse the use of a calculator but, and I mean this in no disrespect, times are moving quickly and things like calculators are needed to keep up .

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America... to Profess... 2012/08/26 17:47:42

+1
I graduated in 2011. I was only allowed to use calculators for complex math subjects. Typically, on tests, I wouldn't use a calculator even if I was allowed, unless I need to finish in a quick amount of time.
Now, I was in honors classes so that may have had something to do with it.

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Profess... to America... 2012/10/16 15:45:33

+1
Congratulations... you actually went to a GOOD school!

You should be quite proud!

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America... to Profess... 2012/10/16 16:13:04

I actually didn't go to a great school. In fact, I went to high school in Florida.
Florida had the worst public education in the U.S.
The school was pretty terrible, I put no effort in and passed with flying colors.

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Profess... to America... 2012/10/16 16:38:18

Well.. then at least you got the ONE good math teacher that the district had!

: )

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katywon to Profess... 2012/09/11 04:00:08

This math problem is only one symptom of General Education today. Some college grads being hired in offices do not know how to file alphbetically.

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bob h. to katywon 2012/09/15 00:12:20

+1
So hit alphabet, on your Smart Phone. Does that take a whole term to learn?

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katywon to bob h. 2012/09/15 00:50:51

Of course not.

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JeffDeWitt to Profess... 2012/09/16 22:56:42

When I was in high school calculators were just coming on the market... no one would have brought one to school because your basic calculator cost several hundred dollars!

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Kayla Mace to Profess... 2012/10/16 15:04:48
wildcat 2012/08/20 19:48:57

+2
I agree with the public, Laptops wait until high school, elementary and middle school kids should have Ipads and smart phones. Come on this is the 21st century give the kids the tools they will need to compete in the future.

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thє вluє wαndєrєr 2012/08/20 19:43:38
SteveMarine- JLA 2012/08/20 18:39:16

Well thats how i see it. My kid doesnt need a laptop.

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Obsessi... to SteveMa... 2012/08/20 19:20:16 (edited)

well your kids could, as year progress the children are getting smarter and smarter from an younger age because the school guidelines the government is setting up is the guidelines you would see at an older age because they say that they are getting ready for the real world so they teach them stuff a head of time. it gotten so bad that where I live, elementary students are learning algebra which is typically a 8 or 9th grade class.

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thє вlu... to Obsessi... 2012/08/20 19:46:09