the laptop-free life: give a pen a chance.

[justin gosling]

After my laptop-free semester, it's time to evaluate my decision to take all of my law school notes by hand.

For those who don't print out my blog posts and frame them (shame on you), let me give you a recap about my little experiment. Basically, my laptop died right as fall semester began, and I was forced to take notes by hand until the repairman replaced my motherboard. I found that I took better notes and payed more attention in class than I did with a laptop on my desk. I decided to jump in feet first and abandon the laptop for all my classes, and law school has been a completely different experience.

Overall, I found that taking notes by hand is superior to using a laptop and I will continue to do so in future classes.

That's right, my laptop is staying at home again next semester. I maintained focus for longer periods of time and internet temptations were nonexistent. I did bring the laptop for certain days, like when there would be a recap on material and I knew that my typing speed would be important. I also brought the laptop when I knew I would need computer access and I didn't want to sit in a crowded computer lab. On a few occasions I tried to use a laptop and write notes, but putting a casebook, laptop, notes, pens, and a highlighter on my desk was just too much clutter to handle.

But not everything was rosy.

If I was working on an electronic document I would have to remember and email myself a copy so I could work on it from the computer lab. I would also have to plan out my computer lab use because sometimes the lab was packed with 1Ls printing out papers for legal writing and research. This was a minor inconvenience, and was offset by the fact that I didn't have to worry about losing a valuable electronic device from accidental coffee spills or theft (through criminals should know that taking a law student's laptop is a lot like picking on momma bear's cubs; just don't do it).

Email access without a laptop was my greatest concern. While email may be a distraction during class, it's nearly impossible to live without. My solution was to rely on email through my cell phone and use the computer lab when I needed to type something more than a few paragraphs in length. I had always been skeptical of using my phone for email access because of the unnecessary expense, but in the end I am paying about $10 more a month when compared to my previous cell phone plan. That is only pennies a day and I think the benefit of full time access to email without having to lug around a laptop is well worth the $10 indulgence.

The issue of laptop use in law school is nothing new. From a school administration's perspective the issue is not clear cut because laptops are a great learning tool, but they have the potential to distract the user and those around them. Personally, I disagree with an outright ban of laptops because not all students will benefit from handwritten notes and a laptop with internet access saves a lot of time when referring to statutes (copy and paste > handwritten statutes).

In the end, the decision should be made by each student individually based on their particular learning methods. However, the student must make an informed decision. I brought a laptop to class during my 1L year because everyone else did it (that, and I really wanted to play with the new laptop I bought for school). Had I stepped back and thought about what would be the most effective way for me to learn I may have abandoned the laptop a lot sooner. That is why I advise all law students to give the laptop-free lifestyle a chance. I would think that competitive law students would do whatever it takes to gain a slight edge on the competition, even if that means going old school and using ink.

Comments

[rip 'n run]

I have a solution that will eliminate the need for laptops in class: schools should videotape all lectures and put them online. That way students wouldn't have to type furiously in class, and could instead engage themselves in discussion and think about the material. But I acknowledge that lots of students would take the opportunity to skip class all the time. Students would have to accept an attendance-based penalty, for say, 3 or more unexcused absences. Unless lectures are posted online, students who don't use a laptop are at an extreme disadvantage.