Should USU ban social networking sites from campus computer labs?

By Jean West

October 20, 2008 | Many universities are starting to ban sites such as Facebook and Myspace from their on-campus WiFi, while others are eliminating the use of laptops all together. Should Utah State University join in? Is the use of the unbridled Internet distracting to students? Are their grades dropping because social networks are so easily accessible during moments they should be studying or listening to a lecture? Should schools get involved? Would it make a difference?

Dr. Tamyra Pierce, a California State University, Fresno professor, did research on the affect social networking has on students' grades. Her research can be found here and showed that when she surveyed 517 students in the Fresno area she found 49 percent of students responding reported lower grades than last year. Students with MySpace accounts ­ 72 percent (371 students) ­ reported their grades were significantly lower this year than last year, compared to students without MySpace accounts, meaning the probability is less than 1 out of 1,000 times this would occur by chance, Pierce said.

A survey taken on Facebook itself with 113 students responding, indicated that out of the 113 college students, well over half reported spending at least two hours on social networks a day! 75 percent of those students also admitted that their grades have suffered in some degree from it.

Though these numbers speak volumes, how much of it is the teachers letting it happen during their lectures, and how much of it is the students inability to focus when they are constantly getting sent posts and comments on their latest pictures?

"If teachers were more engaging with their students we wouldn't feel the need to surf the Web or facebook during class... I have classes where I feel the teacher isn't prepared and is wasting my time so I sign on to my profile... other classes I am afraid to open my laptop because I don't want to miss anything important. It all depends on the teacher" said Tabitha Lazenby, junior at Utah State University.

"I have a very interactive class, one that I feel is easy to control, but when I see a student online and know they are on Facebook, SecondLife, or Myspace I feel it is just rude. I just don't understand why they come to class if that is what they want to do. Why do they pay money for that. And on top of it all, they distract other students and that isn't fair to their education and to the positive learning environment we as teachers try to create" said Tim Vitale, assistant director of public relations and marketing for Utah State University and an adjunct instructor in the journalism and communication department.

"If students aren't paying attention," said Professor Jackson, the Chicago CIO at University of Chicago Law School, "it's not the fault of whatever is distracting them but the lecturer who isn't captivating their attention." UCLS has banned internet use in classrooms and has had much debate over the dramatic change. They have found it has improved grades but the students have found ways around the change using their BlackBerries, Treos and other devices that can access the internet through cellular networks.

"Laptops should definitely not be barred... and Facebook should not be eliminated from USU's WiFi. We are adults and should be able to do whatever we want. It's our choice. Plus laptops can be good for other things such as taking notes and looking things up that we may not understand" said Tim Ray, senior in the biology department at USU.

"It's for our own good" said David Haupt, senior in the political science department at USU, "if it has been proven to raise grades at other universities, than we should do it as well. We may be adults but sometimes we don't do what is best for us."

Siva Vaidhyanathan, an associate professor of media studies and law at the University of Virginia is considering banning laptops in his classroom "I wholeheartedly applaud the move," said David D. Cole, a professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, in an e-mail. "I've barred students from using laptops in my classes for two years now, and it has manifestly improved student participation and the level of engagement and discussion. And no wonder -- allowing students access to the Internet is like putting several magazines, a telephone and a television monitor at each students' seat and inviting him or her to tune out and browse, talk or watch TV anytime their mind starts to wander. It is corrosive of an engaged classroom."

The change would be dramatic, some students will rebel, but overall if the students at Utah State University comply with the possible ban, studies have shown grades will improve. Is the loss of some freedom on campus worth the better grades?

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