Technology Policies

Technology such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones are distracting—both for the students using technology, who often are devoting their attention to non-class matters, and for those sitting near them. The pervasiveness of social media has also increased anxiety about class content circulating outside the classroom. Studies have repeatedly shown that student learning and success decrease when smartphones, tablets, and laptops are permitted in class.

The Bok Center recommends:

• Limit or prohibit the use of internet-enabled devices as much as possible. This will enable students to focus on lecture and discussion and encourage them to focus on the quality rather than the quantity of their notes
• Although the Bok Center recommends limiting or prohibiting devices in the classroom, there are cases when using technology judiciously can provide instructors with immediate feedback about student learning. Instructors can have student take out devices temporarily to: respond to an in-class poll or quiz, collaborate on shared docs, do a close-reading of a text or refer to primary source material, or conduct in-class research. Academic Technology for the FAS can provide assistance with effective uses of technology in the classroom: https://atg.fas.harvard.edu/

Please Note:

• Exceptions to these technology policies will be made for approved student accommodations.
• These policies should be strictly reinforced (by both TF/TAs and course heads), especially at the beginning of the semester.
• All new Canvas sites have new menu items for Class Policies.

In order to effectively support student engagement in a class without devices, we encourage faculty to encourage students to commit to an engaged, in-class learning community, including:

• Group Agreements
• Civil Discourse
• Chatham House Rules (link to Crimson article Oct 2024)

Be mindful that digital-native generations might need some extra assistance with best practices for taking notes, maintaining attention and focus in class. Faculty can support students by:

• Keeping students engaged by incorporating active thinking doing activities during class. Varying pedagogical strategies—in both lecture classes and discussion-based seminars—can help even distractible students maintain engagement. This can include: turn and talk to a partner, strategize an answer, respond to a prompt, connect the course material to your own experience, or do a writing reflection.
• Move around: physically moving around a lecture hall can help retain student attention
• ARC Resources:
  • Preparing for Class
  • Classroom Norms (link to ARC)
  • Note-Taking