Technology in the Classroom..?

Well I think it's safe to say my initial reaction to this blog's topic was YIKES. Who is this professor and where has she been for the last 10 or so years?! Technology is such an instrumental- and positive part of today's society!
Laptops, the internet, and the global connectivity resulting from them are some of the most valuable resources for learning at our disposal. I also believe that depriving students from a helpful tool to “force” them to interact is both silly and counterproductive. Laptops can be beneficial for typing notes, looking up information to support discussion, and sharing information.
Many times in my classes professors will ask us to look up an article, video clip, et cetera, and post it on Blackboard so that the whole class has access to everyone’s selection. It’s a quick and easy way to share information and instantly compile a wide selection of resources.
I also have a feeling that technology-deprived classrooms revolve around a professor standing at the front of the class and lecturing for an hour while students furiously hand write notes (if my personal experience is anything to go by, these notes are often so rushed, choppy, and written in shorthand that I am unable to decipher them later on… let alone share them with a classmate!). Maybe that’s a slightly biased point of view considering I’m a big fan of electronic notes (and how easy they are to bullet, number, and organize of course!), but I’m pretty sure the majority of college students would concur that electronic notes are the best thing since sliced bread.
Maybe this professor (and her supporters) are just jealous because they didn’t have such an awesome tool at their disposal when they were in college… but I think it's time they let it go and embraced all the good things technology has to offer in the classroom! :)