<p>I was wondering if it's allowed to use computers (more specifically, iPads) in class? I'm trying to shift away from paper notes in attempt to lighten my backpack in the fall (I've installed about three different note taking apps), but first I wanted to ensure that this would be okay with professors.</p>
<p>It really depends on your professors’ personal preferences or whims. In more than 3/4 of my classes, no laptops/iPads/phones were allowed. It didn’t seem to matter whether it was a chemistry lecture versus a literature seminar; it came down to whether the professor finds it distracting. </p>
<p>There are some obvious exceptions, i.e. lab projects with Excel spreadsheets or seminars with extensive online reading materials too difficult to print out. And maybe in some cases there are certain unsaid departmental customs regarding the matter.</p>
<p>Anyway, the bottom line is that you shouldn’t throw away your paper notebooks. But by all means, use all your tech resources for the opportunities you do receive both in and out of class. I have in fact seen a classmate write his essays on an iPad. A personal example: I’m experimenting with academic-grade voice recognition software to take notes from my textbooks and to dictate emails and essays (and this post!). It’s fast, incredibly precise, and it’s like having a personal secretary in my dorm room; however I always make sure to have my trusty Pilot V5 rolling ball in my pocket to fall back on. ;)</p>
<p>That makes sense, considering most classes are relatively small. I was trying to figure out if I should invest in note-taking apps on the iPad or Mac. Thanks, that really cleared things up for me!</p>
<p>Computers and ipads are definitely allowed in most lecture classes! If you have smaller classes (20 people or so), and are discussion based, the professor might request that they are not used, but for general note taking it is okay. </p>
<p>Also keep in mind that you won’t have too many classes in a day, so your backpack won’t be too heavy if you have time to drop off stuff between classes.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t dismiss the idea of taking notes by hand if you want to pay attention, though. Computers can be kind of distracting because going your internet browser is going to be tempting you all lecture.</p>