Laptops in the Classroom
Student laptops are used throughout our engineering curricula. Below are some examples of courses that utilize student laptops both in and out of class.
Required courses for freshmen in engineering - All freshmen in the college are required to take E 101 (Introduction to Engineering and Problem Solving) and E 115 (Introduction to Computing Environments). In E101, students learn about many aspects of the engineering process, and they use their laptops some of the time in class. E 115, as you might expect, is much more computer-intensive. Students can expect to bring and use their laptop every time this class meets. Because computer ownership is not a requirement, we have a few sections of each class taught in labs for students who do not have laptops.
Computer Science - As you might expect, laptops are particularly useful in this department, as students often work with code in class.
Industrial and Systems Engineering, Textile Engineering -- The introductory course in both of these departments uses student laptops for computer-based modeling and programming using Visual Basic. The course exercises are largely based around the use of Microsoft Excel 2010.
Laptop Use in Courses Outside the College
Graphic Communications -- In GC 120, a computer modeling course, students use SolidWorks to complete their assignments on their personal laptops both in and outside of class. Many students who take the next class in that progression, GC 250, also use SolidWorks.
Calculus -- Maple is used in Calculus I, II, and III, mainly outside of lecture as a tool for use in lab sections and on homework assignments.
Guidelines for In-Class Use
Aside from the instructor-led exercises where students use their laptops in class, many students find it beneficial to use their laptops to take notes. It is all a matter of personal preference. Many students would rather take notes by hand, or they find that having their laptops open in front of them is too much of a distraction.
There is no blanket policy on whether laptops are allowed in classes that do not use them for instruction. Some instructors want students to use them, others do not. Laptop use in the classroom has been the subject of debate in the academic community for years. Although faculty can make their own class policies on laptop use, we are not aware of any faculty in the college who forbid them outright. Consider yourself allowed to use laptops in class unless instructed otherwise.
Historical Laptop Use in the College
As time goes on, more and more faculty are using laptops in class. At this point students can expect to use their laptops in conjunction with nearly all their classes, if not actively in class. Below is a partial list of classes in which laptops have been used and tracked since our pilot program began in 2001, which provides a historical perspective of how laptop use has evolved in the curricula. Over the past few years, laptops have become nearly ubiquitous.
Note: Courses in italics were taught using a university owned laptop cart with specialized software not typically available outside of the standard computer lab.
Fall 2008 courses
- GC 120, Foundations of Graphics
- CSC 116, Introduction to Computing - Java
- CSC 316, Programming Concepts - Java
- ISE/TE 110, Computer-Based Modeling for Engineers
- MA 141, Calculus I
- MA 241, Calculus II
- MA 242, Calculus III
Spring 2007 courses
- GC 120, Foundations of Graphics
- CSC 116, Introduction to Computing - Java
- CSC 316, Programming Concepts - Java
- MA 241, Calculus II
- MA242, Calculus III
Fall 2006 courses
- GC 120, Foundations of Graphics
- CSC 116, Introduction to Computing - Java
- CSC 216, Programming Concepts - Java
- MA 141, Calculus I
- MA 241, Calculus II
- MA242, Calculus III
- E101 and E115
Spring 2006 courses
- GC120, Foundations of Graphics
- CSC116, Introduction to Computing - Java
- CSC 316, Data Structures for Computer Scientists
- MA241, Calculus II
- MA242, Calculus III
- CHE 205P, Chemical Process Principles (Problem Session)
- CHE 225, Chemical Process Systems
- CHE 330, Chemical Engineering Lab I
- CHE 395, Professional Development Seminar
- CHE 425, Process Control
- CHE 451, Senior Design II
- GC 496E, CE Graphics (AutoCAD)
- CE 325, Structural Analysis I
- CE 420, Structure Engineering
Fall 2005 courses
- GC120, Foundations of Graphics
- CSC216, Programming Concepts – Java
- MA242, Calculus III
- MA241, Calculus II
- MA141, Calculus I
- E115, Introduction to Computing Environments
- E101, Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving
- CHE 205P, Chemical Process Principles (Problem Session)
- CHE 330, Chemical Engineering Lab I
- CHE 395, Professional Development Seminar
- CHE 450, Senior Design I
- BAE 200, Computer Methods in Biological Engineering
- BAE 401/501, Bioinstrumentation/Instrumentation for Biological Systems
- BAE 473/573, Introduction to Surface/Water Quality Modeling
- BAE 590I, Special Problems: Open Channel Hydraulics
- BME 201, Computer Methods in Biomedical Engineering
Spring 2005 courses
- CSC116, Introduction to Computing - Java
- CSC316, Data Structures for Computer Scientists
- MA241, Calculus II
- MA242, Calculus III
- GC120, Foundations of Graphics
- FLS212, Spanish: Language, Technology, Culture
- CHE 205P, Chemical Process Principles (Problem Session)
- CHE 225, Chemical Process System
- CHE 330, Chemical Engineering Lab I
- CHE 395, Professional Development Seminar
- CHE 425, Process Control
- CE 325, Structural Analysis
- CE 420/L,Structural Engineering Project
Fall 2004 courses
- BAE 200: Computer Methods in Biological Engineering
- BAE 401/510: Bioinstumentation
- BAE 473/573: Introduction to Surface Water Quality Modeling
- BAE 576: Watershed Monitoring and Assessment
- BME 201: Computer Methods in Biomedical Engineering
- CHE 205P: Chemical Process Principles Problem Session
- CHE 330: Chemical Engineering Lab I
- CHE 331: Chemical Engineering Lab II
- CHE 450: Chemical Engineering Design I
- CSC 216: Programming Concepts - Java
- E 101: Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving
- E 115: Introduction to Computing Environments
- GC 120: Foundations of Technical Graphics
- MA 141: Calculus I
- MA 241: Calculus II
- MA 242: Calculus III
Spring 2004 courses
- CE 325: Structural Analysis
- CE 420: Structural Engineering Project
- CE 722: Structural Dynamics
- CHE 205P: Chemical Process Principles Problem Session
- CHE 315: Chemical Process Thermodynamics
- CHE 330: Chemical Engineering Lab I
- CHE 331: Chemical Engineering Lab II
- CSC 116: Introduction to Computing - Java
- GC 120: Foundations of Technical Graphics
- ENG 261: English Literature I
- MA 241: Calculus II
- MA 242: Calculus III
Fall 2003 courses
- BAE 200: Computer Methods in Biological Engineering
- BAE 201: Shop Processes and Management
- CHE 205P: Chemical Process Principles Problem Session
- E 101: Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving
- E 115: Introduction to Computing Environments
- ENG 101 (a new introductory English class)
- GC 120: Foundations of Technical Graphics
- MA 141: Calculus I
- MA 241: Calculus II
- Spanish for Engineers: Language, Culture, Technology
Spring 2003 courses
- CSC 116H: Introduction to Computing - Java
- ENG 113H: Composition, Rhetoric, and Reading
- HON 295 (EC 205): Fundamentals of Economics
- MA 242H: Calculus III
- MAE 206: Engineering Statics
Fall 2002 courses
- E 101: Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving
- E 115: Introduction to Computing Environments
- ENG 111Z: Composition and Rhetoric
- HON 293E: Like Romeo and Juliet
- HON 294C: Foundations of Technical Graphics
- HON 296M: Spanish for Engineers: Language, Culture, Technology
- HON 296N: Making and Using Maps in a Digital Age
- MA 241H: Calculus II
Academic Year 2001-2002 courses
- HON 101 - Honors Colloquium
- an Honors seminar
- ENG 113 Honors - Composition, Rhetoric, and Reading
- E 101 - Intro to Engineering
- E 115 - Intro to Computing Environments
- CSC 116 - Intro to Computing - Java
- HON 294C (prev. GC 120) - Foundations of Technical Graphics