Education
Laptops, phones and tablets banned at UvA interdisciplinary social science program
The University of Amsterdam's interdisciplinary social science program has banned laptops, phones, and tablets during lectures to improve student concentration. Universitair hoofddocent Cyrilein Evertsen noted that 60 to 80 percent of students were mentally absent due to digital distractions like online shopping or Instagram. The policy requires handwritten notes, which experts argue forces active information processing. While some students support the measure for enhancing focus, others argue it infringes on their choice in exam preparation. Paul Kirschner, emeritus professor of educational psychology, described electronic devices as a "weapon of mass distraction" that negatively impacts not only the user but also surrounding peers.
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