Social networking Web sites interrupt academics
James Rose
Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: Opinion
It seems like students are logging on to Facebook more than Blackboard.
As you take a stroll through the Library or one of LPC's computer labs, it is not difficult to find a student fooling around on Facebook.
As students log on to social networking Web sites, precious time is stolen away from academics.
"It's too easy to distract themselves (students)," said Greg Johns, 803 computer lab instructor. "The nature of most of what I observe is rather inane and unproductive."
Johns witnesses students using social networking Web sites virtually everyday. According to Johns, students will first do some homework in the computer lab.
"And then pop on to Facebook to break up (studying)," Johns said.
Students' use of the computers is a mixture. Some do just homework, some just social networking and the rest a combination of the two.
On the computer screen, there are restrictions on the desktop. In a nutshell, it basically instructs the user that the computers are intended for homework and not for personal use.
"If people are not disturbing others around them," Johns said. "We tolerate a certain amount of recreational use."
However, the computers are monitored remotely using software that can view each monitor's screen. According to Johns, LPC is just concerned with inappropriate Web sites and disruptive behavior.
In contrast with the 803 lab, the LPC Library is more tolerant of students' use of the computers.
"Social networking is part of what the new student generation is about," said Cheryl Warren Library coordinator. "It's not up to us to monitor whether we (librarians) consider this an educational activity for this person or not."
According to Warren, the LPC library is a free access point. That means that students basically have free reign over what they can do on the computer. However, the computers are still monitored remotely by LPC's IT department.
Alma Avila, LPC student, checks Facebook twice per day in the 803 computer lab.
As you take a stroll through the Library or one of LPC's computer labs, it is not difficult to find a student fooling around on Facebook.
As students log on to social networking Web sites, precious time is stolen away from academics.
"It's too easy to distract themselves (students)," said Greg Johns, 803 computer lab instructor. "The nature of most of what I observe is rather inane and unproductive."
Johns witnesses students using social networking Web sites virtually everyday. According to Johns, students will first do some homework in the computer lab.
"And then pop on to Facebook to break up (studying)," Johns said.
Students' use of the computers is a mixture. Some do just homework, some just social networking and the rest a combination of the two.
On the computer screen, there are restrictions on the desktop. In a nutshell, it basically instructs the user that the computers are intended for homework and not for personal use.
"If people are not disturbing others around them," Johns said. "We tolerate a certain amount of recreational use."
However, the computers are monitored remotely using software that can view each monitor's screen. According to Johns, LPC is just concerned with inappropriate Web sites and disruptive behavior.
In contrast with the 803 lab, the LPC Library is more tolerant of students' use of the computers.
"Social networking is part of what the new student generation is about," said Cheryl Warren Library coordinator. "It's not up to us to monitor whether we (librarians) consider this an educational activity for this person or not."
According to Warren, the LPC library is a free access point. That means that students basically have free reign over what they can do on the computer. However, the computers are still monitored remotely by LPC's IT department.
Alma Avila, LPC student, checks Facebook twice per day in the 803 computer lab.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Custom thesis
posted 11/26/09 @ 6:33 AM PST
Email should be the only permissible medium of online communication on campus-controlled computers and not Facebook which already seems to be a disease. (Continued…)
San Diego Moving Company
posted 12/04/09 @ 12:55 PM PST
It's true, websites like Facebook are very distracting for students and often get in the way of academics.
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