More than 90 percent of professors surveyed at various four-year public universities in 2010 said e-book content would soon be an important instructional resource, according to a report by the Campus Computing Project.

The Campus Computing Project began in 1990 and is the largest continuing study of the role or e-learning and information technology in American higher education, according to their website.

“I don’t mind if students have laptops in my class —the same goes for iPads,” said Lonnie Beard, a law professor.

Most students use them every class meeting, he said.

“Just as long as the students don’t distract their classmates, I don’t mind too much, though I would like them to stay focused on the class rather than surf the web,” he said.

He has not experienced many problems concerning laptops and iPads in his classes, he said.

“Electronics are windows to things going on outside of the classroom,” Beard said.

Stephanie McCullough, junior music and psychology major, said she often uses her laptop in class.

“It is mainly to work on things for other classes, though I still take notes for the class I am sitting in,” McCullough said.

The only bad thing about bringing her laptop to class is the temptation to get on Facebook, she said.

It is obvious that the use of laptops are distracting to the lecture when students giggle behind computers and motion their neighbors to look at things on the screen, Beard said.

“Benefit outweighs the cost though, I just hope students use them to their advantage,” he said.

“I’m not going to punish or ban iPads and laptops in class just because a few students use them in the wrong ways,” he said.

Sociology professor Gordon Morgan said he expects students to use electronic devices responsibly.

“I tell my students to be careful and pay attention. I shouldn’t hear any noise from their laptops or iPads,” Morgan said. “There is a lot to be gained in listening to lectures in class, not just to gain knowledge, but also discipline,” he said.

Morgan details his rules at the beginning of the course so there are fewer problems with the use of laptops and iPads in his classes.

James Walker, professor of Human Anatomy, has an uncompromising stance on electronic devices.

“All cell phones must be out of sight in my classes and laptops are only to be used to take notes,” Walker said.

Walker’s class sizes can reach up to 300 students, but hardly any laptops or iPads, he said.

The university has no official policy against the use of laptops or iPads.

“There is no specific policy against the use of laptops or iPads in classes on the UA campus,” said Steve Voorhies, media manager of university relations.

Whether a student can use them in a class is directly up to the individual faculty member, he said.

“It is a general policy that the electronics should be used for notes related to the class,” Voorhies said.

Regardless of policy, some UA students think laptops are a distraction.

“I hardly ever use my laptop in my classes,” said Chris Kinnison, sophomore engineering major.  “I don’t really have a use for it in my classes right now and it is a bad source of distraction during lectures.”