Sample Laptop Policy for Syllabus

Below is a sample of what I put into all my course syllabi to establish guidelines for laptop use in the classroom. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Appropriate Use of Laptops in the Classroom: Your laptop computer is an important educational resource for this class. You must use it appropriately and responsibly during our class meetings. Some basic rules/procedures include:
1. Please bring a charged battery with your laptop. It is not appropriate to get up and plug your laptop into a classroom outlet. Please mute the computer when booting up at the outset of class. Please be on time so that you do not disrupt the class setting up your laptop.
2. When I say, "We are all on task" at the beginning of class, please immediately stop and shut down any instant message programs, Web browsers, media players or any program not directly related to our course material and class. You may use a word processing program or note-taking program to type notes during the class.
3. Please close the laptops during class discussions, video/film viewings or when instructed by me.
4. If you choose not to follow these rules/procedures, you will be asked to leave and withdraw from the class. I reserve the right to expand on these rules and procedures during the semester.
Please see me if you have any questions or concerns with these rules/procedures or if you need to discuss the use of the laptop with me.