Admit it: even though your MacBook has that cool “Notebook View” feature, you’re probably not using your laptop to take notes during class. The truth is that we spend entire classes switching between “Brandeis Open” and “Brandeis Secure” WiFi networks so that we can surf the net. From my habitual seat in the back of the Schwartz Lecture Hall, I can always see dozens and dozens of open Facebook pages. But Facebook isn’t the only alternative to paying attention to your lecture. There are so many cooler sites out there (many are even borderline educational!). Here are some of my top picks:
· Cracked is your go-to source for important useless information. What do I mean by that? Well, spend a
class reading this site and you’ll find tons of funny facts and true stories that will blow your mind. Most of what you read will never really be useful to you, yet you’ll wonder how you could have possibly gone so long without knowing about eyeball tattoos or the most overused jokes on the Internet.
· Digg has stories from all over the web, submitted by users. Readers vote on articles to rank them by popularity. This is an interesting place to go for news because you not only can stay up to date with current issues, but you can learn how important these issues are to the online community. You’ll also find tons of quirky stuff that normally would have been under your radar.
· Polyvore is kind of like an online mood board for fashion. Users create collages of their favorite looks and
style icons and share them. You can also find style advice and shopping on this site as well. Looking at all the happy and pretty clothes is a great thing to do during that class which you seriously regret taking.
· Well, since you aren’t going to learn anything in class, might as well learn about yourself by taking quizzes on Quizrocket. This website has all kinds of quizzes, from IQ quizzes to TV show quizzes. It’ll bring you back to the days of filling out quizzes in Girls Life magazine during sleepovers.
· Online shopping during class is a pretty bad idea. Boredom can lead to bad impulse purchases. But if you must shop during class, visit Eyeslipsface. ELF
cosmetics has great makeup at really reasonable prices. Most items are between $1-$3! So go ahead, buy that trendy metallic nail polish. (You can afford it!)
· Xkcd is a hilariously nerdy web comic. The comics are all only a few, simple, black-and-white frames—perfect for when you can barely see during that 9am class. They’re are also a little geeky, so you might learn something about math or science. But don’t worry, even if there’s only a drop of nerd in you, you’ll be laughing hard.
· But let’s be serious here: Her Campus Brandeis is really the site you should be visiting during class. (I only mentioned the others out of respect.)
While there are tons of class-worthy sites out there, there are a few that I don’t recommend (I’m not even going to give you the links!).
· Don’t go on YouTube during class. Not only is wearing earbuds during class pretty rude, but it’s also not helpful to you! Even if stare at your computer for a solid 55 minutes, your ears are open. Chances are you’re absorbing some of the lecture and learning by osmosis. Don’t underestimate the power of passive learning—it’s so convenient!
· And don’t bother with incessantly clicking the “random article” button on Wikipedia. You’d be surprised just how many things are more boring than the class you’re in right now…
· While I love it, Damn You Autocorrect! is sort of dangerous during class. You’re going to run into the most hilarious typo that the world has ever seen, and you’re going to laugh uncontrollably. Not okay during class. You gotta be subtle! Not paying attention is an art-form.
So there you have it: if you’re going to zone out during class, consider using the time to learn something funny or interesting. A cool article can brighten your day much more than your Facebook Newsfeed.