The screen, as part of networked technologies such as phones, tablets and laptops is at present a debated subject as it affects how people behave in meetings, lectures and other social gatherings. As these networked technologies attract attention and mediates interaction during physical social gatherings, they also change how we perceive and define what a situation is. In this article we focus on the different types of screen related interactions identified in a higher education classroom. Since these networked technologies are commonplace at university campuses it is important to describe their effects on everyday situations such as lectures. While a range of studies have raised questions regarding the negative effects of multitasking, screen peeking and other laptop related side effects this article emphasise the situational impact of student-laptop interaction. The contribution emphasises on the computer mediated interaction with both other students, external others as well as a range of digital resources. The research thus aims at providing educators and researchers with a model to advance their understanding of the laptoped and networked situation.

In this article an ethnographical study of laptopers' activities during lectures in a university milieu is analyzed as different kinds of involvements. Through interviews and observations we have focused on how these involvements influence the laptopers' alignment towards the educational practice. The analysis shows the importance of separating the educational practice and the personal learning situation. Studying students' learning intentions, rather than certain laptop related activities, we get a deeper understanding of the role the laptop can take during learning activities. Five general characteristics of laptoping are found. Negotiating the laptops' different roles in the educational practice opens up for an understanding of the students personal learning situation as being more than just listening to a lecturer. Additionally, competent integration of digital tools into the learning situation extends the dimensions of the lecture beyond the lecturing hours and personal note taking. Such knowledge is vital for creating foundations for digital competency in a digitized society. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Based on a qualitative study of laptop-equipped university students, this article investigates the laptop's role in educational practice. Goffman's framework on unfocused interaction was used to develop and analyze three use patterns: screen peeking, online tics and screensaver fear. These patterns advance our understanding of laptop use, unfocused interaction and the the role of the laptop in the studied situations. The laptop introduces an interpretative flexibility that allows a greater range of different behaviors relative to the dominant involvement. © 2012 Universitetsforlaget.