If students can get lecture notes off the Web, there are the obvious temptations. It depends on the instructor. But Leineweber hasn't noticed a drop in attendance. In fact, student performance has improved. Slides for her history class are also posted, and test scores have doubled.
Students also turn in papers via the Internet.
And if students have financial difficulties, they can get student loans to buy computers, Leineweber said. Spencer Leineweber with student Donovan Bumanglag. The University of Phoenix has phased in its computer requirement during the past three years so students wouldn't be caught off guard financially, said Robert W. McIntosh, chairman of the university's information systems and technology department. Before students enroll, they must sign a form that they have access to a personal computer and an email address. If students aren't computer literate, they won't make it.