I agree with this piece in The New York Times:
a growing body of evidence shows that over all, college students learn less when they use computers or tablets during lectures. They also tend to earn worse grades. The research is unequivocal: Laptops distract from learning, both for users and for those around them. It’s not much of a leap to expect that electronics also undermine learning in high school classrooms or that they hurt productivity in meetings in all kinds of workplaces.
peakmemory 
I concur as well, but what about laptops (as well as mobile phones and desktop computers) outside the classroom? I’ve noticed that more and more “higher education” is now online, and with all the distractions of the online world, I wonder whether “online learning” is an oxymoron?
Sorry too take so long to reply. I agree completely. I have been an online learning skeptic. While I have taken some online classes and thought they were valuable, it also was clear that they required a lot of motivation and self-discipline. Online learning may be a good option for the highly motivated autodidact, but that is not an accurate description of most students.
That has been my experience with online courses as well!
I totally agree!! One must be very self-motivated and disciplined for online learning! Also, there is something about being in a classroom and having person to person interaction that enhances learning.
I find that if I am typing notes I do not retain as much information as written notes. There is one exception. I like to use onenote to down load slide. When the lecturer is speaking I take notes on the slides. I find that that works the best.