So a third of the people in my program were using the iPad in class to take notes, the other third were using laptops and the last third were using paper and pencil.

Students already have laptops and cell phones, of course, but the newest devices can take class distractions to a new level.

We think this is the way the future is going to work," said Kyle Dickson, co-director of research and the mobile learning initiative at Abilene Christian University in Texas, which has bought more than 600 iPhones and 300 iPods for students Although plenty of students take their laptops to class, they don't take them everywhere and would prefer something lighter

iPhones and iPods will replace laptops sooner or later