Using laptops in class harms academic performance, study warns

That's a very broad headline statement - surely it depends what the students are asked to do with their laptops? If you are expecting them to sit quietly and record your thoughts over a two hour lecture ('note taking' being almost the only activity described in the study) then of course they will get distracted - wouldn't we all? Perhaps the question should be: if they are enabled to use the laptop to contribute to the session, or to actively work on something of value to their learning, is the same still true?

I would second the valid comment made above about the assumptions made here about the role of the teacher and the role of the learner in the classroom. This sounds like a model where the students are predominantly passive 'vessels' required to take down information from the 'expert', which is pedagogically highly questionable. Also from a research methods point of view - how on earth can they make this claim? Its not a particularly large margin and there are all kinds of other variables that could impact performance between classes. I would question the validaity of this study on a number of fronts. I am surprised to see THE promote this.

*validity. typo apologies

I agree that the headline is overly broad. The actual study only found a significant effect for low-performing males in quantitative courses. The study design was innovative - it relied on the phenomenon of mandatory laptop rules in some courses affecting optional laptop use on the same day in other courses - but it does seem to necessitate a focus on a particular sort of tertiary institution where such rules are prevalent. I have no criticism of the study, but it's a pity to see THE not addressing study limitations and just aiming for clickbait headlines.