So far this semester I have had to tell three students in my United States history survey course to put away their cell phones. (I ban them in my class). I thought that having to do this three times was a lot, until I learned about Professor Barney McCoy‘s study of the way students use their devices in class. Apparently 90% of college students claimed to use their devices for “non-class purposes” including texting checking the time, e-mailing, social networking, web surfing, and games. Inside Higher Education reports:
McCoy writes in the paper that the widespread use of digital devices in class makes it important for academics to get a better understanding of just how and why students feel the need to be online for non-academic reasons. “When college students multi-task with digital devices in classrooms, research indicates it may hamper their ability to pay attention,” he writes. “This behavior, research suggests, has become more habitual, automatic and distracting.”
How do you handle cell phones and other devices in your classes?
I try to ban them–I've had to call out students more than three times this semester. I say things like, “I'm sure that whatever you're texting will not be on the test” (since that's what the student says is the most important thing about being in class) OR “You're paying a lot of money to spend time texting during this class” OR “Now you've seen your grade, what do you think about how you use time in class?”
I'm not an instructor but on the student side of things, it is a little distracting. But let me tell you, it gets worse.
Graduate students, especially those writing theses, are constantly on their laptop computers in class doing things completely unrelated to the discussion at hand.
I usually say this: texting in class makes me, the professor, lose my train of thought. I recognize that some of you have very serious obligations, to family, etcetera, and if you have a serious reason for texting, please step outside of the classroom to do it. Students seem to find this reasonable.
My philosophy on class behavior has not changed since the pre-cell phone world: A student's tuition buys them a seat in my classroom. What they do beyond that is their business…so long as they do not disturb other students. I state this clearly on the syllabus:
“If you want to spend your time texting, listening to music, or web surfing while in my class, that’s your business. Just don’t expect me to take you seriously as a student or an adult. If your behavior disrupts others, however, you will be asked to leave the classroom”
Students occasionally complain about classmate's behavior (music too loud on the earbuds, watching porn on the laptop!). Yes, I speak with those students and ask them to “cease and desist.”
My one exception is during quizzes/exams. I announce before the exam that if I even see you near a cell phone, I will assume you are cheating and take up the exam.
I've also noted the hypocrisy of my rules and regs colleagues who constantly check their electronics during meetings!