Role of cell phones as safety tools
Our faculty is about evenly split re cell phones in class. I have chosen to advise my students to leave them on vibrate, and to step out to take a call if they must. They are adults with children, pets, houses, etc. In addition, I have come to see cell phones as a safety device. If an angry or distressed student were to enter my room, students whose cells are on can call for support, or text others to take necessary action. What do others think?
Hi Mimi,
I see cell phones as a total distraction in the classroom. Even if the phone is on vibrate, when the phone vibrates, the student has to turn their attention to the phone to see who is calling, which is a distraction to that student. Also, if a student has to leave the room, momentarily it is a distraction to the entire class as well as the instructor if the instructor is lecturing. If something severe happens that pertains to a student, one can certainly contact the front desk as they have done years ago. I am not a fan of cell phones in the classroom.
Patricia
I would totally agree with you. The cell phones are a total distraction and I've heard that some students shop on their laptops during class. I understand if students have children that they need to be available, but communication has to be clear about the cell phones in class so that everyone is not disrupted.
Cell phones are an absolute distraction in class, I inform my students that I do not want to see any cell phones out during class time and that they can check to see if they have any missed calls on their break and if someone needs to get a hold of them during class then they need to call the front desk and someone will come and get them in emergency cases.
In emergency cases, how effective is the front desk in getting the message to the student?
Hi Terence,
At my institution the administrative assistant is extremely effective in getting emergency messages to students.
I have had only one legitimate "emergency" phone call come in during class, ever. A student who worked for EMS on a helicopter crew was called in to work. But, even he admitted that if he hadn't had his phone, his supervisor had his schedule and would have called the school's office to have someone inform him of the emergency. I have seen many, many instances of inappropriate use of phones in class. In think part of our job should be to demonstrate and require work appropriate behavior, and in many jobs, checking your phone every few minutes would not be acceptable.
Hi Barbara,
I agree! I am not a fan of using the cell phone in the classroom. If it is truly an emergency, the school office will be contacted. We have to remember how life was before cell phones...
Patricia
