Cell phones
Wow this can get out of control if you let it.
Over the last 2 years cell phones in the class have become a force to deal with.
I use the nothing on your desk method to give me a clear view of whats going on.
From day one I use A zero-tolerance policy.
We all need to use a Zero tolerance form day one.
What do you do ?
I am a full-time business person, part-time professor; I also have young children home with older brother as sitter. I need to answer my phone when it “rings†and I will step out of the classroom to take the call, “brieflyâ€. Since I permit myself the privilege of answering my “ringing†phone, I allow my students to leave their phone on “soundâ€; however, I request they answer it quickly and step outside the room quickly. I adhere to this even during tests. Noise and interruptions are a natural part of life and business; I apply real life and real business scenarios to class; this is just another scenario. The students must learn to adapt to noise and interruptions, even during a test.
I teach nights so I find the students have family issues; this is also why I allow them to leave their phone on and step out to take the call; I don’t want them to miss an emergency at home.
I also teach days, to younger students; I find that by allowing them to keep their ringer on, they get less calls during class. Reason: I talk about respect and courtesy to fellow students; they seem to respond well to this empowerment.
It works for me; doesn’t mean it will work for everyone.
I feel that our students are adults and should be treated as such. Make a policy that is fair, outline it in your syllabus, and stick to it.
I tried this..... But they take advantage of the situation & they're up and leaving to step out to the hall quite a bit, interupting class time!! So what do u suggest????
I know it does not work for me either. The students take advantage of you letting them to keep their cell phones on. I ask them to keep their phone on silent because I don't like any interruption in the class. This is not fair to the other students who try to learn uninterrupted.
Cell Phones in class do not bother me since I teach in a non-traditional environment. Cell phones are only prohibited when in a testing environment. I remind students that they will not be permitted in having their cell phone in a professional testing environment for certification and it is a good practice to model now.
I find that students will generally respect the cell phone rules if they are enforced. However there are some who are a little more disrespectful and have to be delt with in a more dicipline manner.
I tell them the first day if I hear your phone or see you texting 10 points off for ea offence you have 100 points its up to you if you want to keep it
I ask they everyone turn their cell phones to silent mode and please use during breaks only. I follow this policy, too.
I never realized just how distracting and frustrating this topic would become for me until this most recent term. In fact this week, today even. I was lecturing and I had most of the class engaged. However there were 2 students texting on the phone for the duration of my lecture until the break. I tried many small tools like walking over and asking questions. Nothing, i mean nothing was going to pull their eyes away from their phones. During the break I pulled the students aside and sdked them to kindly put away the phones during class and save texting or even reading text for the break or after class. They obliged me. I also remindd the class of my rules and expectations for cell phones during class. Hope all will go smooth with this term. Next week I will start over with a whole new group of text junkees...
The Zero Tolerance policy is certainly the ideal solution. However, reality dictates that my students include mothers with small children and sick relatives who need a means of communication in an emergency.
Ironically, the problem with cell phones (smart phones in particular) is not the phone calls themselves. I teach some math and many students use the phone for calculator app. The problem is the phone also gives them access to the internet where they can search for test answers. That problem was an easy fix...
I tried many ways to get my students to stop texting in class. I made announcements, which worked for a few. I had them put them all on a table in the front of the room for a few sessions, which made most of them stop. The last few I had to call out in the middle of the lecture. That made them stop. Frustrating!
I have a zero tolerance for using the cell phone in my class but due to the nature of most of my student populous they are allowed to remove themselves from class to take a call that is urgent. It only seems to be abused by few and when it is I get to have their phone for the rest of class.
