Setting Technology Policies
At our school, all syllabi specify no cell phone use during class. Now, as we are a culinary school-this makes sense. Even though I don't teach in a culinary lab, but in an academic class I follow the policy carefully. I tell students I expect (and enforce) them NOT to be on their cell phones (no texting, game playing, etc). They can use them during the break, etc. Yes, they like to be connected. I would like to wear my pajamas to school....but being an adult requires you to adjust. I get this generation is "connected" through their technology, but as teachers we need to impose expectations on students so they learn to become professional.
I agree. Expectations of professionalism must be followed in the work place. In order to prepare students, they should be enforced in school as well.
the school where I teach also has policies against the use of cellphone, laptops, and recording devices, cellphones may be turned on to a silent mode if the student is expecting an important call about the wellbeing of a family member or a call from an employer or someone that they have interviewed with that day,they can with the instructor permision use the phone as a calculator, when working on compression ratios in class, they must wear clothing without any holes or rippes in them and must be neat at all times. Our students are held to these standards at all times, with technology being used when and where needed. I also find they want everything in the way of measuring tools to also be electronic, for example micrometers, calipers, and torque wrenches these tools how ever do not teach them to read or use a standard OLD FASHION TOOL.
Thomas,
this is a good exercise & often they will thank you for this.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Challenge your students to live ONE day without using a computer, cell phone, or television set and give them extra credit for writing a paper detailing the results of the experiment. It is interesting to see how they feel when they are "disconnected."
Daniel,
this is very true & I have found that many do understand this. While they may gripe a little, they do get it, often they've just never been made to put them away.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I agree. Even though cell phones have become essential to Gen Y ers, there is still a time to put then away and pay attention. We are preparing students for future employment opportunities. There will be times in the workplace when a cell phone will not be tolerated because it is rude or could produce a dangerous situation.
Chelsea,
well said. We must learn to live in & educate in this new reality.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
This isn't some crazy fad - this is the future either we embrace the technology and see it not as something to change will we ever be able to compete for attention and connect to this generation.
willy,
I think this is what is most frightening to me; many students are willing to sacrifice education, money, etc just for the techie fix.
Dr. Ryan Meers
My tech school also forbids the use of cells during class, but it does not bother them, they would rather miss time in class than to be disconnected from their peers.
Jennifer,
I think this demonstrates a good flexibility on your part & hopefully helps with some of the violations.
Dr. Ryan Meers
We also have a strict policy of no cell phones, but I have found that I need to be somewhat lax in order to get everyone to "buy in." I tell students no texting, etc while I am lecturing or while they are in production (I am a culinary instructor). However, I make sure to give them breaks to check their phones and always tell them if they are expecting an important call, please step into the hall. For the most part this has cut down on violations - but of course I have the occasional lap texter.
Michael,
unfortunately this is where we have to say, "I cannot want your education for you more than you do."
Dr. Ryan Meers
We too do not allow cell phone use in class and there is not a day that goes by that I do not catch someone on their phone in my class or in another class. The initial discipline is a reduction in grade that most students scoff at and some have said it was worth it. It seems that they are willing to stay connected regardless of the discipline.
We have sent students home and have even attandance failed them, yet they continue to disregard the policy.
Irving,
yes & unfortunately I often found these same behaviors in the adults I trained in the corporate setting.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Summer I couldn't agree with you more. We had another instructor to try this action of giving the students a specific amount of time in class to look up something pertaining to their curriculum to see what info they could come up with. It worked out great for the most of them but we still have to understand that there are still rules and regulations to comply with. The problem is letting them do this in the class room and then downgrade them professionally when they're on the phones when they're not supposed to be. We must draw a line somewhere.
I clearly state no cell phone use during class but of course they keep their phones between their legs texting throughout the class. I remind them to turn their phones on silent or vibrate. Later during class I hear a ring tone going off while I'm lecturing. How rude and disrespectful. Technology can be a great tool if used properly but it can also destroy a students ability to learn if misused.
Craig,
yes, we have to help them understand that they can live without their cells.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I also work at a tech school with a no cell phone use in class rule which is constantly challenged by the students. I understand the importance of electronics to the gen Y student, but it is to the point that it is an addiction. To me it is very sad that If I were to text a lecture or questions to the students I would get a quicker response than asking.
