Competing with the Internet et al
Students are distracted when in class. Cell phones, Internet access and short attention span contribute to the hurdle an instructor must clear in an attempt disseminate the course material.
PowerPoint slides can be a good solution to this problem if the presentation is colorful, contains relevant information, and incorporates short video clips (if available).
Caution, all information, video, and audio used must be directly related to the current subject. Never forget that students are easily distracted, and you do not want your presentation to be a distraction.
Hi Robert:
I agree with you - the internet (when used effectively) can be a valuable tool. But like you mentioned, it can be overused, and may not always be credible.
I like that you tied in your response to using the internet for real world applkications.
Real world examples are a great way to drive home understanding about a topic. This is especially true when dealing with career oriented classes.
Regards, Barry
Hi James:
Most institutions have a policy about this nowadays due to the potential for cheating. For that purpose, and the potential distraction they can cause, most agree the best idea is to have a “no-cell phone†policy.
Regards, Barry
I feel a little caught between two worlds. I would like for my students to be silent and totally focused on my voice when I am lecturing and on the execution of the lab project when we are working on the computer. However, I teach computer technology and want the students to explore the world presented to them on the Internet. Cell phones, IPods, FaceBook, Twitter, Wikis and Blogs are all tools I want my students to be proficient at using. Just don’t use them during my class unless I instruct you to do so.
Ah the internet! Babysitter for the masses. Don't get me wrong I'm as addicted as anyone and at times find it useful in the classroom. We have a strict school policy on cell phone use in class that makes it easy. As soon as it becomes a distraction I tell them to leave the class to use it and most of the time that is all it takes.
This wasn't exactly the string that I was expecting, but as I am the first to respond, let's see where we can take this.
First, these things should never be a distraction in the classroom, because this type of activity during class should not be permitted, nor condoned.
That said, I had hoped that this might be a string about 'using' the Internet effectively in class. I use it occasionally because students like to surf the net anyway, so why not ask them to surf for sympathetic content?
One caution, and something that I alert my students to, is that there aren't any Gatekeepers on the Internet, and information can be presented very credibly and professionally, leading people to believe that it is true, which may not always be the case.
Still, the Internet, like field trips and guest speakers, can be used to underscore an Instructors message, and because people give a great deal of credence to the information found on the Internet, they will tend towards buying into the information presented in class.
Once upon a time, I asked students to bring in current events to discuss in class... these generally came from newspapers and periodicals, but now are sourced primarily from the Internet.
