cellphone's not in the plan
I found that planning and preparing for class is great.Your teaching and everythings going just wonderful then all of sudden the students cellphone start competing with you,rules are posted how do you compete sucessfully ?
Kudos Tamara! Lately it's popping gum that has me cringing... Keep up the good instruction!
Tracey,
My policy as well. Good to hear other instructors feel the same way about cell phones.
Gary
I usually send an email to the entire class the week prior to starting stating the classroom policy of cell phone useage. I tell them they need to communicate with me if they are experiencing a personal or family issue they need to monitor their cell phone calls for and we can deal with those on a case by case basis. Otherwise, respect of the time of both the instructor and other students should be recongnized by not having cell phones in their line of site during class. They are free to use cell phones on break or lunch.
What an excellent idea! I will certainly try this on Monday morning when I'm greeted with my cellphone toting students! I have tried just about everything including reminding them of how much they are paying for the course while they are texting. Thanks!
Donna
As long as the rules are stated ahead of time and you make sure everyone knows them it should be easy to manage after that. The key is to be consistant. Adopt a "what goes for on goes for all" mentality. All I have to do when I notice someone on their phone in class, is keep lecturing, and move to their general location. Magically the phone dissapears and everything goes on as if nothing happend. Follow up with problem students before or after class. this seems to have worked for me.
I address all class rules the first day of class directly after the course information and introductions. I make it perfectly clear what my expectations are of them and ask them of their expectations of me. If I get asked the question as to why no cell phone use, I turn it around on them and ask them how would they feel if I answered my cell and took calls while lecturing, giving tests, when answering questions. They usually understand it better when I explain that by not paying attention and giving 100% they are doing nothing more than throwing their hard earned money away, which is truly a shame. They seem to get it...well sometimes.
During first day orientation and the syllabus a cell phone policy should be explained. We treat all cell phones as a distraction and students are to have them turned off or on vibrate only. If they need to answer a call they ask if they can go to the hall and use the phone. This way there is no disruption from the ringing and the call is kept short and outside of the classroom.
Hi Kathleen,
This is how I approach the cell phone issue as well. I want the students to focus on the course and not their outside communication. They will have plenty of time to text and talk during their breaks.
Gary
I agree on the first day of class the rules should be stated. One rule is that cell phones have no place in the class. No texting,or talking. If the students use the phone I remind them the phone can be taken away. Using the phone in class is not only distracting but disrespectful to the instructor and other students.
We have a policy that students are to sign on the first day of school. I clearly state that they need to be out of sight and on vibrate if there's an emergency. I reinforce that being industry modeled, they will not have the opportunity of talking on their cell phones while working with patients. But, I also tell them that during their breaks, it is their free time, so they can use them as they like, just to put them away as they come into the classroom.
Lisa
Hi Nora,
Thanks for sharing this method of dealing with cell phone usage. Cell phones are challenges so the more strategies we have them better we will be able to resolve the use of them.
Gary
Hi Tamara,
This is a great way to get the attention of the students. You gave them an introduction to how the course was going to be conducted and what your expectations are based upon examples you gave them in the class. I'm not surprised that they were quite during the class session. They were trying to figure you out. Keep up the good work.
Gary
I had an instructor once who allowed students to take their cell phone calls...Outside in the hallway and they were NOT allowed to return to the class; they received a zero for participation that day and for any activities in the class that day. It only took one student to be asked to leave one time and everyone turned their ringers off.
The class I teach is on Office Professionalism. The first day of class I walk in wearing sweats. I walked in late. I threw my bags down and asked the students to take out a piece of paper and to write one thing I should know about them. I then took out my cell phone and made a call. In that call I started bad mouthing a clinic in the area. It happened to be a clinic that I work for part time and I was on the phone with them. I then ended the call and asked the students how professional that little display was. I told them, that was exactly the kind of behavior that was not tolerated. I also made it clear that was the last cell phone that would be allowed in my class. Everyone was silent them and they would remain silent as long as class was in session. It worked. They got the point.
Yvonne,
This sounds like a strict policy. I agree that cell phones are distracting and inappropriate in the classroom setting. I think the a critical element is that you have adminstrative support in enforcing this policy. Rules are rules.
ajames
Hi Ronald,
Good strategy for coping with cell phone use. You are right they are the bane of our existence since it seems that we have to fight this issue every time we start a new class.
Gary
Wow. This is a great topic. Cellphones are the bane of a teacher's existence. Certainly, I always put my cellphone on vibrate when in the classroom. I would never take a call while conducting a class. Now, with the students, that's another matter. I consider it very unprofessional for a student to answer a cellphone and even walk out of the class with the thing stuck in their ear. There are not too many reasons why a student HAS to take a call during a class. One may be that they have a baby or young child with a sitter or daycare. The student is essentially "on-call". Another reason may be that they are a drug dealer and need to make a score. I had a student tell me when I questioned him, "what was so important that he had to take the call and leave the room?" He told me that his mother was in surgery. Well, that put me in my place, but he should have told me ahead of time that a call may be imminent. My new policy is that students not use a cellphone during class except for breaks. And, if they take a call or text during a test, they get an automatic zero.
Hi Richard,
Right you are. I have found that the cell phone issue differs between classes even though my no cell phone rule applies to all my classes. Some classes are no problem and others, like the one I have now I have to deal with it each time we meet.
Gary
