I think that it is a great idea to make sure that the policy is in writing. I would also encourage having a cell phone policy that students are required to sign on the first night of class that lays out exactly what the consequences are of cell phone usage in the classroom (especially texting). This way, if the student complains, you have their signature on file. It seems (sadly) that everything needs to be in writing these days in order to protect yourself as an instructor.
Dr. Meers, I agree with you on the assorted cell phone policies. I teach a class that requires having to do a fair amount of arithmetic on pocket calculators. I do not allow cell phones ( particularly the brand new I Phones) to be used as calculators as this invariabley leads to texting, checking emails, looking for the next restaurant to go to, etc. I find cell phones a HUGE distraction and in my setting there are points to be deducted for cell phone usage.
How I dell with electronic devices as I like to include any that may be distracting to the class. I put this in my addendum so that students are aware of how I will deal with them. I as them to be put on silent or vibrate if they become a distraction I will confiscated them and return them at the end of class
I understand that there might be a time where the student needs to take an important call, but they should have it on vibrate. I then inform them to go to the designated area that our school has to take it. If they do not comply they recieve a zero for the day.
If there is a repeat offender I simply issue a zero for a daily grade.
Hi Megan,
Well said. You make a key point when you say EVERYONE will benefit. This is a point that needs to be promoted at every opportunity. It is for the good of the entire class.
Gary
As we saw in the first module-as instructors we are models.
It is important to set guidleines and emphasize that EVERYONE will benefit from such, including cell phone use etiquette
Hi John,
You make a good point about the cell phone. I don't take them either as I don't want to deal with issues as well. The point I do stress is it is my classroom and I am the instructor so I do have the right to set the policy for cell phone use in my classroom.
Gary
Hi Fran,
Good example of how to handle this problem. As I have written before I don't want to see or hear the cell phones in my class, period. They can be on vibrate. As an example for my students, I put my phone on vibrate and put in my "teaching box" which I carry from class to class. Interesting event occurred this spring. A shooting occurred about a block from out building and the shooter ran onto our campus. It was about 8:30 pm and dark. The police did not know where the shooter was. Our college has an emergency alert system that goes out over the internet and cell phones. My phone started to vibrate and then all the over room 35 phones did the same. We all started looking at each other since we had never had 36 phones vibrate all at the same time. I told the students to answer their phones as did I. We all had the same alert message that our building was in lock down. The shooter was caught shortly thereafter and we received on our phones the "all clear". My point in sharing this story is that students could see why I did not want the phones being used during class but that they were still available to them in case of emergency, either personal or public, as in this case. They were not isolated during their class time, it just meant they couldn't text their friends or chat while I was conducting class. The students thanked me for the approach I had taken with cell phones.
Gary
I agree. If a repeat occurence ocurs with a student, I do not take the cell phone(too many potential legal issues), I simply ask the student to leave the class for that session and see me after class.
I have seen where a box is put at the front of the room for phones.
As for showing you really don't want the phones in the classroom, I try to be an example and put my phone on vibrate and store away in my purse or in my car. You could also deduct class participation points for the phone interruptions and lack of professionalism.
Hi Lynn,
Great example of how to handle a situation with humor. I am sure your students get the "message" when they see the Youtube video. I agree with you about using humor to help get a message across that you are going to be consistent and firm on. I do the same thing when I talk about the cell phone issue in my classes. The message is clear but it doesn't offend the students using this method.
Gary
Teaching in the legal and business courses I have used the example of seeing a Judge have the deputy remove someone by force or give an attorney a $100 fine for it. I also know there is a youtube video where Gibbs - the president's press secretary removes a reporter's cell phone and throws it out the back door. I like to use humor to make it more comfortable to discuss the ban on cell phone use.
Hi Yolanda,
Cell phone use is a challenge for all instructors. I ban (I don't want to see or hear them) the use of cell phones in my class. I allow them to put their phones on vibrate in case of emergency. I ask them to let me know at the beginning of class if they have a sick child or some other potential emergency. I also tell them that with "corrected vision" I am able to see the room and I do not want to see them texting, period. If a student is texting I stop and draw attention to the policy that I have laid out for cell phone use. It generally only takes one of these situations to stop the problem.
I take a hard line on this because as you know cell phones can ruin a class very easily.
Gary
