Technology
How does one addresses the constant use of unauthorized technology in the clasroom?
Technology in the classroom is a reality that instructors are going to have to deal with. I remember one day while teaching at a public college a young woman walked in sat down in her seat and proceeded to put her laptop on the desk followed by a tablet followed by a cellphone and finally a notepad. How can we as instructors compete?
But then I think back to a Sat afternoon with my daughters and four friends in the park. Five preteen’s girls eating surgery treats walking through the park. We happened upon a free performance of Shakespeare in the park. The girls sat in the first row and for the next 30 mins were spellbound by the actors.
Then I remembered in the old days it is said during a performance of a play vendors were selling food, people were coming and going at will, pickpockets were working the crowd and, prostitution was taking place. And yet people stopped to watch the plays because of the drama and the important subject matter.
So move around the class, show passion, show animations and videos clips, have hands on activities ready, do the unexpected. Integrate the technology into the class if possible. (Video assignments)
As for the young lady with the laptop, tablet and cell phone she turned out to be one the best students in the class. And on that day towards the end of the class a student asked a question about a certain procedure since I did not have time to cover the procedure I gave an extra credit assignment .I told everyone to research the procedure and e-mail it to me and we will discuss it at the next class meeting. Right before the bell rang the student with all of the technology raised her hand and informed me she had just emailed me her assignment. :)
Guillermina ,
I agree. Too often it can seem like we are making up the rules as we go along. When we are clear up front we are in a better position to uphold the standards.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Also I think it should be clear at the beginning of the course what is expected from each student and what the consequence is when rules are broken
Noreen,
this is definitely a challenge in today's classroom. There are a couple of options: 1) is to demonstrate how serious you are about not using these types of devices; this can be done through some type of academic consequence perhaps. 2) try to incorporate the use of technology into the lesson itself.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
