cell phones
Regardless of school policy,students continue to use cell phones in the classroom. They text during class-time. This is disruptive,disrespectful and annoying. Nothing seems to work, not even taking points off their final grade. They continue to defy the policy. Help!
In my classroom all students are instructed to turn the cell phone to vibrate placing it face down on the desk in front of them. This way when it goes off the class hears the vibration. I then Pause and ask the student is it necessary to address their phone at the moment? The answer is usually no. If it persists I simply say I'll wait but will be removing the wasted time from the break.... moving back to the desk and sit quietly. After doing this maybe 2 times... other student address the chronic offender them selves. When their actions cause the class to suffer the consequences they quickly refrain from cell phone use. When I am giving and exam the phone is on silent period
I try saying things like, "the more you put into this classroom the more you are going to get out of it". Sometimes they just dont care. I always deduct participation points for it though but I have to agree with you, nothing seems to work. I have kind of just got use to the new norm. I think you have to chose your battles and this is a huge one that I am personally better off just letting go.
Hi. If you are moving around the class you can identify the texting students and discipline them. You may consider having all the students place their cell phone in a basket in front of class and they will be returned to them at the end of each class.
I have students do the same with regards to a policy addendum. Some students still play with them. My final fall back position is that if it distracts from another student, the first student is asked to leave the class.
Milagros,
unfortunately I'm not sure anything will help. If the usual punishments are not an incentive, it may be a situation where you just have to say "they don't care about their education."
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Hi Milagros - what I usually do is have my students sign a syllabus addendum which is a contract between myself and my student(s) on the consequences of cell phone use (ie texting) during class session. This so far has proven to be a successful tool because the student(s) adhere to the signed contract and the guidelines that have been set forth. I hope this can be of some assistance to you.
