My most embarassing problem is that I have occasionally forgotten to turn my cell phone in class!!!!! Then I have to red-facedly apologize to the class!
Of course, however, I do not answer the calls! Annette Quoting "Hetzel, Rod" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > I've found a very simple solution to the cell phone problem. The first > time a cell phone rings in class, I walk over to the student and ask > them to give me the phone so I can answer it. Usually, the student is so > shocked that he or she gives me the phone. I then very politely tell the > person on the other end of the line that they called during my class, > we're in the middle of an important class discussion, and I would hate > to disrupt the learning for everyone so would he or she mind calling > back when class is over. I take a fairly light-hearted approach when I > do this, but the message comes across loud and clear that if your cell > phone rings in class, then Dr. Hetzel is going to answer it. At most, > this only happens once per semester. By doing this I've avoided having > to put threatening words in a syllabus or make ultimatums at the > beginning of the semester. > > > > ___________________________________ > > Roderick D. Hetzel, Ph.D. > > Department of Psychology > LeTourneau University > Post Office Box 7001 > 2100 South Mobberly Avenue > Longview, Texas 75607-7001 > > Office: Education Center 218 > Phone: 903-233-3893 > Fax: 903-233-3851 > Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > _____ > > From: Rick Adams [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 6:33 AM > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences > Subject: RE: reducing cell phone disruptions in the classroom > > > > You're probably being more generous than necessary, actually. > > > > There are a number of points to keep in mind when it comes to cell > phones (and, by extension, to laptops, PocketPCs, etc.): > > 1. Students really don't need to receive telephone calls during a class. > Did you, when you were a student? If it's an emergency, a call to the > college itself will result in someone notifying the student that he or > she needs to call. If it isn't an emergency, it can wait until class is > over. > > > > 2. Cell phones distract other students from learning, disrupt lectures, > and create an environment in which events outside the classroom are (to > the students) more important than those occurring inside the > classroom--precisely the kind of environment none of us wants or needs > for our classes. > > > > 3. Most calls are (relatively) unimportant. Do you really feel that a > call to confirm a dinner date is more important than following a lecture > on discrimination? Does your student? If not, then calls have no place > in the classroom at all. > > > > 4. Cell phones are the tools of cheaters. This is a sad, but true, fact. > During quizzes and tests many students will use a cell phone to cheat. > How? A number of ways, but the easiest is simply to use the built-in > camera to take pictures of the text (or notes) and "glance" at the > screen while answering questions on those subjects during a test. Unless > you have a VERY small classroom--or don't use closed book testing--the > likelihood is that the student will get away with it. Students are > "creative" when it comes to this kind of activity--a cell phone may be > in their lap (and you DON'T want to go around a classroom staring at > your student's laps unless you want sexual harassment accusations!), in > a book bag open to at the top, or actually lying on the desk. Another, > similar, technique is for one student to use a speed dial button to call > another and for one of them (or several, in a conference call) to view > the work of one of the group (who sends it from the camera in his or her > phone) as he or she answers the questions on the exam. If students take > turns doing this, it means that only one of the group needs to study for > any given test! > > > > There are dozens of other reasons allow cell phones in the > classroom--but these, alone, are good enough to justify banning them > outright. Students who DO want to learn the material will appreciate the > fact that they won't be distracted--and those who planned to cheat, or > who view the class as "required but dull" will have the chance to > consider dropping the course in favor of something more > appropriate--such as applied basket weaving! > > > > In my on-ground classes (most of my teaching is now online--hooray!), I > explain the disadvantages of cell phones to students and use a very > simple policy--cell phones MUST be turned off AND put away during the > class, or the student will receive no credit for participation (part of > their grade for the class) for that class at all--and any student who > has a cell phone (or PocketPC) where he or she can see it during a test > or quiz receives a 0.0 for the test. A student expecting a legitimately > important call (one who has a sick child, etc.) can inform me before > class and an exception will be made (although, during a quiz or test, > his or her cell phone MUST remain face down on the desk at all times and > during lecture the cell phone must be set to vibrate and be in a pocket > or his or her lap). The policy works--and students have even told me > they appreciated it as it allowed them to concentrate on the course > instead of the conversation of the person sitting next to them! > > > > Rick > > > > -- > > Rick Adams > Capella University, Graduate School of Technology > Grand Canyon University, Online Schools of Graduate Studies & Social > Sciences. > Jackson Community College, Department of Social Sciences > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > "... and the only measure of your worth and your deeds will be the love > you leave behind when you're gone." > -Fred Small, J.D., "Everything Possible" > > > > > > > _____ > > > From: Miguel Roig [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 8:13 AM > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences > Subject: reducing cell phone disruptions in the classroom > > Hi, folks. I really dislike disruptions caused by cell phones > going off during class. Last year, I opted to occasionally remind > students throughout the semester, right before the beginning of class, > to simply turn off their phones or set them to vibrate. That approach > seemed to have reduced the number of times cell phones would go off, but > what I have also been noticing is that some students will check their > phones periodically in the middle of class and, frankly, I find all that > activity downright annoying. > > I am currently preparing my course outlines for the upcoming > semester and I am considering inserting the following statement. > > CELL PHONE USE AND LAPTOP POLICY: I consider any use of cell > phones during class to be highly distracting and disrespectful. Thus, > the use of cell phones is not permitted during class time for any > purpose and they are to be kept turned off and out of view inside > pocketbooks, knapsacks, etc. Any student whose phone rings during class > is hereby asked to leave the class (no need to wait for me to ask you to > leave) and s/he will lose 5 points in the next exam. For the second > offense, the matter will be forwarded to the Dean of Students for > disciplinary action. With respect to laptops, you are welcome to use > your laptop in this class, but only for class-related purposes (e.g., > note-taking). No other use of the laptop (e.g., instant messaging, > internet surfing) is allowed. Violation of this policy will result in > penalties, such as those given for inappropriate cell phone use. > > Am I being too harsh? Any other comments? > > Miguel > > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph. D. Department of Psychology University of San Diego 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
