This is my cell phone policy (new this semester). From my syllabus: Cell phones are not permitted outside your backpack/pocket/purse while in the classroom. If I see your cell phone out for any reason (whether to turn it off, check your messages or calendar, or take notes) I will mark you as absent for that day. Please turn off your cell phone and put it away before coming to class. If you are expecting an emergency call or text during class let me know so we can discuss an exception to this policy for that class. It is working well. I've only had one incident (in which the student repeatedly texted during class) and I just sent an email to the student after class. She promptly apologized (as she should have - it is a senior seminar with only 13 students!).
I've been consistently shocked of the number of student who are texting when I sit in on other professor's classes. I sit in the back and can easily see who is texting - they apparently think nothing of texting even though a professor is sitting next to them. We also have a text/phone alert system. No student has ever brought up this issue. If they did I'd just say that the secretary would alert us. Marie **************************************************** Marie Helweg-Larsen, Ph.D. Department Chair and Associate Professor of Psychology Kaufman 168, Dickinson College Carlisle, PA 17013 Office: (717) 245-1562, Fax: (717) 245-1971 http://www.dickinson.edu/departments/psych/helwegm/ **************************************************** From: Louis Schmier [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Saturday, October 31, 2009 11:39 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: RE: [tips] Text Messaging in Class Beth, since I am on the VSU alert system, I tell all the students to turn off their cell phones-period-unless they first clear it with me due to a pending family emergency. If anyone is caught texting or otherwise using her or his phone without my expressed permission, she or he has to bring into next class 4 dozen fresh locally made donuts. And, I hold them to it. It's all laid out in the syllabus. Make it a good day. --Louis-- Louis Schmier http://www.therandomthoughts.com Department of History http://www.therandomthoughts.edublogs.org Valdosta State University Valdosta, Georgia 31698 /\ /\ /\ /\ (229-333-5947) /^\\/ \/ \ /\/\__/\ \/\ / \/ \_ \/ / \/ /\/ \ /\ //\/\/ /\ \__/__/_/\_\ \_/__\ /\"If you want to climb mountains,\ /\ _ / \ don't practice on mole hills" - --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
