tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894985875251058299.post7875482253803264347..comments2023-06-30T01:17:50.854-07:00Comments on Something's Developing: One Bird at a Time: Conversation: Phones in the Classroom?Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07801229525416203656noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894985875251058299.post-32927889279306599422013-04-14T06:24:48.244-07:002013-04-14T06:24:48.244-07:00You're making a great point that they will lik...You're making a great point that they will likely be in situations (meetings, conferences, etc) in their professional lives where they have to manage that balance without a policy to guide them. I think that's another reason a blanket "no electronics" policy (even though that's what I currently have in my syllabus) might be lacking. It's much more about figuring out how to use these tools constructively (or at least not obstructively) than to police them. Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07801229525416203656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894985875251058299.post-39206257533068864532013-04-06T16:11:47.494-07:002013-04-06T16:11:47.494-07:00This is a great topic. I also have an electronics...This is a great topic. I also have an electronics policy in my syllabus, but my perspective on phones/e-notebooks in the classroom is that instructors and students must learn to adapt to them because they are now part of our culture. Helping them learn to self-manage is probably a better strategy so that they learn to complete responsibilities and goals with them or in spite of them. For example, how many times do we attend professional meetings where colleagues have phones and e-notebooks nearby? Almost always, these days. My classroom solution is to have goal-oriented class activities where students must complete a discussion group exercise, writing exercise or something else prior to the end of class and post on Blackboard. A few participation points are awarded for completion. This helps with phone use and with absences because it is up to the student to manage his/her time and not lose points. I do walk around the room during these activities, but I like to reinforce the concept of self-direction in learning. I remind young students that they are adults and that we have to all learn to meet our goals despite distractions in and out of the classroom. Talking about the issue with students helps because we discuss the challenges of distraction, in general. That way, I'm not acting as a parent, but as a facilitator of their learning. I'm always on the lookout for new ideas, though.<br />:)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11821078253741612219noreply@blogger.com