<p>I asked my D this question just last week. I read several articles recently indicating that increasing numbers of college students are using their laptops or tablets in class for things other than taking notes. Some are viewing their Facebook accounts, watching YouTube, or sending IMs to friends. Other students are texting on their cell phones during class.</p>
<p>I find this to be unacceptable. In my opinion, it shows a lack of respect for the instructor, as well as other students in the class who may find it distracting. I also strongly believe that when students are engaged in this type of behavior, they are not able to fully concentrate on learning. If movie patrons are asked to turn off their cell phones during the show, why aren't students asked to do this during class?</p>
<p>Although students who use such equipment in class are certainly not paying full attention to what’s going on in the class, I don’t think they are causing a problem for the other students. Obviously, they would have their equipment set so that it doesn’t make sounds. And the lights from the screens would not be a problem in a lighted classroom in the way that they are in a darkened cinema.</p>
<p>It’s not really any different from using electronic equipment at professional conferences, and I see people doing that all the time.</p>
<p>It is a problem. There is no way that a professor can be more entertaining than Facebook, and many students lack the focus and maturity to use technology effectively in the classroom.</p>
<p>I put a notice in my syllabi for students to silence and put away their phones. </p>
<p>I allow laptops unless they become a distraction. Some students with learning disabilities use laptops to take notes. I don’t wish to stigmatize them.</p>
<p>Some students using laptops in class are paying attention and contributing. It can be a help. It is up to the individual student.</p>
<p>You’re assuming students are far more considerate and/or technologically savvy than what I’ve seen in the classrooms and university libraries after cellphones became widespread. </p>
<p>I’ve lost count of not only how many times students failed to turn off the sounds on their laptops/cell phones, but feel entitled to make phone calls as if they were outdoors in the university libraries I’ve frequented. </p>
<p>Worse, many students tend to be so entitled they cop a serious attitude if confronted by librarian staff and/or campus security. </p>
<p>Even before cell phones became mainstream in the early-mid '00s, I’ve seen many instances of classmates allowing their cell phones to ring in the middle of lecture…sometimes multiple times while performing a “It’s not me” act. </p>
<p>At the Harvard summer stats course, it got so bad by the second week that the lecturer started having the TFs confiscate the cell phones of the offending students, shutting them off for the duration of the lecture, and warning them that a repeat will impact the extremely minor participation portion of final grade. </p>
<p>Right before that, I clearly recalled glaring in anger at one student who was pulling the “Not me” act while her cell phone rang loudly several times before it was confiscated. </p>
<p>As for laptops, never saw much of an issue with them beyond rattling keyboards or overly bright screens. However, neither of those tended to be as distracting to me during lecture so I probably didn’t notice it as much as the Prof or students more sensitive to those distractions.</p>
<p>Last year S2 had a prof. who announced on the first day of class that all phones must be turned off. If one’s phone rang during class or a student was caught texting during class,that student’s grade would be dropped by one letter grade for each time the offense occurred.
That got their attention. </p>
<p>My kids seldom felt the need to take their laptops to class but did say most who did were using them for social media rather than taking notes.</p>
<p>These should be a balance. Laptops and tablet do have a purpose in class, particularly with students with learning disabilities. Cellphones, on the other hand, have little to no purpose (yes, smartphones could be used as browsers, but what is the student browsing?)</p>
<p>I like the approaches that have been mentioned - the warning that grades will be reduced may seem harsh, but I would hope it’s effective. Coupled with a reminder to turn them off the first few classes, it seems more than fair. If a student has a real need to have the phone on (waiting for an important call due a family medical emergency, or some similar situation that really does warrant being a higher priority than class, they should be able to ask permission, and put the phone on vibrate. I’m sure any professor would be understanding, and appreciate that the student is making the effort to attend class, but avoid a disruption.</p>
<p>Confiscation of phones should be nothing new to many of these kids - it’s what a lot of k-12 schools do. Our k-8 principal has explained to parents that, though school board policy says no phone are to brought to school, that there are good reasons for some kids to have them (particularly at our inter-district magnet), but they must be turned off in school, and put away. If any staff sees them out they will be confiscated until the end of the day. If they are used, regular school board policy will be applied.</p>
<p>Our HS principal has said much the same - and tells parents not to text their kids during classes (he admits he has done it himself).</p>
<p>After getting a bad grade in an Art History class, D1 started to use her laptop to take notes and download paintings referenced by the professor so she could remember them. She said it helped her greatly. She didn’t use laptop for math classes.</p>
<p>When D1 was in school, it was important for her to take good notes. If she were to miss a class, she would ask her classmates for notes. It is the case now with D2. She is reluctant to miss any classes, even for family vacation. I don’t see how students have time to go on social media and pay attention in class. On the other hand, if they decide to sleep through class or surf the net, as long as they are not being disruptive, then it is their life. I am my kids have texted in while in class, but I would have to think it’s more of emergency than everyday chatter, no different than what I would do in a meeting.</p>
<p>If students are creating such a disturbance because they forgot/refuse to turn off laptop audio, put their cell phones on vibrate/turn them off altogether for the duration of class, or worse…idiotically pick up their cell phones and carry on conversations in the midst of lecture as I witnessed in a few Ivy undergrad classes a friend was TAing, a drop in the grade…even by one letter should be expected. Doing any of the above is not only a serious disruption to the rest of the class, but demonstrates complete disrespect of the instructor. </p>
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<p>I’m not sure about a lot. Dozens of former teachers in my HS and friends who are/were teaching K-12 recount how such policies are vociferously denounced and much pressure placed on them/their admins to gut/eliminate such policies by loudmouthed parents who feel their kids can do no wrong. </p>
<p>Just look at the outcry from NYC parents about the mayor’s attempt to ban all cell phones in NYC public schools or similar outcries pressuring friends who teach in suburban/well-off urban districts across the US. </p>
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<p>Most old-school Profs I’ve had/known who taught since the 1950’s/60’s are disturbed by their observed trend that the above is becoming far less of a norm in recent decades compared to when they started their academic careers. Then again, they always make it quite clear “family vacation” is not a legitimate reason to miss class and will dock grades accordingly. </p>
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<p>You’d be surprised how much this goes on in many classrooms over the last several years. Saw far too many cases firsthand in undergrad classes my friends TAed and even among grad classmates in at an Ivy. Also, contrary to the belief of some…laptop users browsing social media or other non-academic sites like online gaming can be distracting to students adjacent and behind the student. </p>
<p>A reason why I have some sympathy for instructors and TAs who institute bans on the use of laptops even while disagreeing with it. IMO, a better solution would be to block social media sites/known fun sites/IM in the classroom wifi for the duration of the lecture/seminar. </p>
<p>As for cellphones, I am of the belief they should be ideally turned off or if needed for emergency…placed on vibrate for the duration of the class. I don’t understand why so many students or many older adults fail to do so for that matter. </p>
<p>Then again, I don’t understand why so many people of all ages feel the need to be in touch practically 24/7 that most can’t just turn them off for the duration of the class or other venues where their ringings/use can be distracting like movie theaters or music performances.</p>
<p>Huh. Just went to a presentation where the #1 recommendation for students with ADHD in college was that they leave the computer at the dorm and not bring it to class. The #2 recommendation was that cell phones be turned off for messaging. The #3 recommendation was to put control software on the computer to disallow use of gaming overnight so that kids didn’t stay up until the wee hours playing World of Warcraft, and making that a condition of paying for college.</p>
<p>I think laptops are fine as long as the teacher allows them (many don’t) and they are being used for the correct purpose such as taking notes. I don’t use one to take notes because I am not a fast enough typist, but my daughter used hers all the time for notes as she is a very speedy and accurate typist. I have sat behind people in class that are on facebook or playing games and it is certainly distracting for me.</p>
<p>Phones should not be silenced in class as far as I’m concerned (though most teachers will understand a student having their phone on vibrate for an emergency and leaving the room if they need to take a call). I’ve had professors who just don’t care what people do in class and it amazes me how rude and inconsiderate some students will be in those classes. One class I was in where the prof did not care AT ALL, there was a student in the front row who would sit reading a newspaper while the prof was lecturing - not discretely but holding it up in front of her face - I thought that was incredibly rude. Another student would stick her head under the table and talk on the phone (like we couldn’t hear her?). Another prof was very firm about do not let your phone ring in my class and do not text or there will be consequences. And he meant it. He talked about it in a humorous way by sitting demonstrating what people look like when they are texting and think no one can tell - got a laugh from the students but got his point across. </p>
<p>Of course I am an “old fart” in the class, so I may react differently to the young students ;). Though actually I find even the majority of the younger students seemed to like the teachers that set some rules as they find it distracting to. And my kids and their friends that have been in college seem to get as irritated as I do by people who text, phone etc in class.</p>
<p>I was curious how college students felt about this issue, so I posted it on the College Life forum also. Not surprisingly, most of the students don’t believe that it’s a problem. Many seem to think that they are perfectly capable of multitasking without it affecting their ability to concentrate or listen. None of them mentioned that they thought it was rude or inconsiderate to the instructor.</p>
<p>I guess I’m just “old school.” For example, I thought it was extremely rude when my husband’s teenage nieces and nephews sat at the table at Thanksgiving dinner sending text messages. This went on for hours. I requested that they turn off their phones next time they came to our house for dinner.</p>