[nobe-l] cell phones in the classroom

[Fred]

Hi all,
I am in my 3rd year as a TA at a University and at first this was an issue for me.  However, I have found that those students who text or in some cases watch movies with earbuds during class do not score well.  While this may seem cynical as an approach, I have adopted the hands off approach.  If they want to learn, they will turn off the technology, or use it responsibly, to learn.
Additionally, other students sitting next to the offending student, if they know they can come to me confidentially and report on technology abuses, do so.  This way I get the name of the student misusing their technology, and either speak with them after the next class period, or email them informing them that I have been made aware of their misuse of technology and they have lost their daily participation points.
Ultimately, there does not seem to be a fool-proof way of monitoring such activity, and at some point you have to decide is it worth stressing yourself in trying to police students!
Fred

-----Original Message-----
From: nobe-l [mailto:nobe-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Chopper Johnson via nobe-l
Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2015 9:14 AM
To: National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List <nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Chopper Johnson <chopper992 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [nobe-l] cell phones in the classroom

Emily:

I am in my first year in the classroom as well (Craig and I are both doing history), and I have to say, I like the idea. It could end up with a lot of extra work to grade, and I think that with my kids it would take more than once or twice, but I think I might put this in place for second quarter.

-- Chopper Johnson
On Oct 17, 2015 12:05 PM, "Emily Michael via nobe-l" <nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> Hi Craig and all,
>
> I have this problem with my college students. I have found one way of 
> dealing with it, and it is by no means the best way.
>
> If I hear any kind of noise from unauthorized personal technology, I 
> give the whole class a pop quiz. I usually only have to give one or 
> two quizzes before everyone gets the message.
>
> My goal is to make the use of cell phones unpopular – not worth the risk.
>
> Best,
> Emily
> ---
> Emily K. Michael, M.A.
> Adjunct Writing Instructor
> emily.k.michael at gmail.com
> Blog: http://areyouseeingthis.wordpress.com/
>
> "Nowhere, Love, will world exist but within."
> - Rainer Maria Rilke
>
> > On Oct 17, 2015, at 11:59 AM, Craig Cooper via nobe-l 
> > <nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
> >
> > Greetings,
> > After six weeks in the classroom, in my first year of teaching in a 
> > public high school, my biggest classroom management challenge has 
> > been the inappropriate use of cell phones.  Most students observe 
> > the school's policy that all cell phones are to be out of sight 
> > during class, unless the teacher approves their use, for an academic purpose.
> > If they are caught with their phone out, it is taken to the office, 
> > where they may retrieve it, at the end of the school day.  However, 
> > a few students have figured out that I will not know if they are 
> > using them, so they have them out, texting and such.  At times, I 
> > have an assistant in the classroom, which helps in identifying 
> > improper cell phone use.  However, I do not have another sighted 
> > adult in the classroom, during much of the day.
> > Occasionally, I catch them, as there is a distinctive sound that a 
> > cell phone makes, when it is dropped onto the top of a student's desk.
> > However, it is still difficult to quickly identify the offending 
> > student, in order to take his/her phone.
> > If you have developed productive strategies for dealing with this 
> > obstacle to learning, would you please share them?
> > Thank you so much.
> > Craig Cooper
> >
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