Students texting in class

[mycrofft]

How do you feel about students texting away in class? Or taking frequent cell phone calls by leaving the classroom?

 

[Handsome Robb]

An occasional text or step outside for a call isn't a huge deal. Once it becomes more of a regularity we get talked to, then either asked to put it away and pay attention or to pack up and leave.

It is downright rude to the teacher to constantly be on your phone. It's rude to use your phone at all but it does happen from time to time.

 

[DesertMedic66]

If they walk out of class to take an important phone call or text then it's not an issue.

If they do it while in class they get warned. If they do it again they get sent home for the day. If they come back the next week and do it again they are kicked out of the program.

However there is one exception. The student can talk to the instructor before class starts and says that they are expecting an important phone call or text.

 

[MMiz]

In general, as a teacher I would be offended if a student was texting in class or stepped out to take a phone call.

When I started working in education policy at the university level I found that most people at meetings and in classes worked on their laptops/phones/iPads during presentations, and respected that as adults that was their choice.

Whatever your policy, you need to be clear about it up front. It's common for someone to share ground rules at the beginning of meetings, and cell phone policies are usually shared.

 

[JPINFV]

Is it distracting? If not, why care? I would compare it to medical school, but a 200+ seat lecture hall situation is admittedly different than the smaller class size often seen in EMS programs.

 

[bstone]

I don't mind it if they silently text in class. The only person it hurts is them self. I do ask my students to put all phones on silent or vibrate. That's a huge pet peeve of mine.

 

[Sasha]

Is it distracting? If not, why care? I would compare it to medical school, but a 200+ seat lecture hall situation is admittedly different than the smaller class size often seen in EMS programs.

I don't understand how someone else can be bothered by another person's texting.

 

[DrankTheKoolaid]

re

Rules of my classes are turn em to silent or off. As long as nobody else in the class room is distracted by the phone user it isn't an issue. But as soon as I see the other students get distracted all phones get turned off.

 

[Handsome Robb]

I don't understand how someone else can be bothered by another person's texting.

When it buzzes constantly it gets annoying. If you want to turn the ringer and vibrate off more power to you but like I said it is rude to the teacher or presenter not to mention rude to the people around you because it truthfully is distracting. I moved seats in my class because the person I sat next to texted constantly.

 

[Sasha]

If it's on silent, not vibrate... how is it distracting?

 

[Handsome Robb]

If it's on silent, not vibrate... how is it distracting?

Hers was on vibrate so it was very distracting. Silent thats fine with me but honestly, I like where I sit now much better anyways haha.

 

[DesertMedic66]

If it's on silent, not vibrate... how is it distracting?

The way it's distracting for me is the person normally has the phone in their pocket. So they have to move around to get the phone out. Then, with girls mostly, they make noises like laughing or snorting etc. It's not only girls that do that it's guys too. Then the typing isn't always quiet. If its a dark environment in the class then the light from the phones screen lights up the room.

Then when they are done texting with the flip phones, people don't know how to quietly close the phone. And then more movement as they put the phone back into their pocket...... Just to repeat the whole thing over again in a couple of mins.

 

[Sasha]

So you're bothered by some light, and movement so much that it's distracting but you are saying you can run a chaotic scene with strobe lights flashing and lot more movement??

I think people who claim they're bothered by silent texting in class are really just nosy or ticked off that no one wants to talk to them.

 

[medicdan]

Sasha, as an instructor, i'm distracted when students are texting... I like students to be engaged-- and for whatever reason, it throws me off when students are focused on the light at their crotch. Call it jealousy their not talking with me if you'd like.

 

[bstone]

I don't particularly care if the students are engaged or not. Some students don't learn well in lecture and completely tune out, but they are amazing book learners. As long as they have a master of the material and pass the exams I am fine with them being as disengaged as they want to be.

 

[DesertMedic66]

So you're bothered by some light, and movement so much that it's distracting but you are saying you can run a chaotic scene with strobe lights flashing and lot more movement??

I think people who claim they're bothered by silent texting in class are really just nosy or ticked off that no one wants to talk to them.

In the class setting yes I get bothered but then again I am trying to learn in a controlled environment with 1 person talking to the class and everyone sitting down and not making noise.

There is no way that a classroom can be compaired to a chaotic scene. During a call that is chaotic I am not trying to learn anything. I am not focusing on what one person is telling me. I am listening to multipul people as i give directons to others. I am handling the scene by whatever means nessarry.

A classroom and scene are 2 completely different things and no one on the scene of a call let alone a chaotic scene should be texting.

 

[Handsome Robb]

So you're bothered by some light, and movement so much that it's distracting but you are saying you can run a chaotic scene with strobe lights flashing and lot more movement??

I think people who claim they're bothered by silent texting in class are really just nosy or ticked off that no one wants to talk to them.

Different context.

I don't need to text people constantly, I talk to them face to face. It's more personal but maybe that's just personal preference.

 

[Sasha]

Talking to someone face to face is not always possible, hence texting.

I honestly don't believe someone can be so fussy that a little light distracts them, but expect to be able to focus on scene...

I don't even text, I click my pen or tap my pen or something. Always. I don't even notice I'm doing it, yet others find that distracting.

Amazing.

 

[Handsome Robb]

Talking to someone face to face is not always possible, hence texting.

I honestly don't believe someone can be so fussy that a little light distracts them, but expect to be able to focus on scene...

I don't even text, I click my pen or tap my pen or something. Always. I don't even notice I'm doing it, yet others find that distracting.

Amazing.

You know I like you Sasha but I honestly don't believe you'd be that close minded about something after all the experience you've had with different people.

Ask my partner if I can focus on scene. You're talking about two completely different environments.

 

[JPINFV]

I don't understand how someone else can be bothered by another person's texting.

It depends on how the sight lines are in the class and how easily it caches a person's peripheral vision. In this regard, I think a 200+ lecture hall where the seats are curved around the stage is much better at preventing movements from catching peripheral vision than a small classroom setup.

I've never gotten the argument about respect from the instructors viewpoint. In many situations the student is paying money, at times a lot, and the instructor is being paid.