Job Discussion Forums

[Non Sequitur]

What in your experience, has been the effect of cellphone use by students in class?

[gene]

communication......

[mike w]

No effect. I never allowed cellphones in class.

[Silent Shadow]

[mike w]

I stopped teaching in uni and colleges four years ago.

The rule in my class was very simple - any cellphone brought into class MUST be switched off - I mean power off, not just on silent. Any student whose cellphone rang or beeped was told to leave the class immediately and not to return until the following day.

All students had to provide themselves with a paper dictionary, as I did not allow the use of electronic ones.

[Insubordination]

I'm not in China but my entire class consists of Chinese teenagers.

I don't allow mobiles to be used in class. If someone uses one under the table, I ask him/her to switch it off and put it away. If the student is a repeat offender, I take it from and ask them to collect it at the end of the lesson.

The only time I make exceptions is if people have told me beforehand why they need to keep it on (job interview result, housing issue, sick family member). In the past, I have also given parents with young children a break.

The class would be chaotic if everyone thought it was OK to use mobiles. Managing the classroom is part of a teacher's job.

I demonstrate at the beginning of most lessons that mine is also switched off and I never make or take calls.

A teacher once advised me to set a standard for your classroom and make it clear that students are required to meet it. Refer to the standard when they don't without showing emotion and in a minimal amount of time.

It doesn't always work but it mostly does. I know the OP didn't ask this specifically, I just thought it was an interesting topic.

[Optional_Toaster]

I allow them, provided that they don't use them constantly. Using them as dictionaries is fine with me. Checking or sending messages can't interfere with class, however.

I've taken cell phones and held them until the end of class from students who wouldn't do anything but play with their phones and ignore their work. Once is usually enough for them to get the point.

It's tough for me to feel it necessary to ban them completely, especially considering most of my students put most of their effort into participating in class. Perhaps that is why I let them keep them and use them on occasion. If things were otherwise, I might be more strict about them!

[Non Sequitur]

Really good input here - thanks.
At present I alllow it on the basis of 'Why pick a fight you can't win'.
There is also the dictionary issue as several have mentioned. I balled out a student who appeared to be texting and ignoring my request for a response. He was trying to get a word on his dictionary. Apologies from embarrassed self!
As I do a lot of pair work, getting compliance with a cell phone ban would interrupt the two I'm listening to. In a 50+ class they get little enough of my individual attention as it is.
Another problem is that Admin use texts to summon students to the office. The office expectation is that students will be contactable by text at all times - class or no.

[missdeanna]

My classes had a cell phone problem for awhile. It got out of hand to the point where I actually threw two of them out of a fourth story window.

Oddly, I never saw another cell phone out during class again.

[Non Sequitur]

OMG!

[Silent Shadow]

[Kiels]

My response is usually to answer the phone call for them and tell the caller that my student is busy in an Engliish class and will call them back. Amusing

[missdeanna]

[Loop]

[Optional_Toaster]

Wow, throwing cellphones out the window! Any repercussions? I'd call the cops if someone destroyed my cell! Seriously, destroying personal property?