What might may been a fairly minor, but destructive, skirmish today turned into a victory.
My class was rolling right along, plenty of participation, some jokes, lots of student involvement--except for the gentleman in the top right-hand corner of the room who was obviously (to me) texting with his phone on his lap.
Last year, I called a student out about the phone issue, and we immediately squared off. It created a tension that lasted far too long. Today, I had a better idea. I ask them to read my "Classroom Policies and Procedures" document with the syllabus, but I suspect many do not. As the student's texting continued, at a suitable pause, I decided this might be the optimum time to review those policies.
I projected the policies, read them aloud, and emphasized that a phone infraction counted as an absence, and detailed the absence penalties. Facing the screen rather than the students as I read, I could hear a rustle of a backpack unzipping and the phone being jammed into the bag. I assured them if this infraction happened today, I was giving them a free pass, but next time, the rules apply.
Every single question I asked for the rest of the class, the guilty party has his hand up, ready to respond.
An ally, not an enemy. Everyone's happy.
Yet Another Update in my War Against the Class Room Phone
September 11th, 2013 at 04:41 am
September 11th, 2013 at 04:49 am 1378871378
September 11th, 2013 at 05:52 am 1378875131
September 11th, 2013 at 01:40 pm 1378903235
September 11th, 2013 at 03:22 pm 1378909363
September 11th, 2013 at 04:33 pm 1378913629
September 12th, 2013 at 01:48 am 1378946887
September 12th, 2013 at 03:07 am 1378951665
More proof that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.