Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

For all teachers -

T

toblerboy

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 29, 2011
58
0
I have an iphone.
The problem is, so do 2/3 of all my students. They seem to have their phones on them all the time.
it can be a little battle to get them to turn them off.
However, some people actively get the kids to use their iphones in class - how on earth could you incorporate technology on Iphones with learning?
 
In a word DONT! Do what my kids school does - if you are found with your phone on in school it is taken off you for a week.

If kids want to get onto the internet in school then they use the school supplied kits with the school supplied filtering software. Kids having their phones on in a class will just distract them (facebook etc).

My two cents.

toblerboy said:
I have an iphone.
The problem is, so do 2/3 of all my students. They seem to have their phones on them all the time.
it can be a little battle to get them to turn them off.
However, some people actively get the kids to use their iphones in class - how on earth could you incorporate technology on Iphones with learning?
Click to expand...
 
toblerboy said:
I have an iphone.
The problem is, so do 2/3 of all my students. They seem to have their phones on them all the time.
it can be a little battle to get them to turn them off.
However, some people actively get the kids to use their iphones in class - how on earth could you incorporate technology on Iphones with learning?
Click to expand...

Checking on that for you....

I found this for you:
http://www.apple.com/education/ipodtouch-iphone/
 
depends what age range you are teaching.

you could always get the kids to research stuff and hook their phones up to the smartboard to show off what they have found.

there is loads of stuff you can incorporate into lessons via the education apps, you just have to know what you want them to do ;).
 
I agree the ciriculum is likely boring but could you at least pretend you are learning something and not use your phone during class?
 
My wife has this battle with her COLLEGE students that she teaches. It's not so much that they have and use them, it's more that they have and use them during class then get lost and need HER to stay after and "catch them up". And it's not just phones. It's browsing facebook and other social media during class.

After hearing her talk, I'm with the person above. Don't try to incorporate it. Get more strict on it. I had a cell phone in High school and it stayed in my car all day. I'm probably smarter thanthe majority of students coming out of High School today and I never had my phone in class with me. As of now, phones in classes are more of a distraction than anything.
 
Have them put away their electronic toys while class is in session. Be firm and consistent with this policy.

richmlow


toblerboy said:
I have an iphone.
The problem is, so do 2/3 of all my students. They seem to have their phones on them all the time.
it can be a little battle to get them to turn them off.
However, some people actively get the kids to use their iphones in class - how on earth could you incorporate technology on Iphones with learning?
Click to expand...
 
I wouldn't even try unless 100% of the kids had iPhones or compatible smart phone.

Some children aren't fortunate enough to be able to afford a smartphone. They don't need that sort of pressure at that age. This isn't like a college class they opted for is it?
 
cynics said:
I wouldn't even try unless 100% of the kids had iPhones or compatible smart phone.

Some children aren't fortunate enough to be able to afford a smartphone. They don't need that sort of pressure at that age. This isn't like a college class they opted for is it?
Click to expand...

This would be the biggest factor for me as a kid. I remember a lot of kids not be able to afford that $100 scientific calculator which was enough pressure on families, a $200-600 smartphone with monthly data? Seems too much. I'd hate to be the kid feeling poor with a flip phone or nothing at all.
 
At my school it really depends on the teacher - some of us like to bring up the resources shown on the screen on our phones. It's handy when we're doing stuff like looking at mark schemes.
 
Ban the usage of phones in class.

Make them write notes with paper and pen. No computers or tablets.

If you see someone using a phone, make them come up infront of the class and sing a song or act like an animal of your choice for a minute.
 
I've allowed my (college age students) to use their phones to do a quick bit of research.

My syllabus states that electronic devices are forbidden unless given permission for a specific activity.
 
On a much simpler note, I feel the students not lucky enough to have this technology in class would feel out of place, or even pressure their parents to buy them said technology as a direct result of it being incorporated into the curriculum. I know I would have been one of those kids without, growing up. I did have a cell phone which was strictly for emergencies (and weekend/night calls were also ok), but this was before smartphones. I know we wouldn't have been able to afford $200 on a phone as well as pay the insane monthly rates, though.
 
kevinof said:
In a word DONT! Do what my kids school does - if you are found with your phone on in school it is taken off you for a week.
Click to expand...

This is a terrible idea, and I can't believe your kids school does that. It is just asking to get the school/district into trouble

schools are given too much power in some aspects these days, and being able to take a $600+ device from a student for a WEEK should constitute theft regardless of the reasons.

If a student refuses to stop using their phone, then send them out of class, to the principal/assistant principal/etc.
in a worse case scenario, take the phone away and require the students parent to come pick it up, so you know for sure they are aware of the issue. But still, the student should be given chances to stop using the phone before it is taken away, and again NOT for a week.

----------
Leonard1818 said:
My wife has this battle with her COLLEGE students that she teaches. It's not so much that they have and use them, it's more that they have and use them during class then get lost and need HER to stay after and "catch them up". And it's not just phones. It's browsing facebook and other social media during class.

After hearing her talk, I'm with the person above. Don't try to incorporate it. Get more strict on it. I had a cell phone in High school and it stayed in my car all day. I'm probably smarter thanthe majority of students coming out of High School today and I never had my phone in class with me. As of now, phones in classes are more of a distraction than anything.
Click to expand...

when you're a college professor, you should be expected to be accessible to students for questions outside of class. not necessarily after class, but at my school (and most schools) professors are required to hold office hours for students who choose to come in for extra help. There are more reasons to need extra help outside of class than being on phones in class all the time.

What she should do is make it clear that she has set office hours for them to come get help, and if they miss things because they are on electronic devices, then they have only those times to get caught up (time that is shared by everyone in the class). Outside of that, she makes no guarantees on what she can do to help them.
 
There are good sides to it, and there are bad sides to it.
Pros:
Students can use the internet to research things
Cons:
Students start tweeting and/or facebooking which isn't allowed
Or listen to music

Here in Vancouver, I'm in grade 9 at the moment, teachers aren't REALLY strict about phones.
99% of the people in class don't try using them, but there's always the 1% who keep on using them until they get a warning.

In my opinion, students should simply be told to not use their phones in class, and penalties like confiscating until the end of the class should be enforced.
 
Last edited:
A mobile phone jammer is illegial in the UK too - a school once tried it and got into a bit of trouble.
I reckon that if some cool educational stuff could be used by them, then they would be seen in a different light by students. They would be less eager to always fiddle with them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back