Talking about tech – Class cellphone policies are about mutual respect, not technology

Nowadays everyone has a cellphone, and for students, cellphone policies in the classroom have become expected in their educational environment in both high school and college.

Some professors have stricter policies than others, but it all boils down to a system of mutual respect between student and professor.

Students are at the University of Idaho to learn. For the most part, cellphone use in class detracts from that learning both for the user and for students around the user. Games, Facebook and Pinterest are all ultimately distractions in the classroom, and there are problems with that.

On the other hand, professors are here to teach, not to be glorified babysitters like some high school teachers. It shouldn”t be their job to regulate cellphone use in their classrooms, and it”s particularly disappointing to see professors confiscate phones when they find students using them.

We are all adults here, so there should be mutual respect for both parties involved. Students can put their phones away for the 50 minutes of class time. With 10 minutes between classes, there is plenty of time to check social media.

Being on the phone in class detracts from that student”s learning and is disrespectful to the professor.

Meanwhile, professors should understand that cellphone policies shouldn”t be an administrative power for them to abuse. Professors shouldn”t take a student”s phone, as there is almost never a good enough reason.

If a student has a work obligation or a family emergency, they should be able to check their phones in class without the penalties levied against cellphone use.

However, students should inform their professors when a situation is going on and they may need to step out of the room to take a call.

When it comes to devices other than cellphones, professors and administrators should also start considering ways of incorporating technology into their classrooms rather than flat out banning it. Students often use their laptops or tablets to take notes or to look through assignments as the teacher is doing their job at the front of the class.

Learning has shifted from the handwritten notes and memorization to interactivity. Generations all learn differently and use technology differently, and incorporating these two styles would benefit both the students and the professors.

Technology can enhance the learning experience for students, rather than take away from it, and UI should embrace whatever opportunities arise to improve students” education environment. At the same time, students should respect the policies their professors set out and know when the appropriate times are to take out their phones during class.

– CW

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