no snap (chat) zone: examining cell phone policies on a college campus
TRANSCRIPT
No SNAP (CHAT) ZONE: Examining Cell Phone Policies on a
College Campus
MICHELE LEE KOZIMOR-KING, PH.D.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGYELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE
PRESIDENT, ALPHA KAPPA DELTA
Please do NOT silence your phone!
In Fact:
• If you have a phone (smart or not) please place it on the table in front of you.
• Turn the sound ON.
• Be sure all notifications are ON.
• Continue snapping, tweeting, texting, yaking, posting to Instagram or Facebook, or playing Pokemon Go for the next 5 minutes.
• Tweet along #snapfreekozphd
General Rules for Cell Phone Policies on Syllabi
• Syllabi should contain specific policies for cell phone use and should be supported by college policy (Johnson 2009).
• Policies should be clear with consequences for violating substantial enough to make an impression (Shaw 2009).
• Embarrassment doesn’t work in the long run (Burns and Lohenry 2010).
• Citing empirical evidence of academic impairment may improve regulation (End et al. 2010)
Cell Phones in Classroom: Good or bad?
• Positive Uses/Consequences • Active Learning • Increased Participation
• Negative Consequences• Distracting • Cheating • Disrespectful
Background• College students reported using their cell phones
an average of 11 times per day in class (McCoy 2013)
• 92% of college students reported using their cell phones to text during class (Tindell and Bohlander 2012)
• 10% texted during an exam on at least one occasion (Tindell and Bohlander 2012)
• 80% of college students find phones distracting (Sana et al. 2013)
Data• All Available Elizabethtown College Syllabi• 1,800 students, 120 faculty, private, liberal arts• 4 Semesters
• Fall 2005, Fall 2008, Fall 2011, Fall 2016
• 1,451 syllabi • Obtained from the High Library database• First available semester was Fall 2003
Fall 2003 Syllabi
• Only 2 cell phone policies out of 273 syllabi (0.7%)
• Psychology 225: Developmental Psychology - Female Professor: “Pagers, cell phones, and watch alarms should be turned OFF.”
• English 104: American Literature I - Female Professor. “Cell phones and pagers should be turned off.”
Fall 2003 Fall 2005 Fall 2008 Fall 2011 Fall 20160
10
20
30
40
50
60
0.76.3
20.3
37.4
50.2
Percentage of Syllabi With A Cell Phone Policy
Perc
enta
ge
Cell Phone Policy by Course LevelFall 2016
Course Level (%) 100
(n=158)200
(n=146)300
(n=130)400
(n=68)Cell Phone Policy No 36.1 49.3 55.4 72.1 Yes 63.9 50.7 44.6 27.9χ²= 27.016; p=.000
Statistically Significant
Notable Changes Between 2011 and 2016• Length
• Overall, policies are significantly longer.
• Multiple devices• Policies now refer to iPads, tablets, and smart watches, in addition to cell phones.
• Increased Positivity• Numerous policies now indicate the positive uses of cell phones in the classroom.
Some policies are even exclusively pro-phone.
• Conflicting Policies• Policies within departments, and even in the same class, conflict with each other
Length and multiple device exampleCell Phones and Electronic DevicesDuring class, all cell phones or electronic devices should be off or set to silent mode. You may not use your phone or device during class, unless given express permission by the instructor and may be used for educational purposes only. Use of laptops and tablets is permitted to take notes in class. If you choose to use your electronic devices for non-educational activities, the devices will be placed at the front of the room until class is completed. Attendance/Participation: Attendance is expected (see attendance policy). Many of the class activities cannot be duplicated outside of class; therefore, you will not receive participation points and/or credit for any group assignment on any day you are absent. Cell phones must be TURNED OFF during class. Texting/calling during class will result in an automatic deduction of participation points.
Female, First Year Seminar, 100 level
Length Example• Use of digital tools and mobile devices during class is encouraged provided the intent
is engaging in the topics and activities. Mobile devices can be powerful learning and organization tools, so please use them to your advantage. These tools can also coax you to remain off-task and disengaged for entire class periods if you use them during class time for activities unrelated to the topics. For example, “facebooking” during class is likely to keep you off task for longer than you or I would like and also likely to be disturbing and distracting to those around you. I appreciate your ability to multi-task, but would like your energies focused during our short class periods. Examples of appropriate use of technology during class would be one of the following:• Navigating the Canvas site for materials• Entering due dates and other important info on phone• Using video/audio recording to create a repository of learning supports that you can access later for review• Navigating digital MLB’s to read other participants’ writing and shared resources on the topicsCell phones can also be disruptive, so please make sure that you are respectful of others and have the phone on silent or powered off during class. If you do not have access to mobile technology (i.e. lap top, smartphone, IPad) and would like to use tech during class to accomplish one of the uses listed above (or something similar), the department has a set of IPads and lap tops for student use. I will be happy to makearrangements for access as needed.
• Female, Special Education, 300 Level Course
More Devices Noted
• Everything with a screen has to be turned off during class. • Male, Economics, 100 level
• Cell phones hidden away and OFF. That means no talking, no texting, no browsing, no gaming, and no checking the time. You should forget that you even own a cell phone during the time we spend together. In other words, I do not want to see your phone during class.• Usage of an Apple Watch, SmartWatch, Pebble, or any other such device is not allowed in class. Such devices should be turned off or turned to sleep mode during regular classes, and taken off and stored away during exams.• In accordance with departmental policy, all other electronic equipment, including laptops and tablets, must also be turned off.• Male, Business, 200 level
Positive View Examples• Technology: We use the internet. Bring your phone and
computer to class. (ringers off, please). • Female, Occupational Therapy, 200 level
• Statement on Electronic DevicesAs a part of honoring each other within this classroom space, I ask you to use technology in a way that honors our space. I believe the use of electronic devices to browse the Internet and social networking is disrespectful to the teacher’s and students’ presence and preparation time. This activity impedes your learning, is disrespectful to our collaborations, and is distracting to the students who can see your screen. Using technology for in-class listening and research is highly encouraged.• Male, Music, 200 level
Conflicting Messages Example
*NOTE: A laptop computer is not needed during class, except for special projects. All electronics will be off and stowed during class, except when used as part of a class activity. Feel free to bring your smart phone/tablet for quick look-ups, but keep it stowed and on silent until I ask you to pull it out. No phone use during class. If you need to call or text, please take your things and leave.
Male, English, 100 level
Conflicting Education Department
• BYOD| Students are encouraged to use personal devices/computers in class to enhance learning. Please use them responsibly, with respect to the professor and student colleagues.• Female, 300 level
• Cell phones are expected to be turned off and put out of sight during class. You are expected to refrain from using phones for text messaging or taking pictures during class. Points will be deducted from your participation grade for violating this policy.
Laptops, tablets, or iPads may NOT be used to view PowerPoints and/or take notes, Last year, we tried allowing these devices in class. Almost 100% of students who used them in class became distracted from time-to-time, and the end result was a significant drop in both participation points and/or test grades. In some cases, the consequences were dramatic.
Female, 200 level
Interesting Policy• Use of cellular phones or any other electronic communication devices for any
purpose during a class or exam session is prohibited. This includes using a mobile phone for sending out messages, connecting to the internet or any other application thereof. In some unavoidable situations the student may request the professor for consent to keep their phone active for incoming calls. As a member of the learning community, each student has a responsibility to other students who are members of the community. When cell phones ring and students respond in class or leave class to respond, it disrupts the class. Therefore, the use by students of cell phones, pagers, PDAs, or similar communication devices during scheduled classes is forbidden. All such devices must be turned off or put in a silent (vibrate) mode and ordinarily should not be taken out during class. Given the fact that these same communication devices are an integral part of the College's emergency notification system, an exception to this policy would occur when numerous devices activate simultaneously. When this occurs, students may consult their devices to determine if a College emergency exists. If that is not the case, the devices should be immediately returned to silent mode and put away. Other exceptions to this policy may be granted at the discretion of the professor. Sanctions for violation of this policy are determined by the professor, at a minimum one grade point will be deducted, and may include dismissal from the class.• Male, Philosophy, 200 level
Female Social Work Professor:
• Cell phone policy: As cell phones (and other electronic devices) detract from the classroom experience. All electronic devices must be OFF during classroom experience; vibrate mode can still be heard and distract from your education. Please see the Participation section to find out more about cell phone use. In a nutshell – turn them off while in the classroom. Do not use cell phones in class. When you enter the classroom, I ask you to do as they say on the plane: “Please turn off and stow all portable electronic devices”! If you are identified as using a cell phone at any point during class, I will immediately inquire as to the emergency and ask you to leave the classroom. This will most certainly impact your participation and attendance grade. If there is an emergency, please let me know in advance of class and plan to step outside the class to check or use your phone if and when it is needed. The bottom line is that we meet for an hour and fifteen minutes twice a week, your friends, family and internship folks should know that you are in class or at the very least understand when you are unable to answer/respond to their texts. I will leave my phone in my office and commit this time to you…I expect you to commit to your peers and this class by turning off your phone.
1.Turn Off
2.Respect
3.Points4.Leave
5.Humor
7.Distract
8.Emergency
6.Ask
Policies Requiring Phones to be Turned Off
56%44%
Fall 2016
YesNo
83%
18%
Fall 2005-2011
YesNo
Please turn off your cell phones and electronic devices or set them on airplane mode!
Female, Political Science, 300 level
Points Deducted
30%
70%
Fall 2016
YesNo
22%
78%
Fall 2005-2011
YesNo
If you are caught talking on the cell phone, texting, checking email, browsing the web, or communicating with others via a social networking site without explicit instructor permission you will automatically lose 5 points off your accumulated point total for the semester.
Female, Biology, 200 level
Policies Mentioning Respect
13%
87%
Fall 2016
YesNo
14%
86%
Fall 2005-2011
YesNo
The policy with regard to cell-phone use, food and drink, attire and other social norms is simple: Be respectful of the instructor, your classmates, and yourself. I am optimistic that I will not have to discipline any students for these activities, but I reserve the right to address problems as they arise.
Male, Communications, 200 level
Policies Using Embarrassment
2%
98%
Fall 2016
YesNo
5%
95%
Fall 2005-2011
YesNo
If a phone rings, I get to answer it. If you text in class, I will present to the class a “dramatic reading” of all of your text messages.
Male, Communications, 100 level
Disruption/Distraction
20%
80%
Fall 2016
YesNo
14%
86%
Fall 2005-2011
YesNo
To get the most out of class, please try to arrive on time and limit disruptions. Do not surf the internet for personal reasons or go on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter during class (unless you are asked to do so) or use Snapchat as it is distracting to me and your classmates. According to Departmental policy, students are required to turn off all cell phones upon entering a Sociology or Anthropology classroom. Texting is ONLY permitted in class on a limited basis to contact a team member, me, or a teaching assistant.
Female, Sociology, 300 level
BYOD/Devices Encouraged
7%
93%
Fall 2016
YesNo
BYOD| Students are encouraged to use personal devices/computers in class to enhance learning. Please use them responsibly, with respect to the professor and student colleagues.
Female, Education, 300 level
Cell phones must be silenced before entering the studio, although you are encouraged to use your phone to record your lesson to assist you in your practicing.
Female, Music, 200 level
Summary • Cell phone policies have grown longer.
• Still lacking concrete consequences.
• More policies recognize positives.
• Most common policy remains to turn off phone.
• Few policies reference humor or embarrassment.
• More policies in 2016 reference point deductions and distraction.
• Policies vary even in departments with a departmental policy.
• Policies vary based on class level by the same instructor.
• My advice: read and consult thy syllabus!
Special Thanks to Barbara Prince, Dr. Jeffrey Chin, Alpha Kappa Delta, and Anyone Tweeting
For more information please contact:
Dr. Michele Lee Kozimor-King