I don’t know a single instructor who is not perplexed about how to deal with students using laptop and tablet computers, smart phones, and other electronic devices during class. True, technology can be used to enhance learning as students respond to concept tests, look up information, and take notes, but they are much more often distractions as students go down the rabbit hole of apps and social media that block deep thinking and learning. What can instructors do about them?
Here are two resources that may provide some ideas.
The University of Michigan’s Center for Research on Learning and Teaching has an excellent short article called, “Choosing your Classroom Technology Policy.” It offers some research suitable for sharing with students about how technology affects their learning along with questions instructors can ask themselves as they decide on appropriate policies for their classrooms. I like the practical ideas and common sense tone of the piece.
If you want to consider the topic in greater depth, I suggest reading a four-article series by James M. Lang from March 13, 2017 in the Chronicle of Higher Education called, “The Distracted Classroom.” These links take you to the introductory article and the other three pieces:
The last article gives some practical strategies and their pros and cons for dealing with technology in the classroom ranging from banning devices altogether to involving students in setting a policy for the kind of classroom environment they want to have.
If you have any strategies that have worked for you, I’d love to hear about them in the comments!
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