Classroom & Cell Phone Management

Positive, not punitive, classroom management is essential for academic environments. Are students contributing to or detracting from the academic environment in your classroom? How about cell phones? Join us to learn some teacher-tested strategies to improve the climate of your classroom and reduce the likelihood of code of conduct challenges.

Classroom & Cell Phone Management - October 2018

Handout from Workshop - October 2018

Students use cell phones for many reasons and more students today have cell phones than personal computers. Cell phones are part of students’ identity and banning cell phones has limited efficacy. In schools that have no cell phone policy, 71% of students send or receive texts in class.  In schools that allow cell phones but prohibit use in class, 65% of students still sent text messages in class. In schools that banned cell phones completely, 58% still sent text messages.
Leverage Cell Phones & Mobile Technology to Achieve Instructional Goals
  • Survey Students (Google Forms, Pear Deck, Poll Everywhere)
  • Mobile Quizzing (Kahoot!, Quizlet Live, Quizziz)
  • Back Channel Chat (Padlet, Twitter)
  • Study Tools (Quizlet Flashcards, Review Apps)
  • Search for Answers & Research (Google, Siri, Library Database)
  • Record Lectures & Submit Audio (Microphone)
  • Differentiation (YouTube, Khan Academy, Canvas)
Mitigate Cell Phone Problems in the Classroom
  • Understand that students use their cellphones for many reasons
  • Make your expectations clear at the beginning
  • Incorporate activities that leverage cell phones
  • Use breaks to deal with cell phone addiction
  • Encourage students to use cell phones for good not evil!
Cell Phone Policies
  • Prohibition
    • Be professional
    • Expectations
    • If I see your phone, you’ll be absent for the day
    • Cellphone Jail
  • You CAN use your phone but I’ll tell you when
    • Use only for course related activities
    • Charging stations
  • You Decide
    • You shouldn’t
    • I wish you wouldn’t
    • You are responsible for your money, time and learning
  • No Policy
    • Given up
    • Seeing students as a whole person
    • Taking away phones makes them less whole
  • Partial Policy
    • You’ll have a short break to use it
    • Texting is OK but go outside for calls
  • Novelty Policy
    • If it rings you sing
    • If your cell phone distracts someone or interrupts the class you have to bring cookies for the entire class or forfeit your highest homework (or other specific) grade
    • For every 1 minute I use my phone in class, you may use yours for 2.
    • Optional 1 pt extra credit for each class you opt in to NOT use your phone.
    • Reward > Reprimand
From: https://facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-classroom-management/cell-phone-policies-review-faculty-stand/