How Students Take Control Of Their Learning Using Technology In The Classroom

Engineering has get an integral part of students' lives. Students use devices – such every bit smart phones, tablets, and laptops – to take notes, record lectures, admission course material, relieve boredom, take a mental break from challenging content, and participate in teacher-led learning activities (Bolkan & Griffin, 2017; Gupta & Irwin, 2016; Langan et al., 2016; Zaza & Neiterman, 2017). Instructors tin can leverage such educational technologies in course to enhance learning and increase pupil date.

Research shows that grade-related technology apply is non particularly bothersome to most students(e.grand., the sound of typing) (Zaza & Neiterman, 2017). The trouble arises when students employ technology for off-chore purposes for prolonged periods of time in class – for instance, watching a pic or a sports consequence, or social media. This usage distracts not only the student simply too those around them. This is unlike than rapidly checking for a text or e-mail (Zaza & Neiterman, 2017). Appropriately, the question is non whether to permit engineering in the classroom but rather how to minimize inappropriate off-task use of engineering science in class. This tip sheet will address common questions about what instructors can and cannot do to manage and minimize this trouble of off-task technology employ in the classroom.

Tin can I ban all students from using laptops in my classroom?

No. Banning applied science in the classroom is a human rights violation. For many students with concrete disabilities, learning disabilities, or other disabilities, a laptop is an advisable adaptation. Policy 58 - Accessibility upholds the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the Ontario Human Rights Code and other legislation that supports the rights of individuals with disabilities. Equally a result, banning laptops would violate the legal human rights of these students, and is therefore not an option. Moreover, even if banning laptops in the classroom were permissible, it's not feasible to enforce a laptop ban in large classes, and would not solve the problem because students could nevertheless use their phones more than surreptitiously. Research shows that strict methods of controlling engineering science are not always constructive (Santos et al., 2018) or recommended (Gupta & Irwin, 2016).

Can I ban laptops from my classroom for everyone except students registered with AccessAbility Services?

No. Banning applied science for anybody except those who demand it violates an private's right to keep their disability private. Banning laptops for all students except the ones registered with AccessAbility Services would substantially makes some students' disabilities evident to others. Moreover, many students with disabilities cull not to register with AccessAbility Services only are nonetheless protected by the provincial legislation regarding advisable accommodations. Laptops and smart phones also benefit students who do non take a disability: for case, these devices enable students who are not fluent in English to quickly await up a word during class

If I check with my students who take disabilities to see if they ok with me banning laptops for other students, can I ban laptops for other students?

No. As stated in Policy 58 - Accessibility and legislation, privacy is of utmost importance. Students with disabilities must non be asked to disclose their disability or need for accommodations to their instructor; instead, AccessAbility Services communicates the need for accommodations to instructors. Due to the existent or perceived power differential between instructors and students with disabilities, instructors should not put students in a position where they might feel coerced. In improver, instructors might not fifty-fifty know which students in their class employ a laptop for adaptation purposes but have non registered with AccessAbility Services.

Can I penalize students (i.eastward., deduct a point from their last grade) who use their phone or laptop during class for off-task activities?

There is a difference betwixt quickly checking and responding to a text or e-mail message and watching a Netflix movie or a hockey game in class. It is not advisable or reasonable to have away grades from a student who speedily checks their phone during class: some students are dealing with stressful personal, family, or medical situations. Information technology is, however, reasonable for students who are, say, watching a hockey game during class to receive a lower grade because being attentive to others is one way to demonstrate participation and appointment

Can I ask students to close their laptops during certain grade activities?

Sometimes. Y'all can require laptops to exist closed during quizzes or midterms, just as you tin require textbooks to be closed or packed away. In such circumstances, students who are registered with AccessAbility Services, and who require the apply of a laptop, are able to make alternative arrangements for writing the quiz or midterm.

What tin I practise if students complain about inappropriate visual content on other students' screens?

Instructors should direct students to refrain from offensive or whatsoever other off-job activities that are distracting to others in class because University Policy 33 ("Ethical Behaviour") states that "no member of the Academy community (faculty, staff, student) may disproportionately interfere with the study, work or working environment of other members of the University or any aspect of another'southward University activity." The policy adds that "A 'poisoned environment' (or i that is intimidating, hostile, or offensive) can be created based on any of the prohibited grounds under the Ontario Human being Rights Lawmaking, and tin can be described every bit comment or conduct that is contrary to the aims of maintaining a supportive, respectful and tolerant environment." Using a laptop to view potentially offensive or inappropriate images during form could certainly contravene this policy.

What tin can I do to minimize the distractions caused by students' technology use in class?

• Involve students:
  • Involve students in setting the footing rules for technology-utilise in class and check in with your students through the term to see if off-task technology-apply is increasing. You can likewise explicate how the off-chore employ of technology distracts you while you are teaching (if it does).
  • Invite students to consummate an anonymous survey where they tin report distractions from off-task employ of applied science in class, and so report the results of the survey to the class so that students who use engineering for off-task purposes can see how their behaviour affects their peers.
  • Use engaging learning activities. Avert passive instructional methods such as reading from slides. Lectures can be engaging [See Lecturing Effectively, Instruction Metacognitive Skills, Activities for Big Classes]
• Be explicit nigh your expectations. Include a statement in the course outline that explains your expectations for technology-use in class and talk to students about this. Explicate how off-task technology-use negatively affects the learning environment not simply for them, merely for their classmates. Don't attempt to establish a class policy that you can't enforce.
• Identify designated seating area for students who use technology for off-job purposes. Offering seats at the sides of the classroom for those who use technology but recognize that some students who use technology need to sit shut to the front of the class. Consider showing this 35-second video, Screen your seats, in class to explain how and why students should use designated seating.
• Integrate technology into your pedagogy. Using engineering science for the purpose of learning has been shown to decrease off-task use. Ask students to look up information online. Consider using Kahoot, clickers, or other audience response tools that volition allow students to apply their devices to appoint with the class material. The Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) offers advice on how to integrate educational technologies in your teaching.
• Provide breaks from lecturing. Enquiry shows off-task applied science use is less prevalent in classrooms which offer engagement and breaks from traditional lecturing. Especially if you are educational activity a lot of circuitous concepts in a short period of time, students who feel overwhelmed may need to "tune out" by using the engineering science. Break upward a long lecture by giving short breaks and/or by integrating learning activities. CTE offers a diverseness of ideas on how to introduce agile learning into the big classroom.
• Recognize that, like many of us, students use technology for a multifariousness of reasons, including dealing with personal and family issues. Nearly probable, many students will cheque their e-mail briefly during class, fifty-fifty if your lecture is super engaging and interesting.

References

• Gupta, N. & Irwin, J.D. (2016). In-class distractions: The role of Facebook and the primary learning task. Computers in Human Behavior, 55, 1165-1178.
• Kay RH, Lauricella S. Unstructured vs. structured utilize of laptops in college education. . Journal of Information Technology Teaching. 2011;ten(1):33-42.
• Ledbetter AM, Finn AN. Why Do Students Use Mobile Technology for Social Purposes during Class? Modeling Teaching Credibility, Learner Empowerment, and Online Communication Mental attitude equally Predictors. Communication Teaching. 2016;65(1):i-23
• Santos, I., Bocheco, O., & Habak, C. (2018). A survey of educatee and teacher perceptions of personal mobile technology usage and policies for the classroom. Teaching and Data Technologies, 23, 617-632.
• Zaza, C. & Neiterman, E. (2017). What should we do about laptops in classroom? A Survey of Behaviours and Attitudes in AHS? Presentation delivered at the 2017 Teaching and Learning Conference, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON.

Resources

• University of Waterloo Policy 33, "Ethical Behaviour."

• Middle for Teaching Excellence blog post: Notes v. Maps: Trading Quantity for Quality by Chris Ray.

• Centre for Teaching Excellence: Laptops in the classroom: a virtue or vice?
• Screen your seats video that explains to students how and why to use a designated seating area for students who use engineering for off-task purpose
• Centre for Teaching Excellence: Educational Technologies
• Centre for Teaching Excellence: Active Learning Activities
• Kerr, B. Taking notes in class: Laptops vs Handwriting. Of Tech and Learning, May 4, 2016.
• Weimer, Chiliad. A memo to my students every bit the new semester begins. Faculty Focus, August 23, 2017.
• Tackling Distractions: Tips for Students (PDF)
• Tackling Distractions: Tips for Instructors (PDF)

This Artistic Commons license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon our piece of work non-commercially, equally long as they credit usa and signal if changes were made. Use this citation format:Managing Students' Employ of Technology in the Classroom. Centre for Pedagogy Excellence, University of Waterloo .

Source: https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/teaching-resources/teaching-tips/lecturing-and-presenting/logistics/laptops-classroom-virtue-or-vice

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