I would echo this. So, instead of a zero, I might take points off (10-15%) from the individual iRAT and the T-RAT.

While I still battle the noise problem, I decided to mention the cell issue and ask them to put it away, but not to stress over it. Maybe it's because we're a community college or my students don't buy ebooks, but I monitored the teams where one or more members had a cell phone out between assessments and saw no major differences in scores. They still missed the same number of items (usually between 2 and 6) along with that, the items they missed matched the items the class as a whole missed. If I ever notice a team getting them all right on the first shot when the team members individually missed several then I'll get more strict. I guess what I'm saying is that "rapid thumb movement with communication devices by individual team members, does not appear to increase performance on the TRAT's." ;o)

On Fri, Sep 20, 2013 at 3:03 PM, David Raeker-Jordan <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

I agree with Jim. Decide what kind of repercussion you are comfortable with, then make sure you follow through on whatever threat you make. Once they know you are serious, the problem will most likely disappear.

-----------------

David Raeker-Jordan
Legal Methods Professor
Widener University School of Law
Harrisburg, PA
717.541.1996

On Fri, Sep 20, 2013 at 3:42 PM, Spaulding, Kristina N <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Good afternoon,

I am having some issues with talking and cell phone/electronic device use during RATs. I teach large classes (70 and 200 students), so management has become an issue. These are the specific issues I'm having:

1) Talking and electronic device use by students who have finished the iRAT while other students are still completing their iRATs.

2) Electronic device use during tRATs.

Number One bothers me because students could be looking up answers on their devices, but also because the talking interferes with the ability of the remaining students to finish their iRATs. If most of the class is done it can get quite loud. No matter how many times I ask them to be quiet, this continues to be an issue. I don't have this problem at any other time during class (for example, during class discussions or when I lecture).

Students are also using their electronic devices during tRATs. In most cases, I think they are texting or goofing off, but obviously, in large classes like this, it's impossible to tell. I have told them not to talk and to put their devices away, but they do it anyway. In my 70 person class, between my TA and I, we can keep a fairly good handle on it, by asking students to put away their device if we see them using it, but in a class of 200 this is impossible. I'm considering implementing some kind of punishment - for example, students caught using devices before the end of the tRAT will receive a zero, or even the whole team will receive a zero, but I also feel this may be too harsh. How have others handled this problem?

Best,

Kristina

_________________________________________

Kristina N. Spaulding

Doctoral candidate

Gallup lab

Department of Psychology

University at Albany

HU B68-E

442-4786

OH: Tue 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Fri 1:00 - 2:30

Herb Coleman, Ph.D
Dir. Instructional Computing and Technology
Adjunct Professor of Psychology
Austin Community College
Highland Business Center
5930 Middle Fiskville Rd.
Austin, TX 78752
[log in to unmask]
512-223-7746
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Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.

—	Gandalf the Grey from the 2012 motion picture "The Hobbit"

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