I state the rules at the begining of the course ...

I do most things (iRAT/gRATs/etc) with paper :)

Then, for the iRATs  (in a class of 120 or so students), I make a very visible show of ripping up the iRAT of the first person to break the rules.

Likewise with the gRATs.

Teams then seem to do a good job of policing things.

Doing it once seems to be sufficient. Normally, the way marks are split between iRATs, gRATS, applications exercises, and so on, loosing a single iRAT or gRAT doesn't really change their final grades.


During application exercises, if they use technology that is fine. If they're playing games on their phone that's fine too ... I just happen to mention to the rest of the team that they seem to be doing all the work and no doubt it will 'play out' during the peer evaluations.



Kind regards

Peter


On 21 September 2013 08:55, Herbert Coleman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
What I find most fascinating that we're asking students to sit still alone with their thoughts for 5-10 minutes (maybe 20 for the first finishers) and they simply can't do it!  I know back in the day when I finished a test, I just had to sit there.  Some professors would not even allow us to put our heads down. 


On Fri, Sep 20, 2013 at 3:46 PM, Jennifer Imazeki <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
My students usually have their devices out because I use them as clickers with PollEverywhere (which I've written about on my blog a bunch of times: http://economicsforteachers.blogspot.com/search/label/PollEverywhere). 

However, I do tell them to put everything away during the RATs. I think it helps if you have something for students to do while they wait for others to finish (and if you're using the five-minute rule, no one should have to wait THAT long). There have been other threads on this list about 'sponge' activities. I've even used just simple logic puzzles, printed on the back side of the iRAT, to give them something productive to do.


On Fri, Sep 20, 2013 at 1:04 PM, Tobin, Tammy <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Heck, I have bunsen burners in the room.....  soooo tempting.....

Seriously, though, students will never respect rules that are not enforced.  I second Jim's approach.

Having said that, a faculty member my age runs the risk of being called a Luddite, despite the fact that I use massive databases and servers for my research.  Thus, I am trying to meet the students where they are, when possible.  Does anyone have good ideas for cell phone use in TBL activities?

Tammy Tobin
Susquehanna University

Sent from my iPad

On Sep 20, 2013, at 3:58 PM, "Sibley, James Edward" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

This is probably an urban mtyh….but

I heard a story of a teacher that got a pickle jar…..filled it with water….went to the cell phone store….and got some old, recycled phones…..and put them in the jar…..she would cart the jar to class and put it on her desk

She said to her students….your phone rings….goes in the jar…..I catch you on the phone when you are not supposed to be….in the jar

She never drowned a students cell phone….but she got their attention


######################

But seriously

State your rules clearly….when a student contravenes them…..with a bit of ceremony….take their iRAT and tear it up…..you typically don't ever get a chance to tear up a second one…..

JIm
--
Jim Sibley 
Director 
Centre for Instructional Support 
Faculty of Applied Science 
University of British Columbia 
2205-6250 Applied Science Lane 
Vancouver, BC Canada 
V6T 1Z4 

Phone 604.822.9241 
Fax 604.822.7006 

Email: [log in to unmask]

Check out http://www.teambasedlearning.org


© Copyright 2013, Jim Sibley, All rights reserved The information contained in this e-mail message and any attachments (collectively "message") is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the recipient (or recipients) named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this message in error and that any review, use, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this in error, please notify the sender immediately by e-mail, and delete the meesage.

From: Thomas DeWitt <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Thomas DeWitt <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, September 20, 2013 12:45 PM
To: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: RATs, talking and cell phone use

Kristina, 

I don't allow the use of electronic devices AT ANY TIME during my classes.  If you have problems with students who can't resist the temptation even though you've made this a condition for participation in your class, then you can take it from them and have them pick it up after class. 

Cheers, Tom


Tom DeWitt, Ph.D.
Director 
Office of Applied Learning Experiences (ALEX)
University of Hawaii at Hilo




On Fri, Sep 20, 2013 at 9:42 AM, 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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