I ban student technology because I teach freshmen and they would *much* rather hide behind their technology than heaven forbid *talk* to each other.  Last spring, I had a wonderful TBL experience. Groups had great discussions and if they finished early, they’d chit-chat (which is an important part of group cohesion.)  About halfway through the semester, my co-instructor told a group that was wrapping up the application activity a little ahead of the others that they could use their devices.  The group immediately gave up the activity, and all the other groups saw this. They also finished as fast as they could so they could go to their devices.  All communication among group members ceased. The results of the group work wasn’t very good that day, and they resisted putting their phones away for the debriefing conversation.  And then during the next TBL module, there was much whining because we wouldn’t allow them to use their devices again.  

 

N=1/YMMV, but it totally confirmed my belief in banning technology.  (Caveat: when we do projects that require laptops, that’s different. It’s the darn texting texting texting that drives me up the wall.)

 

Candice the Mean Instructor

 

 

Candice Benjes-Small, MLIS

Head, Information Literacy & Outreach

McConnell Library, Radford University, Radford, VA

540.831.6801

[log in to unmask]

 

 

 

From: Team-Based Learning [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Fritz
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2014 5:28 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Is Banning Student Laptops Common in Active Learning Courses?

 

Thanks Brian. I don't disagree, no need to force technology if there's no compelling reason for using it.

 

However, can I just follow up: Do you ban student technology because it's been a proven distraction in your TBL course (and among student teams), or is this a carry-over policy from previous courses that were primarily lecture based? Not trying to force an artificial binary, just testing an assumption.

 

Best,

 

John

 

On Wed, Oct 1, 2014 at 5:18 PM, Brian R <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

I ban ALL cell phones and laptops. I believe we get too caught up into thinking that we have to incorporate technology into everything we do.  I believe that computers and cell phones are very distracting to students; some of them can not help but to check their Facebook page or a quick text. Overall, I believe that the teams work more effectively when there re "no" computers or cell phones.....

Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2014 14:30:48 -0400
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Is Banning Student Laptops Common in Active Learning Courses?
To: [log in to unmask]

Hi Folks,

 

In recent weeks, there have been some high profile essays by profs banning student laptops, tablets or phones from the classroom:

Admittedly, I'm in the technology biz, so feel free to "consider the source," but I'm curious: do you have this problem with student computers in your TBL classrooms? Have you considered banning these devices in your courses? Do you now? Do your TBL colleagues? 

 

I'm just wondering how much of the growing "ban laptops" movement is correlated to courses that are primarily lecture-based. Or is this also a problem with active learning course designs like TBL, Peer Instruction, Problem Based Learning, etc.? To me, it feels like there are two competing pedagogical research threads -- faculty lecture effectiveness vs. student multitasking effectiveness -- vying for the attention of profs in how they they design and run their classrooms. 

 

If the issue is competing with technology for the attention of students, I get it. The capability and capacity of media technology is too overwhelming. But given the research that has been compiled on lecture effectiveness, isn't the concern with banning laptops sorta beside the point? I always thought the underlying assumption of active learning is that students learn by doing, particularly with and from each other. But if we see learning as primarily listening to or watching someone else "doing" (i.e., the prof thinking or talking), then I could see how student computers could be distracting.

 

I realize re-designing a course so students do more may feel like a daunting "all in" decision for faculty. But am I missing something about the impact of student computers in successfully re-designed TBL or other active learning courses? If so, please educate me.

 

Thx,

 

John

 

--



 

--

John Fritz

Asst. VP, Instructional Technology

UMBC Division of Information Technology

410.455.6596 | [log in to unmask] | FYI: Tech Support Tips