I ask my students to keep their devices turned on in my class. It may or may not be a distraction, but I challenge the students to find something that is or isn't in agreement with what is being discussed in the class. More often, then, I find students involving in search for material and reading. The follow up discussions on the reliability of the sources of information they found I believe adds to the richness of classroom discussions. Vinay On Thu, Oct 2, 2014 at 4:32 AM, Hayley McGrice < [log in to unmask]> wrote: > My students know that the use of ALL electronic devices is not permitted > during the IRAT and GRAT, if a student is found to be using an electronic > device (for any reason) their entire team will receive 0. However, I > actively encourage them to use their IPads in conjunction with the course > text during the application exercises as I find it diversifies the class > discussions and ensures not all teams come up with the same answer. We > have modified and improved our application questions/exercises over the > past three years so that the students cannot simply “google” it to find an > easy answer. I also try to circulate through the teams during the > applications and confront any students I find using a device for anything > unrelated to the course. This can be hard for very large classes but it > works well in my class of 120. > > > > Kind regards > > -- > > Hayley McGrice, PhD > > Associate Lecturer > > School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences > > > > Roseworthy Campus > > The University of Adelaide > > Ph : +61 8 8313 7640 > > e-mail: [log in to unmask] > > > > CRICOS Provider Number 00123M > > ----------------------------------------------------------- > > This email message is intended only for the addressee(s) > > and contains information which may be confidential and/or > > copyright. If you are not the intended recipient please > > do not read, save, forward, disclose, or copy the contents > > of this email. If this email has been sent to you in error, > > please notify the sender by reply email and delete this > > email and any copies or links to this email completely and > > immediately from your system. No representation is made > > that this email is free of viruses. Virus scanning is > > recommended and is the responsibility of the recipient. > > > > *From:* Team-Based Learning [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On > Behalf Of *Nicole L Arduini-VanHoose > *Sent:* Thursday, 2 October 2014 7:57 AM > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Subject:* Re: Is Banning Student Laptops Common in Active Learning > Courses? > > > > I encourage students to bring devices. During activities, students are > free to use textbooks, notes or devices to assist their process. I am > always impressed when students will share some great information and I see > them looking at their phone or tablet because they pulled the information > from an outside source. > > If students are using devices inappropriately, I hope that this is being > addressed by the team in the evaluation process. I know that when I have > compiled peer evaluations, students have included comments to their > teammates about texting in class. > > > > Nicole Arduini-Van Hoose > > Sent from my iPhone > > > On Oct 1, 2014, at 2:33 PM, John Fritz <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > Hi Folks, > > > > In recent weeks, there have been some high profile essays by profs banning > student laptops, tablets or phones from the classroom: > > · Why a leading professor of new media just banned technology use > in class > <http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/09/25/why-a-leading-professor-of-new-media-just-banned-technology-use-in-class/?tid=pm_local_pop> > (*Washington Post*) > > · Why I'm Asking You Not to Use Laptops > <http://chronicle.com/blogs/linguafranca/2014/08/25/why-im-asking-you-not-to-use-laptops/> > (*Chronicle of Higher Education*) > > 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 <http://doit.umbc.edu/itnm> > > UMBC Division of Information Technology <http://doit.umbc.edu> > > 410.455.6596 | [log in to unmask] | FYI: Tech Support Tips > <http://doit.umbc.edu/support/tips> > >