Professionalism. What does it mean in a learning environment? Coming to class prepared for the topic at hand. Listening to others – instructors and peers. Giving 100% of your attention to the course. Not distracting others by off topic behaviour.
Cell phones – turn off volume/turn off vibrate – put away in bags. Do not use in class unless specifically asked to take photos. Do not text. If we see you texting we will ask you to leave the room for the remainder of the class, so that you do not distract others.
Laptops: a privilege, not a right. Close down e-mail broswer, IM and text alerts and Facebook. Give serious consideration to NOT using your laptop for note-taking, but using pen and paper. Consider a default of “lids down” and open up your laptop for a specific task related to the class at hand.
Expect Instructors to specify lids up/down at certain times.
Wondering why we say this? Because we care about the quality of your learning. Not convinced? Read this article on why Clay Shirky (a digitial marketing prof at NYU) is banning technology in the classroom. He refers to this research on how multi-tasking on laptops in class reduced student grades, AND the “second hand smoke” effect of reduced grades of those students sitting near those with open screens multi-tasking on non-course work. What about texting on phones? Check this research on the drop in grades from in-class texters.
Now, think about why you signed up for this class and what you are paying for. Save texting and Facebook for non-class time.
We’re not banning laptops in this class, and we encourage you to use them, selectively and responsibly – but in the context of giving yourself the best possible chance to learn.