“How’d you know I was texting?”
“No one looks down at their glowing lap and smiles unless they’re either texting or suffering from some really strange effects from exposure to radiation.”
If you’re a teacher, odds are you've experienced this phenomenon we like to call Texting Subtle Syndrome (TSS). When everyone was on a Nokia, I had kids who could keep their hands in their pockets and text by the feel of the buttons and counting the number of times they hit each one. Now we live in a world of smart phones, which ironically results in less intelligent and subtle ways for students to text in class.
“No one looks down at their glowing lap and smiles unless they’re either texting or suffering from some really strange effects from exposure to radiation.”
If you’re a teacher, odds are you've experienced this phenomenon we like to call Texting Subtle Syndrome (TSS). When everyone was on a Nokia, I had kids who could keep their hands in their pockets and text by the feel of the buttons and counting the number of times they hit each one. Now we live in a world of smart phones, which ironically results in less intelligent and subtle ways for students to text in class.
It’s no secret that we, here at Mirused, staunchly believe in the use of technology in the classroom. We encourage the use of technology in our own classrooms, and even have a specific BYOD policy. One might think that because of our wide use of technology in our classrooms, we might see this problem more than others, however, the inverse is actually true. I have noticed that the more I integrate technology into my classroom, the less often I have students using tech inappropriately.
So how do we do it? Number one, students need to know when it is not okay to use technology in the classroom. When I am giving instruction, that is a time for students to pay attention. However, as a teacher, I need to limit the time I spend on instruction, because a student can only focus for so long. Their attention spans are equivalent in the number of minutes to their age in years. You can’t talk at or instruct a group of 13 year olds for forty-five minutes and expect to keep their attention for more than 13 minutes.
Secondly, our focus needs to be on student learning. Those of us who have worked in the private sector (all of us at Mirused have) know that employees are not efficient or effective if they are forced to be absolutely productive 100% of the time. Employees browse the internet for videos of cats all day long. Why are we surprised that teenagers tend to do the same thing? Of course we aren't saying it’s okay for students to waste the entirety of their day playing on their phone. We’re simply pointing out that as teachers, we sometimes have unrealistic expectations of our students. They will look for breaks, but as long as they’re getting their work done at a proficient and competent level, why would I care if they answered a text or even checked their Clash of Clans village for a minute?
Read more about gamification here from TechedUpTeacher!
Lastly (and this one is tied to the previous point), remember your students are children. Don’t try to hurry them to grow up. Let them play, let them explore, and let them be children. Childhood is gone too quickly, and as adults we are constantly trying to apologize to our childhood naps for bullying them and rejecting them once we realize how valuable they were. We tell stories of how it was “in our day”, but we often fail to remember just how miserable we were.
When given the opportunity to use technology in class, as well as the time to stand up, stretch, talk for a moment, etc., Students will become more effective in their use of time, and will produce better work, while being better behaved. Remember, they are there to learn. That is the purpose. If they cannot learn because they’re being overwhelmed by work and rules, ease up and realize you’ll get more mileage from them.
Have any questions or want to contact us, click here!
So how do we do it? Number one, students need to know when it is not okay to use technology in the classroom. When I am giving instruction, that is a time for students to pay attention. However, as a teacher, I need to limit the time I spend on instruction, because a student can only focus for so long. Their attention spans are equivalent in the number of minutes to their age in years. You can’t talk at or instruct a group of 13 year olds for forty-five minutes and expect to keep their attention for more than 13 minutes.
Secondly, our focus needs to be on student learning. Those of us who have worked in the private sector (all of us at Mirused have) know that employees are not efficient or effective if they are forced to be absolutely productive 100% of the time. Employees browse the internet for videos of cats all day long. Why are we surprised that teenagers tend to do the same thing? Of course we aren't saying it’s okay for students to waste the entirety of their day playing on their phone. We’re simply pointing out that as teachers, we sometimes have unrealistic expectations of our students. They will look for breaks, but as long as they’re getting their work done at a proficient and competent level, why would I care if they answered a text or even checked their Clash of Clans village for a minute?
Read more about gamification here from TechedUpTeacher!
Lastly (and this one is tied to the previous point), remember your students are children. Don’t try to hurry them to grow up. Let them play, let them explore, and let them be children. Childhood is gone too quickly, and as adults we are constantly trying to apologize to our childhood naps for bullying them and rejecting them once we realize how valuable they were. We tell stories of how it was “in our day”, but we often fail to remember just how miserable we were.
When given the opportunity to use technology in class, as well as the time to stand up, stretch, talk for a moment, etc., Students will become more effective in their use of time, and will produce better work, while being better behaved. Remember, they are there to learn. That is the purpose. If they cannot learn because they’re being overwhelmed by work and rules, ease up and realize you’ll get more mileage from them.
Have any questions or want to contact us, click here!