I'm interested in hearing your policy and innovative solutions to dealing with digital devices in the classroom.
I'm forever telling students to put their phones away, even though my syllabus states there are no digital devices of any kind allowed in class. I know many instructors seem fine with students bringing laptops, ipads, and phones into class and using them. However, I can't tell you how many times I've passed by someone else's class and noticed students texting or surfing around on social media while pretending to take notes. Many years ago, I also taught in a room that had a bank of computers and had to constantly waste time policing students who were surfing around Google versus writing that day's essay.
While I realize college students are supposed to be adults and some instructors just shrug it off if students are distracted with their devices versus engaging in the class, I personally find it distracting when I'm trying to work with students in a classroom. Plus, there are the obvious issues of cheating on tests and students not knowing what's going on in class if they aren't paying attention.
Not only is it distracting, it's rude. I've seen students texting away furiously while I'm in the middle of presenting (what I consider to be) important material. The latest trend is to wear earbuds during class. I have no idea if they're listening to music or they're simply leaving them in place. I often wonder how they would feel if they came to a personal conference to talk with me and I sat there and texted while they were talking. Maybe they wouldn't even bat an eye--it's their new normal.
You're right. These are adults. They'll make their own choices. They're paying for the privilege to attend college, so they'll get as much (or as little) out of classroom instruction as they choose. Meanwhile, I'll continue to encourage them to put away their devices unless I ask them to use them for a certain pedagogical purpose like to Google something or do an interactive activity that requires a phone (Kahoot, say). But even that, I find, is merely a concession, as if I need to let them know I'm trying to stay current.
If you can't tell by these comments, I'm with you.