Melanie Lam
Executive Assistant
SFUFA - The Faculty Association of Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive (AQ 2035) Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6
Fax: 778-782-3452 - Phone: 778-782-4676 - web: http://www.sfufa.ca
From: "Behraad Bahreyni" <bba19@sfu.ca>
To: "JD Fleming" <jfleming@sfu.ca>
Cc: "Elise Chenier" <echenier@gmail.com>, "Nicky Didicher" <didicher@sfu.ca>, "David Andolfatto" <dandolfa@sfu.ca>, "Faculty Forum Mail List" <academic-discussion@sfu.ca>, "Christopher Pavsek" <cpavsek@sfu.ca>
Sent: Friday, July 5, 2013 12:58:32 PM
Subject: Re: Competing with Iphones
I do not think banning students from using some gadgets has to do
with their adulthood. We put a lot of restrictions on adults in the
society for other peoples' sake (smoking in public places comes to
mind). If you are texting or visiting Youtube or Facebook on your
laptop/cellphone, you are a distraction to people around you and a
hindrance to their learning. The same applies to a student who eats
loudly or talks to his/her classmate for extended amount of time. As
a prof, I think I need to step in and make sure the learning of my
other students is not in jeopardy because a few students are not
interested.
However, I also know that more and more students are leaning towards
electronic note taking. I allow these devices for that purpose as
long as the stay flat on the armrest so that what they are not
distractions to others. Anybody needing a vertical screen (e.g.,
laptop) should sit at the last row.
Behraad
On 2013-07-05 11:48 AM, JD Fleming
wrote:
I must confess that I have
never felt one bit comfortable with the idea of "banning" my
rational and adult students from doing anything -- least of all
integrating their education with the current technological
profile of our culture (which they understand, almost certainly,
much better than I do) in whatever way they see fit.
Also, I suspect "yay prof" feedback from students who have
just been told that they must submit to said prof's authority
may not pass social-scientific standards of disinterestedness.
Love Nicky's clicker anecdote, though. JD Fleming
From:
"Elise Chenier"
<echenier@gmail.com>
To: "Christopher Pavsek"
<cpavsek@sfu.ca>
Cc: "Nicky Didicher"
<didicher@sfu.ca>,
"David Andolfatto"
<dandolfa@sfu.ca>, "Faculty Forum
Mail List"
<academic-discussion@sfu.ca>
Sent: Friday, 5 July, 2013 11:39:00
Subject: Re: Competing with Iphones
I also ban all computers and phones in all
my classes (unless a student has a special need to use
one) and like Chris, this policy is in my syllabi and we
talk about the policy in class. I explain that other
students who are trying to focus are distracted by the
texting and facebooking going on around them. I also
tell them that I am addicted and if I did not have that
policy I would be checking my facebook during lecture.
They find this funny. Sadly, it might be true.
I do not get complaints about this policy. In fact,
I get kudos for enforcing it.
I encourage everyone thinking of doing this to go
for it.
Elise Chenier, History