Victoria Ronan
Equinox Staff
There is no doubt technology is becoming a big part of everyday life all over the country, especially on college campuses. Keene State College students are part of this change.
Wireless is now available in all KSC classrooms, according to Communication Professor Chitra Akkoor. “They think it’s enabling learning and I personally don’t think that’s the case because I don’t think all faculty are there yet,” Akkoor said. Akkoor explained the wireless availability has a big impact on cellphone use in the classroom. She believes this has just helped students find another way to become distracted. According to Safety Studies Professor Jaime Ingalls, every teacher can decide upon their own cellphone policy.
“An educator’s classroom environment is sacred to them,” Ingalls explained. She said every teacher needs to make it clear to the students what the policy is because each classroom is different. She said she believes every teacher reacts differently to cellphones. “I try to use humor to bring out the point that it’s distracting behavior,” Ingalls explained.
She says how she does not want to single students out directly.
Physical Education Professor Donna Smyth said she asks her students to respect each other when discussing cellphones in the classroom “I will pull students aside privately if it becomes an ongoing problem,” Smyth said.
According to Akkoor, it depends on the situation but she will usually bring attention to cellphones being used in class.
“All students are adults, so I respect that and I don’t like to insult anyone directly so I just say it in a very general way.”
She explained that she will allow students to leave the class to use their phones if it’s an emergency. Some students say they don’t use their cellphone in class that often because they don’t want all the attention on them.
KSC sophomore Sarah Pohar said students do not like it when the professor confronts them in the middle of class.
“It’s embarrassing and no one likes that,” Pohar stated.
She said she would prefer the teacher waited until after class to confront the student.
KSC sophomore Madisyn Ponn said she thinks professors give quizzes more often to ensure students are paying attention.
“I don’t want to think it affects my learning but it probably does,” Ponn said. Students who don’t use their cellphones in class sometimes feel cheated according to Erik Hensel, KSC sophomore.
“It doesn’t matter what the teachers says, it’s on the student to be self-motivated. If people want to check [their cellphones], they are going to,” Hensel said.
He continued and said there is nothing the teacher can do to stop students using their cellphones.
Not every professor would agree with Hensel. Ingalls said some of the blame can be placed among the professors too. “Part of it is our fault as the instructor … we’re not engaging you,” Ingalls explained. She said every teacher needs to capture the attention of their students in order for them to pay attention. Ponn said she doesn’t believe her cellphone use is affecting other students.
“Unless it’s making noise I don’t think it affects other students.” Pohar agreed and said she thinks laptops are more distracting than cellphones. Pohar and Ponn both said they are guilty of using their cellphones in class regularly. “It’s hard to put the phone down,” Ponn said. Smyth said students don’t do it to purposely to disrespect the teacher.
Smyth said,“They don’t mean any harm or disrespect. It’s just part of their culture and who they are.”
Victoria Ronan can be
contacted at
vronan@keene-equinox.com