Electronic gear at home in class
By EMILY SKEHAN A special to the Daily Press
Gone are the days of note passing and spitball-shooting. In an age of text messages, iPods, Sidekicks and Macbooks, teachers have a little more to worry about than old school classroom nuisances.
While parents may want their kids to have cell phones on hand in case of emergencies, or to coordinate after-school activities and pick up times, the use of such devices often goes beyond absolute necessity. Similarly, college students might find taking notes on laptops to be more efficient, but when they end up browsing Ebay or chatting with friends online the benefits of Internet use in the classroom are questionable.
“If a teacher’s on one side of the classroom, kids will put their iPod in the opposite ear,” said Pasha Shafie, who will be a senior at Santa Monica High School.
“Or, kids will just hide their cell phones under their desk and text message their friends.”
This sort of covert activity continues despite strict district policies against electronics in the classroom.
According to Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District policy, students in grades K through 8 are not permitted to possess or use electronic signaling devices unless they have prior consent from the principal, documentation from a physician, or during a declared state of emergency.
High school policies are slightly more permissive, as students are allowed to possess cell phones and similar devices, but must keep them off during school hours.
“We don’t want students jumping up to answer their phones during class,” said Sally Chou, Chief Academic Officer, “it really causes a disruption.”
However, Chou acknowledged that sometimes exceptions to the rules do occur.
“It can depend on the situation,” she said, “you could have a student who is waiting for a call because they have an ill mother — you have to be sensitive to that sort of thing.”
At Samohi, teachers have the authority to confiscate any phones that ring or are used during class, and either keep the device until the end of the period or hand it over to the student’s counselor to be returned the next day.
“I think when kids’ phones are ringing or when they’re messing with their Sidekicks or something it can be distracting. Teachers definitely don’t like it happening in their classrooms,” said Shafie.
At Santa Monica College, the electronic etiquette isn’t so stringently defined.
“You have more freedom with it here than in high school,” said SMC student Deborah Williams, who keeps her cell phone on in class.
According to Jocelyn Chong, who is Dean of Information Technology at SMC, there is no official policy to restrict students from using laptops during class, and it is up to the discretion of each professor whether or not students may have open computers in class.
“We have certain areas on campus that are enabled for wireless access,” said Chong, “and we recommend students use their laptops in these designated areas.
“Some professors do allow students to take notes on their computers in class, and we do not block wireless access in classrooms.”
Incoming freshman Alysse Cushing hadn’t gotten around to buying a laptop for school yet, but plans to use one for scheduling, note-taking and assignments.
“I think you should have a laptop for most classes,” she said, “it would just be easier to organize and have better control over yourself.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 3, 2007. Read the original PDF.