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The Daily OrangeDon't touch that cell phone
Professors battle classroom texts
By Sarah DiGiulio
Posted: 11/28/07, 1:24 AM EST Section: News
It's in the syllabus - no cell phone use in class.
But that doesn't mean students don't use their cell phones in class, as one Syracuse University history professor has found.
For Albrecht Diem, mobile text messaging is the bigger issue.
"It does not make noise," Diem said. "It's just insulting."
It is worse than students sleeping during class, he said.
"Sleeping is annoying, but unintentional," Diem said. "Why did I prepare this class for this person if they have more important things to do?"
Professors across SU's campus are finding that advanced technology is making it increasingly difficult to keep the attention of their students. Instead of class lectures, students turn to their cell phones and laptops.
And professors are not happy.
With the advent of cell phones that can simultaneously access the Internet and send text messages, students are left to choose between listening to a professor - which costs students more than $100 per class session - versus using their hand-held technology.
"I'm used to it now - it's annoying," said Joel Destino, a senior chemistry and history major. "I prefer when professors do make comments."
Yet Destino admits that he has sent an occasional text during class.
Faculty members are still unsure of how to approach the rapidly changing classroom crisis.
When Diem, the history professor, sees someone sending text messages during his class, he said it shows that students do not care about the class. Currently, he tries to talk to students after class, but next semester he will be more specific in his syllabus.
"Those are things that can really harm my concentration," he said. "I'm improvising."
Just one ring or beep from a text message can throw Diem off focus during a lecture, he said, adding that because he doesn't script his lectures word-for-word, it can be hard to get back on track.
"If you don't switch it off, I will do it, and I usually destroy things when I do it," Diem said. "It's extremely annoying in general."
But that doesn't mean students don't use their cell phones in class, as one Syracuse University history professor has found.
For Albrecht Diem, mobile text messaging is the bigger issue.
"It does not make noise," Diem said. "It's just insulting."
It is worse than students sleeping during class, he said.
"Sleeping is annoying, but unintentional," Diem said. "Why did I prepare this class for this person if they have more important things to do?"
Professors across SU's campus are finding that advanced technology is making it increasingly difficult to keep the attention of their students. Instead of class lectures, students turn to their cell phones and laptops.
And professors are not happy.
With the advent of cell phones that can simultaneously access the Internet and send text messages, students are left to choose between listening to a professor - which costs students more than $100 per class session - versus using their hand-held technology.
"I'm used to it now - it's annoying," said Joel Destino, a senior chemistry and history major. "I prefer when professors do make comments."
Yet Destino admits that he has sent an occasional text during class.
Faculty members are still unsure of how to approach the rapidly changing classroom crisis.
When Diem, the history professor, sees someone sending text messages during his class, he said it shows that students do not care about the class. Currently, he tries to talk to students after class, but next semester he will be more specific in his syllabus.
"Those are things that can really harm my concentration," he said. "I'm improvising."
Just one ring or beep from a text message can throw Diem off focus during a lecture, he said, adding that because he doesn't script his lectures word-for-word, it can be hard to get back on track.
"If you don't switch it off, I will do it, and I usually destroy things when I do it," Diem said. "It's extremely annoying in general."
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