I ban the use of cell phones in my classrooms and laboratories, which includes before class starts and after it ends. …no use of phones in the physical space. The reasons are quite simple… 1. People are in school to learn, and you aren’t learning if you’re on your cell phone. 2. If you’re on your cell phone, you are disturbing others around you (no way to avoid that). 3. If you’re on your cell phone, you’re failing to interact with the learning community that is established in your classroom/lab. 4. Well… not banning them from the classroom/lab infringes on the ability of other students to learn, and I feel it’s my responsibility to do the best job I can creating an environment that’s conducive to learning for all of my students.

Outside of class, I really don’t care, but I agree with the earlier post that campus is less “friendly” since the rise of cell phones. It always makes me sad to see a group of two or three students walking together and all talking on separate cell phones. It’s sad that they choose not to interact with eachother when provided the opportunity, which of course has the potential to negatively impact learning as well.

…just adding in response to the person below that said I’m limiting my students’ right to choose to not participate in class. Would you suggest that I also allow my students to play radios or mp3 players in class hooked-up to speakers if they *choose* to listen to my lecture with music? Cell phones are disruptive, and students do *not* have the right to disrupt the classroom for other students. Your rights do not include the right to adversely affecting others around you.

There are days when I think we were better off without them – I’ll walk across a campus which used to be very friendly, but everyone is talking to someone distant on their phones and ignoring the people they are passing. On the other hand, when I show up to where I thought a meeting was to be held and no one is there, I’m glad I can call someone. Cellphones should absolutely be banned during classes, exams, labs, meetings, etc., but for the rest, they aren’t harming anyone, so what right would the college have to ban them?

They should only be banned from use in a classroom, computer labs, and in library’s. (Everywhere else on the campus is fine, although it has to be taken in good judgement and respect of others around you). Good god almightly I hate it when I’m in the library and/or computer lab and someone’s phone goes off, and instead of the person rightfully muting it they actually have the nerve to answer it right then and there and continue on in a conversation with whomever’s on the other line (girls are usually the ones to do this I’ve noted). This never happens in class because professor’s have been to the point that if anyone’s phone goes off they receive a warning, and if it goes off again during the semester they get a 5 point decrease on their grades.

ya must and should be the cellphones are banned becoz students are coming to the colleges for studying only so,what is requirement of cell-phones

becoz of bringing of cells students are wasting the time by pla ying games & taking snaps etc.

so in my view cellphones should be banned.

I ban them in my classes as well. Students are required to turn them OFF or on SILENT mode. Nothing is worse than hearing vibrating cell phones while students are trying to take a test! It’s disrespectful to your professors and classmates alike.

I don’t care what my students do with their cell phones outside of class and lab. That’s their parents’ business.

No, this is not high school. colleges is about choice and freedom, if people choose to rather talk on their cell phone than particpate then its on them since their paying for it. they have a right to choose. people say that college gives you the right to expand and learn about the real world. when you ban cell phones from classrooms you limit peoples choice and people have a choice to learn or not to learn and besides that point.colleges now have a text alert system for students saftey to contanct them if theirs an emergency since they know almost every student has a cell phone.

In classrooms and labs – yes. On campus in general, no.

yes, its necessary because students can’t be contacted through any other way but in classroom it should be switched off