The use of cell phones and other gadgets in the classroom is disturbing and alarming especially if the teacher discusses a topic in class. How can a teacher break the habit of students using cell phone inside the classroom?
Even with a policy enforcing it, but without constant surveillance from the four corners of the room, it is very difficult to ensure that students are not using high-tech devices. If the teacher will constantly monitor students using the cell phone or the gadget, that disturbs the teacher in doing his job, just as cell phone distracts students. Sudden breaking of the habit will give the teacher useless results. But by introducing strategies might as well work.
Some tasks that need active listening is one way of breaking the habit of using the cell phone and other gadgets inside the classroom. Listening, the neglected skill should be the primary focus.
Check out these listening strategies, these might help.
-Teacher must refrain from repeating what he says because it produces lazy listening. Try not to repeat your words on instructions and this will surely perk up ears.
-Teacher should motivate students to active and attentive listening. Giving them procedures to explain or process to enumerate. Do this with a partner or group. This will encourage more number of students to perform and participate, meaning more students to drop their cell phones inside their bags and get involve. Walk around to observe if they are getting the instruction.
-Ask for a full and complete attention by showing instructions using non- verbal signals, through it, students will not only listen but also look at you. Hand-signals encourage active listening.
-Call students’ attention by asking couple of students to model an action related in discussion so that students will not only listen but also speak while working with other students.
-Show video clips, a documentary, a speech or any situation related to topic, it creates active attention.
-Tell a story or other narrative type suited to their age. Excitement and interest will be motivated in this scenario.
Different ways and strategies of imparting active listening will put off the use of cell phones and gadgets of the students inside the classroom. Teacher should never get tired of creating new methods and ways to make learning possible and effective. Who knows one day, the classroom will be totally free from high-tech disturbances.
By: Mina Lorena S. Lintag | Teacher III | Pablo Roman National High School | Pilar, Bataan
