If you have been in a lecture hall in the past year, this sight might be familiar. You look up at the class and there they are. Students with their phones out. Either taking a picture of the question slide you just asked or video recording a solution.
Is this bad? Honestly, for me, I don't mind when students do this. There is only one aspect that makes me a little cautious. Often I will use questions and practice problems from the textbook publisher. For instance, the awesome Matter and Interactions physics textbook has some really nice student-response multiple choice questions. If students take pictures of these questions, they could possibly share these online. That could be a problem.
Really, the question should be: Why are they recording stuff (either with pictures or movies)? What is there to record? If they record the "answers" to questions, I think they are missing the most important thing - the process. I guess it all comes down to purpose of the class. If the goal of the class is to distribute information from the instructor to the students, then I think every single student should bring a camera to class. However, in this case, wouldn't it just be easier for me to post all my presentation slides or videos of solutions online? Would we even really need to meet in person anyway?
For me, I believe that the class is more than just about giving certain "pieces of information" or informatons (a single particle of information). Instead, class is more like basketball practice. I am the coach and the students are the players. The goal of physics class is to become better at physics. So, in class we practice physics. We work on problems, we share ideas and we look at interesting questions. In this case, what would a picture or video do? Maybe a student wants to save a problem to look back at it later. I get that. But if they are saving the problem so that they can "know" that one informaton, they are going about it the wrong way.
Would it be a good idea to video record LeBron James as a means of getting better at basketball? Well, a video recording by itself won't help. A video recording along with practice might help - but I would say practice is the most important part.
I informally asked students about recording in class. Here is what they said.
- "Well, Dr. Blank just goes so fast. The only way I can get stuff is to take a picture."
- "If Dr. Person shows an example, I want to save it for later."
- "Oh sure, I record all the time in class. I haven't had a faculty complain."
I told students that I don't mind if they record anything in my class - but they should be careful with other faculty. You never know when you are going to offend someone with your recording. Better to ask and be safe than to have a faculty explode in rage. But if you do anger an instructor, at least you will capture it on video.
Oh, does anyone remember this scene?
That is what I think of when students use their phones in class.
A big thanks to the Chemistry and Physics students for posing in the above lecture image.
