Text Messaging During Lecture

Rednights · Oct 26, 2009

It comes with my generation. I really have never had any problems with anyone texting during class, as they most of the time try to do it discretely (I would hope so or they would face the wrath of the teacher). I've just come to accept it for what it is and let it go.

kayty2339 · Oct 26, 2009

I think people in general have gotten very rude about the whole texting/talking on the phone issue. I work at a bank and have had many people come in and sit at my desk who can't put down their phone. They're in there for a reason whether it be a loan or help with their account, but they will sit there and text the whole time or answer their phone and hold conversations with people while I'm trying to help them. It is VERY rude. I'm only 26 years old and I would never be that rude. I also am annoyed at people who sit there texting all through a class. People need to learn to put the phones away. There is a time and a place. School is not one of them. Neither is the bank, the movies, or many other places. Everything is getting so impersonal. I don't know how many times I've been hanging out with a friend who sits there and texts the whole time. Don't get me wrong, I occasionally text and I understand the convenience of it, but most people take it to the extreme and all manners have been left to the wayside.

Coriander, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2009

I'm also an "older student" lol... but I don't know why we can't have the lack of communication for 50 minutes. I'm in complete understanding of those who need to have the phone on vibrate for emergencies (I have mine on silent but keep it within sight so I can see the light). I do understand the need for distraction during longer classes, but doodling or momentary daydreaming works for me.

This is just me, though. I do respect those who have serious needs as far as distracting themselves goes, but those who have no respect for fellow classmates or the professors are the ones who really chap me.

Last week in one of my classes, we had a guest speaker who ended up yelling at a couple of people in the back who were messing around. It was refreshing.

dozndawg · Oct 26, 2009

Alright I think this is a moot point...but, I own my own business, have an iPhone, and work with computers And I repeat And I have never never NEVER taken a call, texted, or even checked emails while in lecture!!!!!! I just hope these extremely rude little princesses don't ever work with my family. They will inevitably turn out to be those incompetent unhappy nurses we all have seen. With any luck their future employers will either pass them up or fire them and give us the "bright" competent nurses what we deserve...or in the short term asked to leave Nursing School!!!!

CuriousMe · Oct 26, 2009

Alright I think this is a moot point...but, I own my own business, have an iPhone, and work with computers And I repeat And I have never never NEVER taken a call, texted, or even checked emails while in lecture!!!!!! I just hope these extremely rude little princesses don't ever work with my family. They will inevitably turn out to be those incompetent unhappy nurses we all have seen. With any luck their future employers will either pass them up or fire them and give us the "bright" competent nurses what we deserve...or in the short term asked to leave Nursing School!!!!

I couldn't agree more. Could you imagine a business meeting/presentation where someone texted their way through it? Not in any meeting I've ever been to, and these are folks with big responsibilities. Texting through a meeting/presentation/lecture, is just flat out disrespectful.

I know that I need to do something to help me pay attention (due to my ADHD), but I either doodle or play with a paper clip, something small that allows me to pay attention, without actively engaging in a different conversation.

I have no idea who texts through class in my nursing classes (I sit in the front and am watching my Prof, not my class) but I have no doubt that my Prof's know who texts through class and that things like this will be remembered when reference letters are asked for.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2009

Of course it's rude. But it isn't my probem unless I am the instructor.

dozndawg · Oct 26, 2009

I think those who text are also those who talk and are those who come unprepared and inevitably get paired with me in clinicals...??? It's disruptive!

Nepenthe Sea · Oct 26, 2009

I see text messaging in my class, too. It kind of surprises me. I am a somewhat older student and when I was in college back in the late '80s/early '90s, no one really had a cell phone then. My family had a "bag phone" that could only be used in the car. So back then students weren't pulling out all these electronic doodads during class. I guess I'm old fashioned but it always kind of shocks me to see them whipping out their phones and pushing buttons during class! Even some of the ones who are my age do it (I'm ashamed). Phones go off during class too and I'm surprised the instructors don't tell 'em to "get out." I think I would if I were an instructor, and I really don't consider myself a mean person, it's just rude!
ETA: I guess I've turned into one of those old fogies with the stories about "When I was your age..." :)

I completely understand what you're saying. It's just rude. And I can't believe how few people seem to get by a few hours without texting anymore. Like you said, I guess I'm just "old". Oh well!

honeymist · Oct 26, 2009

I think it's so incredibly rude. It's distracting to watch someone else doing something so blatently disrespectful and it makes me like antsy thinking the instructor is about to notice them and get angry. I've seen worse though, I've seen people blatently cheating, that's even more awkward to witness.

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2009

I was very open with my instructors and explained that I had to entertaine myself during class time so that I could learn the lesson. they knew what I was doing I was discreet enough not to distract the other students. I am 28 and have always had a hard time sitting in a classroom since I was in kindergarten If I dont have something to do. I know my stuff I get good grades People work with me, my phone has never even so much as vibrated in class I keep it on silent but I was on it browsing the web and texting a lot of times I was looking further into something mentioned in class some instructors used it to their advantage when discussing a current topic they knew I would have it googled already with updates on the situation! and as far as being disrespectful I was the only african american in my program and even though I had the highest grades I had a couple of instructors treat me like I was going to cheat (seperating me and only me during an exam) and I even had an instructor try to flunk me on a comp when I hadnt even performed yet I had students that wouldnt include me in assigned group tests ( Mine would be 100% and they would always miss a few and the instructors couldnt figure out why our grades were not the same) Ok this has nothing to do with the testing Its just that I was not being disrespectful but I was disrespected on several occasions I recieved an official apology before graduation from the college and was asked to help them prevent things like that from happening to others. But I will tell you this if an instructor had ever asked me to quit I would have in an instant I was raised that way.

Well I wasn't going to touch this but....

You do have something to do in class. Listen and participate in class. Quite frankly having to "entertain" yourself in class is hardly effective coping. Even if it has served you during your school years it is not going to serve you in the real world. What it will do is get you singled out and impact your career. In fact it has possibly already had an impact on your career before you start. Think about every single one of your instructors and classmates knows that you "can't sit still" and you need to "entertain" yourself during lectures. So when you come to a place where they are working for a job and someone says to them "oh, didn't you go to school with so-and-so? What do you think of them?". It is called unintended consequences.

Then there will be the in-service trainings that you have to sit and Google through. That will go down well with your employers...not. Maybe they will pay for you to go to a conference and you will sit and surf the net during it.

As for the exam thing. I will tell you that once you raise your head above the parapet you single yourself out and that just attracts problems. Special and different is not necessarily a good thing. Nothing to do with ethnicity. That isn't to say there aren't some seriously racist gits out there...sadly I come across them quite regularly.

It is no one's business that you have some issue of inability to "sit still" yet when everyone knows, everyone will have an opinion -- and you won't like all of them. You need to take a longer term view and consult a professional about strategies that work for adults in adult circumstances. They do exist.

jtmonique · Oct 26, 2009

Well I wasn't going to touch this but....
You do have something to do in class. Listen and participate in class. Quite frankly having to "entertain" yourself in class is hardly effective coping. Even if it has served you during your school years it is not going to serve you in the real world. What it will do is get you singled out and impact your career. In fact it has possibly already had an impact on your career before you start. Think about every single one of your instructors and classmates knows that you "can't sit still" and you need to "entertain" yourself during lectures. So when you come to a place where they are working for a job and someone says to them "oh, didn't you go to school with so-and-so? What do you think of them?". It is called unintended consequences.
Then there will be the in-service trainings that you have to sit and Google through. That will go down well with your employers...not. Maybe they will pay for you to go to a conference and you will sit and surf the net during it.
As for the exam thing. I will tell you that once you raise your head above the parapet you single yourself out and that just attracts problems. Special and different is not necessarily a good thing. Nothing to do with ethnicity. That isn't to say there aren't some seriously racist gits out there...sadly I come across them quite regularly.
It is no one's business that you have some issue of inability to "sit still" yet when everyone knows, everyone will have an opinion -- and you won't like all of them. You need to take a longer term view and consult a professional about strategies that work for adults in adult circumstances. They do exist.

Ok I have worked since I was 12 and I am now 28. I ran a child care facility for 4 years and supervised for 6 I am not new to the employment game here is the deal I dont need to pay attention in class I am one of those people who GET IT. I have been dealing with inservices for years and I have managed to make it through without a cell phone My point was I use to text in class and surf the web My instructors didnt have a problem so there was no problem and I didnt do anything wrong. Everyone copes differently and I found my way. NOW here is something I find even more disrespectful than cell phones...the students who bring their whole damn laptop and surf the web and IM during class ... that is no where near as discreet as a phone and you can hear the keys clicking. Honestly if lecture was not required I would not have attended and I would have still got the grades that I got. Another point I paid for the classes they didnt pay me. I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE USED MY CELL PHONE OR SENT TEXTS WHILE AT WORK OR DURING LABS OR CLINICALS. My coping skills work just fine we are all different I never struggled at anything in nursing school, I completed it with a very good GPA, I have solid references from my instructors as well as administration, I always knew what was going on, my work was not only turned in on time but correct I understand people getting upset when people dont pay attention and complain that they dont understand as well as when people get distracted by what others are doing around them but honestly if you were paying attention to the instructor you wouldnt notice who was on their phone unless it is making noise and that mine never did.

honeymist · Oct 26, 2009

I disagree, someone sitting a row in front of you (in stadium style seating) or right next to you texting away is distracting. I'm in awe that an instructor would knowingly let this fly. You must have some sort of listening skills to be able to be on your phone and absorbing information all at once. I guess if it was well known in the class that you were going to be on your phone all lecture, maybe it wouldn't be so distracting...seeing as other students would know the teacher was OK w/ it.