A lot of teachers make explicit instructions about the use
of portable devices in the classroom. They don’t allow students to be on their
laptops or their phones or tablets while class is in session. They fear that
students cannot pay attention or will engage in web surfing, texting, or email
while they are trying to instruct. I have not found this to be a problem in my
classes. Students use their phones and laptops as much as they want in my
classes. Students don’t seem to be disruptive in my classes as a result of
using mobile devices. Part of this situation is likely due to two things: 1) it
is difficult to get a WIFI signal in ASH 145 and 2) most of the work we do in
my classes involves hands on projects. If a student wants to bring her/his own
laptop, I would not tell them they couldn’t, especially given that they
probably purchased the Adobe creative cloud. Why would I prevent students from
using their own laptops? Of course, not everyone teaches in a computer
classroom, so the instruction is often very different.
I’m often one of those people who likes to multitask. I can write,
text, Facebook, and email simultaneously, at least that’s what I like to think.
Part of my ability to do this is my training as a secretary. A secretary has to
be able to handle multiple tasks at the same time. I learned to answer phones,
type a letter, take care of a personal request, and greet newcomers into the
office all at the same time. But I wonder how much I can really do that. When
I’m writing, I have to pay full attention. When I’m reading theory, I need
quiet in order to pay attention. Otherwise, I like mild chaos. I feel I pay better attention when there’s
background noise. I always assume that students can do the same but lately, a
couple of students have told me that they need absolute quiet. I wonder if
there were others who just haven't spoken up. But I believe in the chaos of the
workshop style I use to teach. I think we learn by doing and by seeing/talking
about what others’ are doing.
Are we living in an attention economy as Jones and Hafner
note? If so, how do we develop strategies for dealing with that kind of stress?
Even as I write this post, I am also thinking about a presentation I have to
give next week. Travel always stresses me out, so I’m making lists in my head
as I write. I have the TV on in the other room for background noise, and I have
Facebook open on one of my monitors. In the midst of all that, I received a
text that needs my attention. This is why I learned to multitask. From an
attention economy perspective, which tasks have the most value? Which project
should have most of my attention? Students? Presentation? Both probably. From a
broader perspective, I want to pay attention to/learn more about the stock
market in terms of my retirement funds. Each year that I get closer to retirement, that claim on my attention becomes
more pronounced. I want to pay off my student loans—always a part of my
background thinking when focused on financial issues. I want to teach new
classes that require a lot of preparation—a task I would claim as needing a
lot of attention especially given that the bookstore already wants book orders
for fall. New classes are exciting, but a significant amount of work. And so on—there’s
always something that wants my attention.
