Comments on: BlackBerry Blues: How Can we Stop Learners from Using Them?

By: Susannah

Susannah — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:14:39 +0000

I think part of the challenge in this is helping them understand how to use these technologies for ‘work’ purposes, AND how to keep a balance in their lives while engaging in Twitter, Facebook, etc.

This is as much about adults in the workplace as it is with students, but if we can inform students about these addictions, then we can help this generation not die from information overload.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:46:10 +0000

I try to incorporate BB’s as a training instrument. I have a BB also so I have learners text me answers to in-class quizzes as a game, take pictures of work or situations and send them to me and also I send them instructions or other important info – job aids, product info etc via email. Embrace BB’s and use them to your advantage!

By: Barry H.

Barry H. — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:24:21 +0000

Hi,
This story was spot on. I deal with training Investment Bankers who never want to be in training. We can not ignore the reality of mobile devices as part of daily life, even as trainer I have been tempted to look at my own buzzing iPhone while training but surely not paying attention during the training is a common issue that existed way before mobile devices.
I found that by acknowleding the reality of blackberries in my introduction usually helps, I say “I understand the reality of having to check your Blackberries but you are here to learn, unless it is an emergency please be respectiful of me and your classmates and if it is an emergency, feel free please leave the room.” This usually sets the tone and people are much more respectful.
Interesting note is that even in meetings high level managers often continually check their blackberries, that is just as rude, but of course who is going to tell them. LOL.
thanks for the article!

By: Pamela handley

Pamela handley — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:51:25 +0000

Hi Marsha:
The very first time I actually saw a Blackberry was in your class in New York City! We had 4 girls from one office in the training and they all had new Blackberrys. I had to ask someone what they were and had a hard time understanding the concept of their being able to send e-mails with it! whaaat? What was SO annoying was that they were sending e-mails to one another!! Are you kidding me? I believe they got very little out of the 3-day course.
Unless there is some kind of urgent matter happening at the time of training, there is no need to be viewing it during class time!
Good blog, Marsha. And nice to see that you’re on here. I loved your classes. I was lucky enough to have you for an instructor in Toronto also!
Pam from Alberta

By: Brady

Brady — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:54:49 +0000

Neil,
I don’t think the recipients of the blackberry emails is the point. Friend or colleague, the sound and distraction of blackberry use is a problem, regardless. At best, as the author points out, it’s a blow to the facilitator’s ego. But at worst it detracts from the message and sends a subliminal message to others that the BB user is simply too important/busy to receive the message. If someone is there to learn, they owe it to themselves and fellow attendees to focus on the task at hand.
If, however, it is a note-taking device, volunteer that info to the class. (But facilitators know the difference, anyway. The focus of your attention and the volume of typing relative to the content being presented is a dead giveaway).

By: Steve C.

Steve C. — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:10:13 +0000

While it may sometimes be difficult to address classroom situations promptly in fear of alienating a few, the net result is that you build credibility among many!

By: neil

neil — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:26:10 +0000

While I agree that all electric devices should be set to silent in training (so they don’t ring or even vibrate) I have a much higher tolerance for it being used than most it seems.

I think we’re about to see a workforce that is more “multi-tasking-abled” than any generation before it. Also, as a 7 year BlackBerry user, I know that I am fully capable of typing while listening. I think the device has been given an unfair shake from non-berry users. They assume that anyone who types on a BB while in class is chatting with a friend. This often isn’t the case. What if they’re typing notes instead of writing them? Would it be any more or less distracting if someone were to sit at a laptop and type applicable notes/dictation during training?

Sure, a ringing sound, or buzzing sound etc, is distracting, but someone typing on it, I don’t think should be anymore distracting than anyone using a pen to take notes. I think as adults they should be given the benefit of the doubt. If you’re sitting next to someone who is drawing stick figures going to war on a scrap of paper instead of notes, does their pen scribbling become any more intolerable?

Of course, there are extremes to either side. If the BB user clearly isn’t able to divde their attention and is asking questions clearly for missing material covered as a result of multi-tasking, then perhaps it would be time to intervene and speak to that individual.

By: Denis

Denis — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:04:51 +0000

Hi Chaketta,

I’d like to thank you for your concerned response and I want to personally assure you that we review all of our material carefully. In this specific case, we felt that the term in question, as defined by the Urban Dictionary (not Langevin) and in the context that it was employed in this blog post, provided a realistic (and humorous) description of the situation. The focus of this blog post was to bring light to the ever growing issue of mobile device usage during training and to provide practical solutions. I sincerely hope that you have found the tips and suggestions useful.

Denis Gratton
Director, Product Development

By: Tom Naylor

Tom Naylor — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:57:06 +0000

Marsha,

That is hilarious! I’d not heard the term “masterberrying” before, but it is very apropos! I also like the suggestion of the “daycare” box – it’s a way to address their tendencies in a humorous way, because even the strong can be tempted by the incoming buzz of the “crackberry”…

By: Chaketta

Chaketta — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:08:36 +0000

You used the word “heck” to keep this G-rated, but had no problem using (and defining) the term masterberrying?