In the news not so long ago there was a story about an Oregon woman who was escorted off an Amtrak passenger train because she refused to get off her cellphone – for sixteen hours! This story captured my attention for a couple of reasons. First, like it or not, cell phones, and other hand held devices, have an overwhelming presence in today’s society—a sure “sign of the times.” Secondly, cell phones are an issue we, as training professionals, have to deal with on a daily basis.
According to a 2009 poll conducted by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, nearly 9 out of 10 people – or 87 percent of US residents – are cell phone owners. That figure rises to 92 percent among Americans with jobs.
While we may not be able to have our participants escorted out of the classroom and arrested (though I’ve had that fantasy more than once), we can lay down the ground rules around what’s acceptable and what’s not in our training environment. Here’s what works well for me:
- Make NO assumptions. Don’t ignore the use of technology (whether it be cell phones, blackberries, or computers) and expect that people will abide by your unspoken rules. They won’t.
- Implement cell phone policies (or “etiquette”) during housekeeping at the beginning of the class. Explicitly explain what you expect; it’s the best way to get the results you want. Rules should be upheld on all devices, whether personal or company-owned.
- Have a standard announcement that you use, so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel each time. Here’s an example of what I say: “I realize work doesn’t stop just because you’re here in my workshop this week. I want to be sensitive to that. So, if you should have an urgent call, text, or email that needs to be addressed during class time, please step out of the room. We’ll be happy to catch you up when you return.”
- Suggest attendees put their phone on the vibrate function, but ask that they not leave it on top of the table. Vibrating phones and blackberries can be just as disruptive.
- Specify when calls and texts should be made: lunch, breaks, or improvised intervals? I make certain to announce that we take breaks roughly every hour and I set an approximate time for lunch.
- Finally, post the cell phone policy on a wall in the classroom, similar to what you might see in a doctor’s office; it’s a good reminder!
Just because cell phones have taken over the way we communicate (and apparently AMTRAK trains), doesn’t mean they have to take over your classroom. I hope my tips come in handy! I’d love to hear how you’re implementing and enforcing cell phone policies in your classroom. Feel free to share…
Melissa
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While I think that cell phone etiquette is important, I think embracing the use of smartphones in the classroom is even more important. In our society, being connected 24/7 is a way of life…as a matter of fact, I’m adding this comment right now on my iPhone while out running errands! How can we leverage devices to improve engagement, rather than putting them on “lockdown”….that should be our challenge!
Hi Melissa,
Thank you for this great blog post. As a computer software instructor, I have used your technique #3 and it works very nicely. It’s amazing how similar my statement is with yours.
I just add at the end that not only would I appreciate this; however, their fellow students will as well. And, usually I get some nods from students.
I am going to start incorporating technique #4 since that has been an issue just in the last couple of weeks. Normally, students silence their phones and put them away.
Thanks again!
Thanks for your comments, ladies! I enjoy hearing your feedback. I agree with Michelle, technology is a way of life nowadays, so we must learn to leverage that technology! Using smart phones, iPads, etc… to “improve engagement” is a provocative thought. I’d love to hear more from you (our readers) on how you do this effectively in the classroom!
Here are a few of my favorite methods for engaging participants via techie devices in various training settings:
1. Twitter backchannels using hashtags – encouraging participants to tweet their “a-ha” moments and other nuggets that they are picking up during a session, and give them a #hashtag to include in their tweets. This is a great way for others to get a glimpse at the learning that is taking place, and for those who are trying to market their programs, it piques the interest of potential future attendees! This can also extend the conversation among participants long after the event is over, and they have returned to the “real world”.
2. Use survey tools like SurveyMonkey and email for participants to vote on issues, case studies, etc and get real-time, anonymous data to discuss during an event.
3. Send participants on a photo scavenger hunt with smartphones and QR codes. This one is great for new hire orientation settings, allowing attendees to break into groups and explore their building, unlocking clues about departments, building policies, amenities, etc.
4. Set up locations around your building on a location-based social site like Foursquare. Employees can “check in”, leave tips and information about the site, and compete to become the “Mayor” of the site. This is another great onboarding exercise and provides good discussion material for participants about the company, history, who-does-what, etc.
5. Encourage people who have their devices on hand to make the most of them by taking notes on sites like Evernote or mobile apps like Scatterbrain or Wunderlist. These are all free apps and allows the participants to have their session notes with them to review or utilize anytime, anyplace. Also a great “green” initiative for training departments/organizations looking to go paperless!
6. For organizations who do not have internal social networks, the corporate “group chat” site Yammer is terrific for establishing discussion networks that support link sharing and #hashtag chats as well. This is a great option to connect participants, share ideas and questions!
Anyway, just wanted to share my two cents! I hope people find these ideas useful!
Michelle, thanks for sharing. Your “two cents” are worth a million!!!