# Anything else you'd like to add?
#### endless.
The best solution is to create cell phone usage rules that allow devices to be
accessible without disturbing other students’ educational opportunities.
Students should be permitted to keep their phones in their bags, pockets, or
other belongings as long as the phones are on silent in class. Vibrate
settings may be permitted if the instructor does not believe it will distract
him or her, since the noise of the vibration may not be noticeable in a large
classroom. If a student needs to answer the phone during an emergency, he
or she can step out of the classroom to do so. This setup would give the
students and the instructor peace of mind.
Cell phone restrictions in classrooms should also include specific disciplinary
actions for breaking the rules. If a student is caught using the phone in
class, he or she should be excused for the rest of the day. Professors should
refrain from physically taking possession of a student’s phone because of
liability conflicts. If the phone is damaged while in the professor’s
possession, the school or the instructor could be held responsible for the
repairs. It is safer to ask the student to leave the classroom than it is to take
the phone away completely.
Each school, professor and student body is different. Colleges must adapt
their rules and discipline efforts to reflect the current needs of their
students. Eliminating cell phones in college classrooms is an over stretch,
but there are ways to balance students’ rights and instructors’ rights. With
the right amount of control and flexibility, colleges can create a pleasant
learning environment with maximum safety and minimal interruptions.