Your Devices are Welcome!: How to Handle Technology in the Social Work Classroom
Editor’s Note: Dr. Stephanie Hamm is an associate professor of social work in the School of Social Work at Abilene Christian University in Texas. In this blog post, she shares how mobile devices and other forms of technology are incorporated into her social work class sessions. You can follow her on Twitter at @drHammsj.
Many years ago, when I was a social work student, I learned effective ways of working with people, what to do, and how to take care of myself. Back then, we did not rely on the Internet, rather, we relied on books and articles, and the expertise of our teachers, field instructors, and practitioners in the field. We often relied on the policies of the organization. Today, in my classroom, students can check names and dates, statistics and new interventions in no time at all, using their phone. I once had a student fact-check everything I said in class! Students know when an instructor is bluffing and faking, so why not tap into their curiosity and easy access for the purpose of creating a classroom in which students are not just consumers of course content, but co-creators. I tell my students that they are responsible for their knowledge as well as their classmates’ knowledge.
I use and encourage technology and devices in my classes to find information that is quickly changing. For example, my content for a class session can discuss social theory on the changing American demographics, and students can quickly find actual numbers that define and operationalize that changing demographic.
Students come to class with their phones in hand, literally in their hands as they walk in the door of my classroom. Not in their pockets, purses, or backpacks, but in their hands—they utilize their devices constantly. In their seats, they put their phone on the desk along with their computer or notebook or book. So, I use it to my—and the classroom’s—advantage, whenever appropriate. The obvious challenge here is that students have their devices in their hands! They are constantly tempted to check social media, text, or shop for shoes. The temptation for me is to think I must do stand-up to keep them engaged. But, what I have found is that students will focus if the class offers opportunities to contribute.
Having students use their devices in class can be risky business, so I address it directly starting with my syllabus. In the syllabus, I have the following statement:
“Please be respectful of your colleagues, guest speakers, and instructor. Therefore, use of mobile devices, while encouraged for classroom activities, should be used with discretion…Additionally, please exercise a high standard of respect for guest speakers. Refrain from using any devices unless for the purpose of note taking, or requested by the speaker (to speakers not familiar with higher education, an open devise can communicate disinterest).” Or for my majors only classes that know me better: “Use electronic devices respectfully and wisely. Texting and surfing during class is distracting and rude (and don’t think I don’t notice!).”
Next, I discuss the use of technology and devices on day one of the course. I rarely have to remind students of this throughout the semester, except for those times when we have a guest speaker. This is typically done as I introduce the guest, by a simple request to put devices away unless one is needed for note-taking.
Additionally, my upper level students are graded on their professional participation. Evaluation includes their clothing choices, the way they engage with guest speakers, and their responsible use of technology. For each of these categories, I simply make notes during class and course activities. The fact that I am watching for these is in the syllabus, and occasionally I make it obvious to them.
During a class session, depending on the course and the content, there are various ways I ask students to use their devices. Some are:
- Quick searches, such as census information and current stats.
- Answer someone’s question that I cannot answer. Questions such as “When did Hinduism come to America?”
- Searches to answer a question that will hook them into the day’s topic, such as “Who in our history was in the LGBTQ+ community that is a surprise to you?”
- Searches of media that represent a certain concept, for sharing with a classmate, small group, or the entire class. An example might be in my Diversity, Power, and Oppression course, I often ask students to look for media that illustrates negative biases towards women.
- Searches of certain policy on the local, state, or federal level that effect specific demographic populations. An example from my policy class is looking at policies/bills that effect the financial stability of senior citizens.
- If we are following a bill through the legislative process, ask students for updates on that bill.
- Participation in classroom activities such as an LGBTQ+ policy “bingo”, in which students can work together to access various websites in order to fill their card with correct answers.
While I have not conducted any study to find to what extent using technology in class has aided in the process of learning, I have noted that students engage directly in the class session when asked to use their devices. They come expecting to participate. I find that students will send me articles, and memes, and videos outside of class because they continue to be curious; and they know I am interested in their discovery. At the close of every semester, I reflect about the continued use of devices in my classrooms, and what I learned through this process. One change I will make in the coming semester is to incorporate more content that students send me outside of class. I want to honor critical use of their devices and encourage them to see their technology as an aid in lifelong learning. How do you use devices in your social work classrooms? Please share your ideas as a comment below this post.
How to cite this post:
Hamm, S. (2019, June 26). Your Devices are Welcome!: How to handle Technology in the Social Work Classroom [Blog Post]. Retrieved from https://laureliversonhitchcock.org/2019/06/26/your-devices-are-welcome-how-to-handle-technology-in-the-social-work-classroom/
