Addressing Digital Distractions in the Classroom

The misuse of digital devices has become a persistent challenge in university classrooms. Digital distractions occur when students use technology for purposes that are not educational, negatively impacting their engagement, learning, and academic success.

While first inclinations to address digital distractions may lead instructors to ban devices in their classes, this can create new unforeseen barriers to learning, particularly for students who require assistive technologies. It can also foster an antagonistic learning environment that involves increased policing rather than increased opportunities for educating on the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of appropriate technology use in different spaces or tasks (Flanigan et al., 2023).

Through discussion among members of Laurier’s Universal Design for Learning Community of Practice, and with partner units in Student Success, we’ve collected alternative strategies for addressing digital distractions in your classroom:

1. Provide a Clear Syllabus Statement

Identify the issue of digital distractions and outline both your digital device policy and the role of technology in learning. Consider connecting with class conduct statements, detailing your commitment to a respectful learning environment and your expectations for student preparation and appropriate technology use.

2. Initiate Class Discussion

Intentionally discuss managing digital distractions with students on the first day and throughout the semester, as needed. Assume the best in students’ intentions and needs for technology, and motivate them by sharing your thoughts on the purpose of higher education and the links between being present in class and student success (Jamet et al., 2020; Spence et al., 2020; Flanagan and Babchuk, 2015). You can also recognize the importance of digital skills for learning, studying, and the workplace – which includes self-regulation.

3. Vary Teaching Practices

Examine opportunities to include active learning to engage students as participants in the learning process, for example, through completing worksheets, reflections on learning, engaging in scenarios for problem solving. Consider how in lecturing you might integrate relatable stories, humour, and where possible, varied movement or altered locations in the classroom space, which move students away from their digital devices.

4. Work with digital devices

Build class learning activities for students to use digital devices to access information or work on tasks with collaborative digital documents, so that students develop digital skills relevant to course context and discipline and reflect real world applications. For example,

Challenge students in teams to engage in information scavenger hunts in the assigned readings or in a library search.
During small group work, give clear tasks to complete digital worksheets or slides that take students through key steps in a lab, research process, or application of concepts. All students have access to Microsoft Office 365, which includes sharing access to OneDrive files, and collaborating in apps like Word, PowerPoint and Microsoft Whiteboard.

5. Encourage students to seek additional support

Invite students to identify appropriate uses of digital technologies and reflect on self-regulation of digital distractions in their classes. Point students to additional support for student success and study skills to build their awareness and learn strategies in managing technology use.

Watch - In Conversation with Jonathan Finn: Personalising Learning with Innovation

Jonathan Finn from Laurier’s Communication Studies department reflects on how his unique self-tracking pedagogy not only fosters ownership among learners but also encourages reflection beyond the classroom. Jonathan helps students to co-create their learning environments and personalise their learning, and discusses how low-tech innovations and getting students off screens can be powerful for creating deep and meaningful reflections and creating connections in the classroom. Watch the Conversation >>