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IdentityWell, it's no more of a distraction than the time-honored habit of secretly passing notes (those kids always writing!). It is just the latest back channel for students to use during class. Of course, teachers should have rules about when kids can text, and for what reason. Not because texting itself is bad, but because students should be paying attention to the teacher.
Other than setting firm cell-phone policies, one way to minimize back-channnel texting is to openly embrace the platform in your classroom as a tool for learning. Your willingness to explore students favorite form of communication may help to establish mutually respectful boundaries. Keep reading to learn about our fresh ideas for incorporating texting into your lessons.
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