Phone Policy

[ABreyen]

Hey there

I am a student on team 2232.

Currently our policy is to not be on your phone/other technology (laptops, iPads, etc) unless it is needed for the task at hand. If you are sitting on your phone for 90% of the meetings, you really shouldn't be there.

[DonRotolo]

I'm from a generation before cellphones. Most students are not using their phones for team tasks, but for ***book, whatevergram, texting and such: This is how the millennial generation communicates with each other.

We mustn't take away this essential (for them) thing, but do them a service by teaching them responsible use. They inherently understand there's a time & place, but it needs to be said that FRC time is not one of those places, with valid exceptions.

Multitasking is a myth.

[marshall]

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

I'm from a generation before cellphones. Most students are not using their phones for team tasks, but for ***book, whatevergram, texting and such: This is how the millennial generation communicates with each other.

We mustn't take away this essential (for them) thing, but do them a service by teaching them responsible use. They inherently understand there's a time & place, but it needs to be said that FRC time is not one of those places, with valid exceptions.

Multitasking is a myth.

I love the cranky old guy essence of this post. It made me smile.

[Sperkowsky]

We have no phone policy other then if you bring a charger in the room everyone can use it.

When students are at robotics they are there because they want to in their free time. If they want to check instagram while working on something quick it doesn't bother me and general if people are motivated enough to show up they are motivated enough to work. I'm actually appalled that teams have phone policies and think it's quite ridiculous. Many schools have dropped their phone policies all together with quite a few being quite relaxed about them.

A phone policy to me is just a good way to not retain members. I'm not sure I would have stayed in robotics and gotten hooked if when I showed up they made me put my phone away.

[Jon Stratis]

Cell phones can be a distraction in a shop, and lead to dangerous situations... For us, no cell phone use at all in the shop, and otherwise they can only use them for coordinating rides (normally with parents, but sometimes siblings or other). At one point we had a " phone basket" everyone would put their phone in when they got to the space, but we've stopped doing this, and the students have been responsible.

[Chief Hedgehog]

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

I'm from a generation before cellphones. Most students are not using their phones for team tasks, but for ***book, whatevergram, texting and such: This is how the millennial generation communicates with each other.

We mustn't take away this essential (for them) thing, but do them a service by teaching them responsible use. They inherently understand there's a time & place, but it needs to be said that FRC time is not one of those places, with valid exceptions.

Multitasking is a myth.

I agree with DonRotolo's post apart from being multitasking being a myth. Multitasking is fancy word for 'distracted'.

[Sperkowsky]

Originally Posted by Chief Hedgehog

I agree with DonRotolo's post apart from being multitasking being a myth. Multitasking is fancy word for 'distracted'.

I disagree.

As a professional myself it is entirely possible .

[New Lightning]

First off I do in fact know that multitasking is not a myth, I'm doing it right now! Second of all, out shop is practically a concrete bunker that has 0 cell services and only one or two spots where you might be able to get data, if your lucky.

But I think that if the student wants to check social media or text a friend that, as long as it doesn't significantly impact their productivity then why not let them use their phones. Students already give so much of their time to robotics that they should have some freedom and allowances to help alleviate boredom on burnout. I could state emphatically that without some kind of mindless release, with which social media provides, I would not enjoy robotics as much as I do, and that would in turn have a negative impact on both me and our team's students.