It's come to this, though I've long resisted it: when each class commences, personal screens must close (unless you have a formal exemption certified by Disability & Access Center).
So: eyes on me and the class screen (when appropriate), or on whichever classmate has the floor at the moment. Being present also means being attentive, listening, and-if you're a notetaker-doing it old-school, with pencil and paper.
There's an upside to longhand notetaking, additional to removing screen-distraction: neuroscientists report that writing with a handheld implement actually wires and strengthens areas of the brain that would otherwise fester. So we'll go with that.
This policy isn't meant to be punitive, though it is reactive to an unfortunate trend I've noted in recent semesters: a tendency of more and more students choosing to check out mentally during class, retreating into the isolation of their phones and laptops.
Bottom line: our "CoPhilosophy" class time is meant to be collaborative and mutually engaged. You can't collaborate and engage if you're not paying attention to what's happening here and now.
Let me know if this policy creates a problem for you. We'll discuss a solution.
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