Many teachers, especially those of us who value active hands-on
learning and student-centered discussions, get frustrated when
our students pull out their cell phones during class and
disengage from the conversation. In spite of clear syllabus
policies and verbal warnings, there are still a few students
sending surreptitious text messages during class when they
should be paying attention. For good or for ill, smartphones
seem to be permanent fixtures in the lives of our students.
There has never been a more connected, tech-savvy generation
than this one. If we want to engage our Generation Y students in
the classroom, it can be useful to use technology and tools that
are familiar to them but that are channeled toward a shared
academic purpose. I used to be a “freeway flier,” driving
between West Valley College and two other community colleges in
the East Bay, where I also taught composition. I had multiple
preps, and when I taught a new class, I often felt as though I
was starting from scratch. Time was of th