Hey Alex, your comment really resonated with me about being distracted by what others are doing on their laptops.

As a student, I often try and sit in the front of the room so that I don’t have to see what others are looking at, and this really helps me maintain focus. (And it helps me to have less of a judgmental attitude towards my classmates.) I can’t claim that I’m not guilty of multitasking during a class now and then, but I try to keep it minimal. I had a class last spring where a girl sat between my line of sight of the professor (classroom was in a U-shape to promote engagement) and I absolutely could NOT concentrate due to her multitasking through class. (Shopping, loud-typing–not of class notes, but on assignments for other courses, browsing social media, and using chat-programs. It was the WORST!)

Eventually, I just took her seat so that she would be forced to sit “behind” me and I could focus. I personally could care less how other students choose to spend their time in class–except that I generally frown on the act of using one course’s time for another course’s assignments… I wasn’t going to tell her that I couldn’t focus in class because I was too distracted by her screen (that was absolutely unavoidable to look at if I was trying to watch/listen to the professor) but I did make a positive change in the environment that helped me at least. I think this happened to her more than once because by the end of the semester, she had been migrated to the “back” of the class, where her behavior had less of an impact on the rest of us.

My point is this: you’re right, we can’t really police people and control what they do or how to use their technology…. but we can make changes in our own behavior and environment to help us be more successful in the classroom. I liked what Nicole said about Debjit’s syllabus acknowledging both the positive and negative side effects of technology in the classroom and how it can be both a boon to learning and a distracting and disruptive force. That’s definitely a good start.

Hey Jason! Thanks for the shout-out. I feel like I’m in some sort of a social media rehab now. Sure, I still do it a little here and there, but I have been turning away from it more and more (completely removed FB from my phone) and the results have been nothing short of life changing. I actually got to read a book for FUN this week–on top of all of my normal assignments. Would you believe me if I told you I was completely caught up in my work with nothing stressing me as we roll into this holiday weekend? It’s a feeling that I didn’t know I could achieve. I started on FB soon after it became a thing when I was a freshman in college in 2004. 13 years of life–most of it spent in college–completely plugged into and cataloging everything on social media. Looking at it now, I’m not surprised at how my thinking and communicating skills have changed–and not always for the better!

I can relate to what you were saying about Carr’s article. I am also finding it more frustrating to think and write critically–and communicate those thoughts well–and I agree, I think it’s our habitual iron-grip on the internet that is diminishing these skills. At least, that’s what I think has happened to me. I agree that after reading Carr, I kind of wished he had some ideas for solutions to the problem. But, since he didn’t, I did a little soul searching.
As a result, I’m choosing to read more–like, really read. More deep thinking about articles, more books–namely literature: writing that is meant to touch the soul and reflect on humanity. That’s where I nurture and hone my skills of communication–from the people who are tapping into everything that’s NOT the internet.

And I also want to say GOOD LUCK on your Prelims! You’re going to do great. You know more than you think, just trust yourself and continue to push! ?

Oh man, smart phones @ the dinner table… I can completely relate. I feel badly when I do it–because I WILL CHECK IT if it is there. So when I come in in the evening, I have started putting my phone in a ceramic bowl with my keys and my wallet… and I only go retrieve it if it beeps (or if it’s time to FaceTime a relative.) I’ve gotten to the point where I typically don’t touch it until it’s time to go to bed (it’s still my alarm clock!) It was SO HARD at first, but I’m getting better. And I’m SO much happier AND more productive!

Good luck with dealing with the smart phone struggle. It’s such a temptation to stay connected all the time–that fear of missing out is a B!

Hi Nicole! Thank you for reading my blog this week. I was saying in my reply to Amy’s comment that I was a little critical of myself after I re-read my post because I think I was describing the feeling of being pulled in multiple directions more than multitasking in some of my examples. Either way, it was nice to get it out and share.

I understand what you’re saying about working from home. I’ve been there! It can be really hard to strike a balance between the social interactions and the imperative to meet deadlines for class or research. I can’t remember who told me this (it might have been a fellow GEDI in class earlier this semester…) but one of the things that you can do if you tend to find yourself in a chatty environment in the office (and you need to work) is to raise your arms up in the air and say something like “hey, no offense, I’m having fun talking, but I have a deadline and I need to work.” Just be blunt about it–polite, of course, but completely straightforward. Sometimes I follow up that sentiment with an offer to make a date for coffee or set aside time to eat lunch with a friend or to just catch up in general–and that helps too! There’s nothing ugly about expressing that you sometimes have got to get some work done! If you make it a practice of communicating openly with your colleagues, you can create a culture in your office space that is respectful of the demands of graduate school without losing friendships or hurting people’s feelings. So in our office, we don’t really hold our arms up when we say this, but we all are kind to one another and are also assertive about our needs. Some days, I do go to the library or other secret places I’ve found on campus that are good for getting work done, but it’s a break that I need less often after employing this strategy of kind, but firm communication.

And YES to the Mindfulness thing–I never thought I would be using this concept so much in my day to day, but it totally makes sense. It shows up in this class all the time. It shows up in other sessions and activities I’ve attended as well. I hope that more people buy into it–I think it’ll make our communities better all across the board.

Hi Soo! Sure, I’m happy to share. I want people to know that while it is difficult to be a new parent in graduate school, that it’s not impossible. I think we hear negative things about women (and men) in academia who “put off ________” (and you can fill in the blank with over a dozen life events or activities, etc.) to go to graduate school.

For me, I have always been driven towards my goals and to me, there’s no reason why I can’t have the moon and stars if I stay persistent, dedicated, and positive about what life has in store for me. I always wanted a family–and a PhD–and the most common question/comment that was asked/said to me when I found out that I was pregnant 2 weeks after my acceptance to VT was “Oh no! What are you going to do about school?!” OR “Oh no! Are you going to still have your baby??” Anyway, I think one of the most beautiful values of U.S. society today is the ability to exercise freedom of choice. So yeah, I chose this life. It’s crazy, hectic, and feels like hell sometimes, but the stress comes and goes. Most of the time, it’s great (even when it’s crazy-stressful) because there’s love in my life and I’m doing what I want, I’m following my dream, and doing what I believe is best for my family.

Hi Amy,
Thanks for reading my blog this week. I appreciate your thoughtful comment. We all already know that graduate school is demanding, and since there are just 24 hours in the day, we have to work with what we’ve got. Reading over my post again, I was a little critical with myself because I think that some of my examples weren’t exactly multitasking, but something else more akin to coping with the feeling of being pulled in multiple directions all the time. I applaud all students who have made it this far (graduate school) and are determined to continue their education. I believe that no matter how you get it done, whether you use a kind of tunnel vision to keep yourself focused on one task (which I wish I could do more often–just go on and knock out those assignments!!), or just accepting that you have a crazy and somewhat unpredictable schedule at times, like me, it’s important to stop sometimes and give yourself a pat on the back for all the hard work it’s taken to get to where you are!