Guilt from the in-class text?

The risk of being embarrassed by the professor in front of their peers is one that many UCF students are willing to take as they send text messages during class.

While some professors think texting in class is a distraction, there are students who think it's a normal part of life and doesn't divert attention.

A survey of students from the University of New Hampshire observed high rates of texting during class, as reported by the Chronicle of Higher Education. The survey of 1,000 students found that about 80 percent send at least one text message during class and many feel guilty afterward.

While UCF students are also familiar with texting in class, guilt doesn't always accompany that action.

"It's as simple as looking at the time on your watch," Gregory Leibowitz, a senior studio arts major, said. "It's just a part of life now."

Several students admitted to texting throughout an entire class period.

"Sometimes in a big class I will have conversations going on the whole time," said Jessica Meyer, a sophomore advertising and public relations major.

Texting in class can become routine or a habit for some.

Matt Leili, a junior aerospace engineering major, compared texting to doodling in your notebook.

"It's something to pass the time," Leili said. "It's not like you are answering a phone call."

Rules created by UCF consider texting to be a violation for students. The UCF Golden Rule indirectly addresses this topic. It states that "Communication to another through written, visual, electronic or oral means," during examination is academic misconduct. UCF also gives professors the power to provide rules at the beginning of the semester, including the ability to prohibit the use of phones during class.

Students also notice a hidden distraction presented when they are not able to check textmessages in class. While the professor's lesson is the primary focus, the unread text messages are constantly at the back of the students' minds.

"I feel like I need to answer the text," Meyer said, "but I don't want to ignore the teacher either."

Meyer's comment sheds light on the idea that allowing students to text during class time would provide an environment in which a student can feel comfortable. The obvious barrier being that many believe allowing texting in class would be a distraction to others.

Despite this belief, some students said that when they see others texting in class it does not distract them from the professor's instruction. Young people see texting as a regular part of everyday life, and a necessary part of a social life.

A study by two psychology professors at Wilkes University found that 62 percent of students interviewed from 250 different universities feel that texting in class should be allowed and is not a distraction.

However, most students acknowledge the distraction caused by a phone ringing in the middle of class. In the same study, 75 percent of students said they find a phone ringing in class to be a disturbance.

UCF professors' thoughts on texting in class is quite the opposite of students'. Many professors see texting during a lecture as a sign of disrespect.

Professors usually spell out their policies on using phones in the course syllabus, sometimes disregarded by students throughout the semester.

Professors in general do not see any place for texting in the classroom setting.

Political Science professor Ed Bradford is one of the many that doesn't allow texting in class.

"I make it perfectly clear that I don't tolerate it [texting], the threat alone seems to suffice," Bradford said.

Professors often have heavy penalties for students who feel the need to use phones during test periods. Bradford said that any student with an electronic device on the desk during an exam automatically receives a zero.

Beyond text messaging, smart phones may be able to serve as substitutes for laptops in the classroom. Cell phones can now do some of the necessary tasks for students, such as sending e-mails and serving as a platform to take notes.

"With technology the way it is, I think one day smart phones could be a substitute (for laptops)," Bradford said.