In the classroom, there are many things going on around. It may be hard to concentrate on the lesson or do the assignment.
The classroom itself can hold many objects that catch the eye. Posters on the wall entertain students in a less social room. Fun objects on a teacher or other students’ desks also distract.
Lisa Jensen, psychology teacher said the most distracting thing is, “Students carrying on their own conversations when we are discussing things as a group.”
Students have different ways of keeping themselves busy. A large number tap or move their feet. This is one of the less distracting sounds.
Some things that students do are nervous habits. Others are just things to pass the time in a rather boring environment or lesson.
In a recent survey taken in a class at RHS, half of the students said that someone tapping a pen annoys them the most. Others were gum, cell phones, and girls screaming and squealing.
I conducted an experiment in my psychology class where I was very distracting for the period. While I was repeatedly tapping my pen I got many mean looks from across the room.
Senior Taylor Bowman said, “I was so annoyed and getting ticked.”
From across the room a couple of boys by me started to tap their pens when I did, hoping to annoy me as much as I was annoying them.
These distracting sounds, students, and actions are occupying the brains of students and they are not learning as much as they could.
Whether they are listening to the person being loud or being the annoyance themselves, they are missing out on information that is needed.
In the classroom of 30 students, 23 said that they think distracting noises in the classroom take away from learning. Three said no and four said it depends on the situation.
While this experiment was going, I had my mom call my phone on purpose to see what the outcome would be. Most of the students stared at me and were confused as to why my phone’s sound was on.
My teacher proceeded to answer my phone and carry on a conversation with my mom. When she was done she handed me my phone and went on with the lesson like it never happened.
“If they are texting or their phone rings when they are supposed to be working or paying attention, I answer it or them because I know I can multi-task. That way they can still pay attention in my class,” said Jensen.
This technique that Jensen uses embarrasses the students and they make sure to not have their phones on during school. This helped, but as for the other noises, there isn’t much anyone can do but to tell them to stop and be quiet.
“I got really annoyed but couldn’t do anything about it,” said junior Crystal Pittman.
There are some classes that are full of excitement and activities and everyone is learning the whole class. There are other classes where it is more low key and students aren’t paying attention.
While in class, students should be respectful, even when they are bored, so that everyone can have a fair chance at learning.
