Gaming in Class

Gaming in class is something that almost all Rockhurst students can say they’ve done at some point during their time here. The iPads meant for school work can easily become gaming hubs instead. As fun as it can be, it does raise concerns about the impact of digital distractions on students and the effect on their academic success.

School rules, as spelled out in the student handbook, actually treat gaming the same way as cell phones use: students are only supposed to do it during lunch and Activity Period. Gaming at any other point can result in a JUG. It falls mainly on teachers to enforce this school policy since students spend the great majority of their school days in classes. However, different teachers treat gaming in a different manner. Some don’t police it, allowing students to game openly. Others will send their students straight to JUG if they catch them.

“My job is to help students learn the material, and they have many other hours of the day to [play games],” English teacher Dr. Megan Caughron said. “I am helping students make good choices, not because I do not respect the students, but because I respect human nature.”

The decision to game in class is a choice each student makes. They essentially determine if it is worth putting in the effort to avoid getting caught. Anyone can see evidence of this in many classrooms around the school, where, on any given day, you might find about 50% of students distracting themselves on their iPads, though this number does typically drop significantly on a review day before a test. Some students say they simply feel they know best.

“I still game knowing it could affect my academics, because I know when it is a good time to game and when I should pay attention,” said junior Jonathan Coxe. “Also, even if I do miss something important, Rockhurst has great teachers and resources that can help me.”

Students say they also tend to gravitate towards gaming if a class is disinteresting to them.

“The material is the main factor whether or not I play games,” said junior Joey Cory. “Sometimes gaming is just a spark in a slow and long day.”

Although gaming does provide a relaxing break, it can be a privilege that’s abused. This is most notable in classes where the teachers require students to take control of their own education.

 “I like those types of classes because I feel like they put more responsibility on us,” junior Shane McEnany said. “I game sometimes, but I also think I pay more attention to important parts of class than I would in a different class.”

The prevalence of gaming is a common topic of conversation among teachers. Many hope requiring the incoming freshman class to purchase a Macbook through the school instead of buying iPads on their own will curb the practice some. But the older students will continue to use their own devices, which will mean they, and their teachers, will continue to face the choice of how to handle gaming.